Quilling is back!

My great great aunt made quillwork doll furniture from soup cans, including ornate dining tables and delicate upholstered chairs. Other than her work, though, I haven’t seen much quilling… until recently. Suddenly, quillwork is popping up everywhere! It’s on my social media feeds, coming up in my craft-friend circles, and peppered in among treasures at local shops. It seems like quilling is coming back in style and modern makers are creating some beautiful pieces. 

Quilling is an ancient art that uses strips of paper or metal to create decorative designs. The strips are rolled, shaped, and bound together to form objects that can be used as decoration or stand on their own. You can use a range of materials, but thin strips of paper or metal are most common and give the classic 3D dimension to the coils and scrolls. I will admit I’ve never done it, but I’m ready to give it a try! 

Whether you’re new to quilling like me or it’s a familiar practice, here are some modern resources to spark your creativity. 

The art of modern quilling: Contemporary paper techniques & projects for captivating quilled designs by Erin Perkins Curet

This is one of those books that just takes your breath away. It starts with an introduction to quilling techniques and materials, then features incredibly intricate, colourful projects to inspire. There is a butterfly mobile, a candleholder, and even jewelry designs made from paper. The Mandala Wall Clock is particularly stunning and comes with pages of clear, simple instructions to walk you through the process. 

The art of quilling paper jewelry: Techniques & projects for metallic earrings & pendants by Ann Martin

I still can’t quite believe the pendants and earrings in this book are all made from paper. The instructions show you how to make every curl of each perfectly coiled, delicate piece. The book also encourages you to start thinking about your own custom design, featuring a chapter on individual coils and scrolls that can be combined as you choose.  

The art of paper craft by Helen Hiebert 

While there is only one quilling project in this book, it is too beautiful not to share. The projects highlight just how much you can do with paper – cards, origami, marbling, bookmaking, even making your own decorative paper. This colourful book is packed with photos, instructions and templates to guide your art. See page 218 to make a simple quilled snowflake ornament. 

3D quilling: How to make 20 decorative flowers, fruit, and more from curled paper strips by Vaishali Rastogi Sahni 

The tiny, quilled strawberry in this book the cutest, most perfectly coiled thing I’ve ever seen and I love it. This book guides you through project after adorable project of little plants, insects, and animals. Do you start with the butterfly, the pineapple, or the owl? How about a tortoise with a beautifully intricate shell on page 114?  

Want more creative fun? Check out our Info Guide on Hobbies and Crafts.  

– Meg

Away We Go

 Spring has arrived (well, arrived, then disappeared, then arrived again, etc.). It’s a time when many people start getting the urge for a change of scenery. Travel gives book characters all sorts of opportunities for growth and of course, the potential to get involved in a whirlwind romance. 

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert 

Conrad and Alden are both devoted players of a popular tabletop card game called Odyssey. They both frequent Professor Tuttle’s game store and create content for the professor’s blog, “Gamer Grandpa”. Even with all these things in common, Conrad and Alden often find each other at odds with each other’s opinions and views on life. 

When Professor Tuttle wins tickets to an Odyssey convention in Las Vegas, circumstances fall so that Conrad and Alden are stuck in a car on a long road trip with just the two of them. The road trip makes for a very enjoyable development of their relationship. They can’t get away from each other and as they travel they end up naturally opening up to each other about their personal struggles, such as Conrad’s feelings of abandonment after his family cut him off when he came out. I look forward to reading the sequel, “Out of Character” soon! 

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinley 

Chelsea Martin is a hardworking fundraiser for the American Cancer Coalition, a job she took when her mother died of cancer. When her father announces that he’s getting remarried, she’s forced to recognize that while her father is moving on in his own way, she’s stuck. Chelsea starts thinking about the last time she felt happy, carefree and in love, and she realizes it was when she traveled to Europe and fell in love with three different men in Ireland, France, and Italy, respectively. She decides to go back to Europe, track down her exes and try to recapture some of the magic. She isn’t prepared for her coworker, Jason Knightley, however. While her trip is a vacation, it’s also a working vacation and she needs to keep in contact with Jason and her boss. When Jason ends up joining her in France and comforting her after her former French boyfriend lets her down in a big way, she starts to wonder if maybe Jason is not so annoying after all. The European backdrop provides a fun escape, while at the same time both Jason and Chelsea have tremendous losses in their past which they both discover they need to fully grieve. 

Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters 

Hairpin Curves is another road trip book, but for this story the characters are driving from Florida to a wedding in Quebec. Megan has always longed to travel the world but she’s reached twenty-five and she still hasn’t even left the state of Florida. Megan, Scarlett, and Juliet were best friends until Juliet left for Quebec. In the absence of Juliet, Megan and Scarlett had a falling out which led them to not talking to each other for several years. When Juliet announces she’s getting married, she invites both Megan and Scarlett to the wedding, not realising that Megan and Scarlett are no longer friends. Scarlett asks if Megan wants to drive to Quebec together despite no longer being close. While a road trip with Scarlett doesn’t sound all that appealing to Megan, she has just lost her job she hates, and she’s tired of just sitting around waiting for life to happen. Little does Megan know, Scarlett has been nursing a huge crush on Megan though she thinks Megan is straight, unaware that Megan had come out after their friendship had ended. Megan and Scarlett’s blossoming relationship is very slow burn but pays off with plenty of steam. 

Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy 

Elle Kennedy is one of my personal favourite authors as well as the unofficial queen of hockey romance so I was very excited for this new, albeit not-hockey-related romance. Nineteen-year-old Abby Bly’s father is a retired rock star, and as a result is maybe a little too overprotective of Abby. She decides the way to finally gain a little freedom in life is to travel to London for a year to study abroad. When Abby arrived in London, she’s shocked that all her roommates are boys, and what’s more, there’s a strict no-dating policy among the housemates due to a former bad experience with the girl who lived with them before. Before she knows it, Abby is not only crushing hard on Jack, her rugby playing roommate, but also develops feelings for Nate, a musician who already has a girlfriend. Love triangles are not usually my favourite trope, but Kennedy is a funny and gifted writer, so she more than managed to win me over. Abby also gets involved in a school research project that becomes an exciting royalty-related mystery running throughout the story as well. 

Safe travels! 

For more romance recommendations, check out the Your Next Great Read: Romance info guide! 

– Madeleine

T Minus One Month…TO MURDER

This month the Time to Read flight crew is reading The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield.

Is there a Canadian out there who has not heard about astronaut Chris Hadfield and his many, many accomplishments? We are about to find out if “speculative fiction author” is among them.

Is there anything the guy can’t do?

The Apollo Murders is set in a slightly alternative “what if?” 1970s where NASA is tasked to adjust the final Apollo mission (Apollo 18, in reality the Apollos stopped at 17 or did they?). This Apollo 18 is run by the military and the astronauts all have air force, navy, or marine backgrounds. The Pentagon is concerned with a Soviet satellite that has the potential to take super hi-def pics of the Earth, giving them the edge in a precarious cold war infused space race. Apollo 18’s mission is to intercept and disable this satellite on its way to the moon. No big deal, right?

But wait! Is there a Soviet spy working at NASA? What did the Soviets find on the moon? (Apparently the Russians landed unmanned rovers on the moon IN REAL LIFE or did they?). Did any of this really happen? Did Stanley Kubrick direct and film a sham moon landing? (This last question isn’t addressed in the novel but it’s something I’ve always wondered about.)

With a mix of fictional characters and real life personalities (e.g. Alan Shepard, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger) it’s a wild ride to the finish line. I bet Toby will hate it.

Make sure to tune in on Friday, May 3 when all is revealed! In the meantime why not visit wpl-podcast.winnipeg.ca and check out an older episode (and explore our new website, courtesy of transistor.fm).

Until next time, make sure you find some TIME TO READ!

-Trevor

Women and Art

Happy Belated International Women’s Day! There are many women who inspire my art and craft practice. These women include family who introduced me to needlecraft at a young age, friends who challenge me with a new technique, or creators who inspire me from afar. I hope you have such creative influences around you.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, I’ve selected some resources to inspire your creativity, meet new female artists, and celebrate iconic women.

Beadwork: First Peoples’ beading history and techniques by Christi Belcourt 

Christi Belcourt is an iconic Métis visual artist and author celebrated for her paintings. In this book, she shares her knowledge and love of traditional beading. She introduces different types and styles of beading as they relate to cultural identity through use, region, and practice. The book includes history and techniques, a section on materials, stitches, and templates. Truly a treasure!

Quilt out loud: Activism, language & the art of quilting by Thomas Knauer  

Where quilting meeting “craftivism,” this book shows how quilting can be a platform for social movement. Featured artists meticulously stitch words, data, symbols and more to make a statement. To inspire your own work, the book contains letter templates, tips, and resources like morse code or the alphabet in binary code.    

Feminist cross-stitch: 40 bold & fierce patterns by Stephanie Rohr 

Who doesn’t love a well-worded cross-stitch? This book features 40 patterns so you can make a cute affirmation or a sassy statement. There is a wonderfully detailed Rosie the Riveter pattern, but I particularly enjoy the to-do list that includes “practice self-care” and “speak out.”

Crochet iconic women: Amigurumi patterns for 15 women who changed the world by Carla Mitrani

From Greta Thunberg to Jane Austin to Serena Williams, this book is packed with pattern after pattern so you can crochet a tiny, adorable doll of your favourite iconic woman. I can’t decide where to start – do I make Marie Curie with her miniscule Erlenmeyer flask, or a teeny tiny Jane Goodall with a teeny tiny chimpanzee?   

Empowered embroidery by Amy L. Frazer  

This beautiful book is packed with inspiration and instruction. Each thoroughly detailed pattern starts from a sketch and colour guide, then moves through the process with close-up images to specify stitches and techniques. You can follow along, choose some of the variations provided, or use their instruction to make your own pattern. By the end, you’ll be ready to create an incredibly detailed thread painting of Ruth Bader Ginsberg or Michelle Obama.   

A big important art book (now with women): Profiles of unstoppable female artists–and projects to help you become one by Danielle Krysa

Painters, fibre artists, or mixed media creators – there is a delightful range of art in this book! It’s divided into chapters based on expansive topics or categories, like “look to the past” and “tell a visual story.” Each chapter starts with a project relating to the topic, then features page after page of amazing work created by female artists.

Want more creative fun? Check out our Info Guide on Hobbies and Crafts. 

– Meg

If the Shirt Fits, Wear It

I’ll never forget my excitement when I heard that the Winnipeg Public Library was hiring entry-level staff, at the time known as library pages (those folks who put books away on library shelves). I love to read, and I imagined how amazing it would be to spend my days surrounded by books. It sounded like the perfect job for me. I waited eagerly for a response after I submitted my application, fearing as time went by that I wouldn’t be hired. On the day the phone finally rang, and I was invited to an interview, my dream was realized. Fast-forward 14 years, and I was right: the library is my happy place. My bookshelves at home are always stacked high with piles of library books; my request list is usually maxed out at 50 items; and I still get excited about new authors or genres of books to enjoy. My love of books is something my family knows well. At a family Christmas party about 5 years ago, I received one of my all-time favourite Christmas presents: a t-shirt proclaiming, “IF LOST, PLEASE RETURN TO THE LIBRARY”.

I loved this t-shirt and wore it everywhere, until the colours faded, and the letters began to wear away from constant washing. In the years since, it’s become a tradition for my family to give me library-themed t-shirts for birthdays and Christmases. My collection has grown so much that I can wear a different t-shirt every day of the week – and I often do. One of the next shirts to come my way at Christmas might strike fear in the heart of the serious book lover – “A-BIBLIO-PHOBIA, the fear of running out of books”.

Working in the library means access to a seemingly endless collection of books, but the thought of not having anything to read would be truly scary! If you ever find yourself wondering what to read next, look no further: Your Next Great Read – Info Guides at Winnipeg Public Library. You can also find great titles by filling out the “Five-in-Five Book List” form on our website. One of our librarians will curate a list of five new titles – just for you.

Many books make the leap from printed page to the big (or small) screen. Some are well-adapted and others, not so much. This humorous t-shirt from my husband says it well:

One example that stands out for me is the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, a fantastic set of books by author Rick Riordan, which begins with “The Lightning Thief”. My kids and I loved these books, but we thought the movies were terrible. The series has since made the jump to TV, courtesy of Disney and though I haven’t had a chance to see it, the reviews have been good. Browse our catalogue for the series and movies and put my t-shirt to the test for yourself.

At least a few times a week the basket on my desk fills with a pile of new books. For every book I return to the library, it seems I take 3 or 4 (or 6) more home with me. Did I mention my bookshelves are always full? It’s fitting that this t-shirt arrived under the tree for me last Christmas:

By strange coincidence, over the weekend while I was reading “Aria’s Travelling Bookshop” by Rebecca Raisin, the main character Aria dons a shirt with the same phrase, as she plucks up the courage to ask the (possible) man of her dreams out for a drink. The “Travelling Bookshop” is a companion book to the author’s prior novel, “Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop”. The series follows a group of nomadic “van-life/travelers”, who hit the road and stop at local fairs and festivals, selling a variety of wares from their converted vans and campers. The light-hearted semi-romance novels are a treat. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to adopt the van-life too.

If you do find yourself like me, with too many books arriving at once, did you know that you can suspend your library requests online, or with the newly restored Winnipeg Public Library app? Simply select a title from your holds list and click the box that says, “Edit/Suspend Hold(s)”. This will temporarily place your request on pause, until the date you specify. Once that date arrives, your request becomes active and your place in the queue is restored. For example, if you were 8th in line for the newest book by Kristin Hannah, “The Women”, suspending your request until June 15 means your request becomes active June 16, and you will still be 8th on the waiting list. If you are lucky enough to be number 8 for “The Women”, lucky you! The last time I checked, 520 people were waiting to read it.

When I’m not at work, I take this t-shirt’s saying very seriously:

You can find me curled up in the corner of my favourite chaise, reading for hours – periodically getting up to boil the kettle for another cup of Earl Grey, if I can successfully remove one of the cats from my lap. If this sounds like you, check out “I’d Rather Be Reading – The Delights and Dilemmas of The Reading Life” by Anne Bogel. With chapters like “Confess Your Literary Sins”; “Bookworm Problems” and “The Books That Find You”, she guides us through memories of the book that broke your heart; reassures us the “Book Police” won’t show up if we’re not reading the “right” type of books; and asks us, “if there were no due dates, would we read our library books as quickly”? Would we read them at all, or do we need that sense of urgency to motivate us?

Do you have a collection of book-themed tote bags, shirts, throw pillows or fridge magnets? We’d love to hear about them in the comments or on any of our social media platforms. Happy Reading and remember,

~ Joanne

Online Teen Book Club

If you (or a teen in your life) are interested in joining a book club, but don’t want to leave the comfort of your home, you’re in luck! We have an online book club for teens (grades 7-12) that meets once a month. The next three books are chosen and are across a variety of genres so hopefully there is something for everyone.

For the March meeting on Wednesday March 20^th at 6:30 p.m. the pick is Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes. Snarky seventeen-year-old Josslyn Drake gets infected by a dangerous piece of forbidden magic and teams up with wanted criminal Jericho Nox to remove the spell corrupting her soul. This is a fast-paced, epic fantasy that would be good for fans of Furyborn by Claire Legrand.

In April we are reading the much beloved Heartstopper, Volume 1 by Alice Oseman. This coming of age, romance graphic novel follows Charlie and Nick who are at the same school, but they’ve never met until one day when they’re made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised. With the TV show adaptation recently getting a second season, and with the fifth volume having just come out, now is the perfect time to get into this series.

Finally, in May the pick is Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers, a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. Delia must marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet but, hoping for true love, she steals a spaceship and finds Aidan, a handsome stowaway, aboard in this retelling of Cinderella. This one would appeal to fans of Victoria Aveyard or Holly Black’s work.

If you’re interested in joining the Online Teen Book Club there is still time read the book and join March’s meeting. You can find the link to register here.

Happy Reading,

Hannah

Mobilize for MYRCA

A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. 

C.S. Lewis

There’s no doubt that any time is a great time to read, but there’s something extra special about this time of year. It’s the lead up to the Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Award voting period, when students in Manitoba make their voices and choices heard across the country. This year, the voting takes place from April 12 – 19 and the winners will be announced at a special celebration event on April 26.

While it’s true that only Manitoban students in grades 4 – 9 are able to vote that’s no reason to not take part in reading any or all of the terrific titles on the Sundogs and Northern Lights lists. Titles on the Sundogs lists are recommended for students in grades 4 – 6, and Northern Lights titles are recommended for students in grades 7 – 9. Canadian children and YA authors write some amazing books, and the ones that make it onto the MYRCA lists are among the best of the best. Picking up a MYRCA nominated book will give you an enjoyable reading experience, no matter how old you are.

The U-nique Lou Fox by Jodi Carmichael

Lou’s brain is always super busy, brimming with ideas and inspiration, so much so it’s hard for her to pay attention to what’s going on around her. Her ADHD is further complicated by dyslexia, but Lou is a big dreamer, and she’s determined to find a way to make her dreams come true. Jodi Carmichael writes from personal experience, as someone who lives with ADHD and dyslexia.

Berani by Michelle Kadarusman

Malia is an activist who is ready to do whatever it takes to further her cause – to stop the devastation of the rainforest. Ari is willing to help, but he’s not sure he can go as far as Malia, and Ginger Juice is struggling to stay alive and sane in a tiny cage. In the end, whatever they decide to do will have outcomes they could never have predicted. Michelle Kadarusman writes to inspire readers to make a difference in the world.

Fly by Alison Hughes

Can a kid who uses a wheelchair realize his dreams of becoming a knight? Felix is secretly in love with Daria, who is involved with a nasty piece of work named Carter. Felix dreams of the day when he can prove his devotion to Daria and conquer the villain. This novel in free verse that will evoke tears of laughter and sadness.

Winterkill by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Nyl had faced hard times before, but nothing could prepare him for the Holodomor; Stalin’s plan to starve the Ukrainian people and take over their land. It’s impossible to know what to do and who to trust, but Nyl must do his best to survive and share his story with the world. This part of history is not well known as even today the Holodomor is a forbidden topic in many places.

These are just a few of the super stories you’ll discover on the MYRCA 2024 lists, so don’t delay, start reading today!

-Lori

I Love to Read: Indie Graphic Novels

While I’ve always been a devoted reader and a fan of fiction, for the past several years I’ve found more and more of my reading time spent with graphic novels. Now, this I Love to Read Month, I am happy to say that they are some of the books I look forward to reading most each year, as my list of can’t-miss authors and illustrators grow longer and longer. While many just think of graphic novels as superhero comics and manga, there are a wide range of stories being told in modern comics, often by indie authors and publishers. I’ve realized that there’s a number of reasons why I like reading indie comics over traditional novels: 

1. Beautiful art

Once you dive into the world of comics this point will speak for itself. Some of the full page spreads from books like The City of Belgium by Brecht Evens or Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki have made me completely stop in my tracks while reading to take in every detail – a feature you can’t get from traditional novels. 

2. Unique themes

Are you a reader who likes to be challenged by complex and unique themes but doesn’t always have the stamina for contemporary fiction? Join the club! Seriously though, I think graphic novels are great for this, especially those with heavy themes. Often a story that wouldn’t normally interest me can work really well in the graphic novel format. 

3. Canadiana

Michael DeForge, Kate Beaton, Seth, Guy Delisle, Jeff Lemire, Mariko Tamaki, and Jillian Tamaki. Some of my favourite comic authors and artists are Canadian, and many of these are published by my favourite Montreal-based comics publisher, Drawn & Quarterly. 

4. Shorter for Goodreads Goals

Okay, this one is a bit of a joke, but as someone who tracks my reading on Goodreads, graphic novels usually count for about half of the books I read each year. They also take much less time to read on average. People may judge me for this, but it’s like we tell kids in the library…reading comics totally counts as reading!  

Despite these positives, a challenge with graphic novels can be the price tag, especially for those of us who frequently find themselves reading through a couple of them on a weekend. Hence why taking out these books from the library is the perfect fit! What follows is a list of recommended indie graphic novels that are currently available at branches throughout the Winnipeg Public Library.  

The Delicacy by James Albon 

Two brothers, seeking success and independence from their controlling mother, open a new restaurant focused on bringing a fresh, farm-to-table dining experience to the big city. Their initial struggles take a turn when they discover a one-of-a-kind mushroom that people find irresistibly delicious. But can they keep up with the demand of a hungry city, as well as their produce’s secret origins? Come for the intriguing premise, stay for the gorgeous full-page painted illustrations in this macabre spin on the high cost of fame, ambition, and fine dining. 

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed 

The book’s title – in Arabic, a fairy-tale rhyme meaning “your wish is my command” – sets the stage for a modern world in which wishes are real and literally for sale. Shubeik Lubeik follows the lives of three people in Cairo who become linked in the sale of three “first class wishes”. Covering a range of topics including social inequality, mental health, religion, and more, this book’s fantastical spin on contemporary issues really resonated with me. While longer than the other titles on this list, there is good reason why it is being lauded as one of the best graphic novels released last year (in English, as it was originally published in Arabic from 2017-2021). 

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert and Carole Maurel (illustrator) 

With dream-like art and poetic language, this moving graphic novel tells the very personal story of a young couple’s challenges in trying to have children. This is a beautiful and short read that could easily win an award for leaving you the most emotionally drained in the fewest number of pages. As I said earlier, a topic that might be challenging in a full-length novel can become an eye-opening and insightful read in comic format. A recommended entry point for those who like emotional stories and are curious about graphic novels. 

Acting Class by Nick Drnaso 

Like your books to be a bit…weirder? In this title, a group of bored and isolated strangers join a free introductory acting class at a local community centre. As the class’s charismatic and enigmatic teacher leads them through intense improv exercises, the lines between the students’ real lives, the characters they play, and their imaginations begin to blur as they become more intertwined in each others’ stories. While Drnaso’s illustrations might not work for everyone, they do a great job of bringing out the anxieties of the characters and the eeriness of the story. 

Have I piqued your interest yet? Then head over to the Winnipeg Public Library’s online catalogue to check out these and many other titles from our fantastic adult graphic novel collection. Warning, reading graphic novels may become habit forming! 

– Austin 

What’s New in the Local History Room?

We are now in 2024 and it is time to have a look at the new arrivals in the Local History Room.

Our first title, On the road to abandoned Manitoba: taking the scenic route through historic places, scientist-historian Gordon Goldsborough hits the road in search of adventure and little-known stories from Manitoba’s past. Among the places he visits are underground radiation monitoring posts from the Cold War, a remote hydroelectric generating station, cruise ships on the Red River, and the original route of the Trans-Canada Highway. This is the third volume of this excellent historical series, filled to the brim with gorgeous illustrations and lively narration of Gordon’s experiences and travels throughout the roads less travelled of the province. It is also the final volume of his “Abandoned Manitoba” series and all three are well worth the read for explorers and historians alike.

Did you know that in the early twentieth century, we had our own group of explorers of the unknown who attempted to ally science and seances to communicate with the dead? The art of ectoplasm: encounters with Winnipeg’s ghost photographs by Serena Keshavjee covers the curious history of Winnipeg’s “ghost” photographs in the wake of the First World War and the 1918-19 pandemic. It was against this backdrop that a Winnipeg couple, physician T.G. Hamilton and nurse Lillian Hamilton, began their research, documenting and photographing seances they held in their home laboratory. The Hamiltons’ work and photographic evidence attracted international attention, with notable figures like Arthur Conan Doyle participating in the Hamilton family’s seances. This book is a fascinating take on a uniquely local topic, filled with otherworldly images found in the Hamilton family archive, telling a story of human longing for connection beyond our known reality.

In 1816 the Métis were first recognized as a new Canadian Indigenous nation. The Métis played an important role in the early exploration and development of western Canada. Along the Métis trail: Métis history, heritage, and culture by George Goulet is a book that provides a vivid up-to-date portrayal of the fabulous history, heritage, and culture of the Métis People from the late 1700s to 2022. This book provides factual information on the Métis People that the authors have assembled during more than a quarter of a century of extensive research on the Métis People of Canada and Louis Riel.

Ab McDonald was a Winnipeg-born, four-time Stanley Cup winner, who played 15 seasons in the NHL, before joining the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in 1972. He became the team’s first captain and scored the first goal in the franchise’s history. Throughout his life, he was a wonderful ambassador for the sport of hockey in Manitoba, and lived in Winnipeg for his entire life. Pat McDonald was Ab’s wife and is the best person to tell her husband’s story and what it was like to be a hockey wife through the 1950s and 1960s in this biography, Mr. Winnipeg: the Ab McDonald story. She teamed up with prolific hockey author Ty Dilello for this book. Dilello fills in the details from Ab’s hockey career and interviewed countless teammates and friends over the years to help tell Ab’s life story.

For 14 years, Bill Redekop crisscrossed rural Manitoba writing offbeat and little known stories about people and places for the Winnipeg Free Press. Now he’s back with a new collection of non-fiction stories in Don’t fence me in: true stories about rural Manitoba. Stories focus on quicksand, a new new glacial lake, two friends who have gone for lunch every week for 35 years, the police dog academy in Brandon, civilian jail guard duty, a house made out of a single boulder, and much more. Redekop knits a tapestry of rural life.

Come and check it out!

Louis-Philippe

Monthly Momentum

It’s been a while since I’ve written about the Perspectives Online Book Club but rest assured, we’re still reading books by authors who write about life experiences similar to their own. In fact, we recently decided to switch back to our original format of monthly meetings, instead of every second month. We hope a little more consistency creates momentum for folks. Below are the titles we discussed last fall, and a sneak peek into what we’ll be reading in 2024! You can register for the next three meetings right here! 

In October, we enjoyed Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other. From a non-binary social media influencer to a 93-year-old woman living on a farm in Northern England, twelve central characters explore the state of contemporary Britain and the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. Then in December, we read Selection Day by Aravind Adiga. Manjunath lives in a slum in Mumbai. When he meets his brother’s rival in cricket, everything changes… 

I’m really looking forward to our new lineup of novels. Next Tuesday evening, on February 13^th, we’ll be discussing Catherine Hernandez’s Scarborough. Narrated from multiple perspectives, this novel tells the story of the culturally diverse and tight-knit neighbourhood east of Toronto. It’s a raw yet empathetic look into a community that is struggling with poverty, drugs and crime.  

True Biz, by Sara Nović, is our pick for the March 12^th meeting. This book explores the lives of students and staff at the River Valley School for the Deaf. A series of personal and political crises challenge Charlie, Austin and February, who find their lives inextricably linked and changed forever.  

A book I’ve been meaning to read for ages, Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow, will be our selection for the April 9^th meeting! This novel is about a small northern Anishinaabe community that goes dark. While panic builds, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the South. WPL’s very own Time to Read Podcast is discussing the sequel to this book, Moon of the Turning Leaves. 

I’m really looking forward to discussing these novels with fellow booklovers – I always come away from our meetings with warm feelings, new ideas, and a renewed enthusiasm for reading. I hope you’ll join me at one (or all) of our upcoming meetings! 

– Steph