Discover the many talented writers of the Okanagan, and the exciting books written about the area, due to a groundbreaking new project allowing readers to browse more than 8,500 BC-published books on one central website.
BC Books Online is a free website, where a simple-to-use database enables readers to discover local books with just a few clicks of the mouse.
Spearheaded by the Association of Book Publishers of BC, the innovative website contains titles by 24 publishers. Users can discover a book about your region by searching the database, or browsing through one of the 14 reading lists specially curated by a knowledgeable B.C. librarian. These lists (such as Books from Thompson-Okanagan) provide entirely new ways of finding titles that aren’t traditionally reflected in BISAC listings — categories used for decades by libraries and bookstores to organize books.
Local Books to Buy as Gifts This Christmas
This guide was compiled from local books listed on the new website BC Books Online, which enables librarians, booksellers, educators, and the public alike to easily browse thousands of books from the province’s publishers, for the first time through one central location.
British Columbia: A Natural History of Its Origins, Ecology, and Diversity with a New Look at Climate Change: http://bcbooks.49thshelf.com/Books/B/British-Columbia
by Richard Cannings with Sydney Cannings
"This revised edition of an award-winning book explores British Columbia’s stunning ecology with expanded sections on the province’s geological history and information throughout on the effects of climate change. With maps and full colour photographs throughout, British Columbia is a great gift for nature lovers."
Author’s local connection: Long-time Penticton resident Richard Cannings is the MP in the federal riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
Sonia: The Life of Bohemian, Rancher and Artist Sonia Cornwall, 1919-2006: http://caitlin-press.com/our-books/sonia/
by Sheryl Salloum
"Independent and driven, Sonia Cornwall developed a distinct style that captured the nuances of the rugged interior, doing for British Columbia’s Central Interior what Emily Carr did for the Coast."
Author's local connection: The Penticton Art Gallery had an exhibit of Cornwall’s work earlier this year and hosted her book launch in the fall.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
The Flour Peddler: A Global Journey into Local Food from Canada to South Sudan: http://caitlin-press.com/our-books/flour-peddler-the/
by Chris Hergesheimer and Josh Hergesheimer
"Part grain-chain analysis, part bare-all exposé, The Flour Peddler explores the trends and issues of local food systems as well as the challenges and power of alternative food movements. It is also a journey of surprising adventure, from broken-down market vans, fraudulent bus tickets and hungry bears to a Russian helicopter, an attempted coup and a heart-wrenching homecoming."
Author's local connection: The book delves into the history and changes of grain-growing in B.C., including the Okanagan.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
Rom Com: http://bcbooks.49thshelf.com/Books/R/Rom-Com
by Dina Del Bucchia & Daniel Zomparelli
"The book mines the conventions of romantic comedy, as well as the content of actual romantic comedies, with the kind of deep sympathy and sense of humour you’re only really able to pull off when you really love the thing you’re making fun of. … whip-smart and extremely fun to read.”
Author's local connection: Dina Del Bucchia was born and raised in Fruitvale, B.C. Both authors are from BC. Perhaps BC’s most unusual gift book of the season, comes it’s own set of paper dolls.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
Writing the Okanagan: http://bcbooks.49thshelf.com/Books/W/Writing-the-Okanagan
by George Bowering
"Writing the Okanagan draws on forty books Bowering has published since 1960. Okanagan towns, among them Penticton, Oliver, Rock Creek, Peachland, Vernon, Kamloops, Princeton, and Osoyoos, inspire the selections. This volume captures the Okanagan and a writer, as well being a guide to the literature from the last fifty years."
Author's local connection: Born in the Okanagan Valley, George Bowering is one of the Okanagan’s favourite sons. He returns to the valley every year.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
my June: http://bcbooks.49thshelf.com/Books/M/my-June
by Danial Neil
"British Columbia is the setting for this hauntingly beautiful novel capturing the heartscape of a man who, when his wife unexpectedly dies, is thrown into an emotional wasteland before finding his way back to a world of sunlight, friendship, and joy."
Author’s local connection: Danial Neil lives in nearby Oliver, B.C., and promotes his work in Penticton. He held the Okanagan book launch for my June at Hooked on Books in Penticton.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
10 Women: http://www.anvilpress.com/Books/10-women
by George Bowering
"10 Women is a new collection of short fiction from one of Canada’s preeminent writers. Each of these stories offers us a portrait of a woman."
"It’s the breeziness that gets you. The matter-of-fact-ness and the mischievousness, which is a mouthful…There’s almost always an element of experimentation in these stories.” — Stephen Brown, The Vancouver Sun
Author’s local connection: George Bowering was born in Penticton.
Available online or at your local bookstore.
Soviet Princeton: Slim Evans and the 1932-33 Miners’ Strike: http://www.newstarbooks.com/book.php?book_id=1554201098
by Jon Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat
“This engrossing history recounts the untold story of a dramatic and violent clash between striking miners, led by notorious organizer Slim Evans, and the establishment forces of Princeton, including thePrinceton Star’s editor, the police, and the KKK, who stoked fears of the ‛red menace’ invading Princeton.”
Authors’ local connection: They both live in Princeton.
Available at newstarbooks.com or at your local bookstore.
Black Tide Rising: http://bcbooks.49thshelf.com/Books/B/Black-Tide-Rising
by R.J. McMillen
" In the wee hours of the morning, a woman is taken, and pulled into the heavily forested terrain of remote Nootka Island. In order to find her, Dan Connor and Walker pair up once again, relying on Dan’s experience as a cop and Walker’s tracker’s wisdom to find her. "
Author’s local connection: McMillen lives in Summerland
Available online or at your local bookstore.