by Jackie LaPlante – 

The Upstairs Delicatessen: on Eating, Reading, Reading about Eating and Reading While Eating
Dwight Garner

Despite being raised in a family that was neither particularly epicurean nor literary, New York Times food columnist Dwight Garner can find apt literary quotes to illustrate his culinary experiences and personal reminiscences. Unwaveringly true to his two abiding passions – books and food – Garner’s memoir extols the virtues of guileless diversity: he loves both Chef Boyardee and truffles; will cite Plato and The National Enquirer; and entertains the reader with both light humour and profundity.

The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days
Helen Rebanks

This account of a single day in the life of a farmer’s wife leaves the romanticism of England’s rolling hills behind. Rebanks, who runs a sheep farm with author/husband James, is forthright about the hard work and monotony of her daily life. However, she invites us to find joy by celebrating the accomplishments of producing and enjoying ethically-raised foods by reminiscing about her early years on her grandmother’s farm, and sharing treasured recipes.

Great-Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire
Michael Palin

Michael Palin has pored through official documents, investigated family gossip and trod the Somme, where his Great-Uncle Harry died in 1916, aged 32. Even though his uncle left few personal memoirs, with meticulous detective work Palin manages to bring his forebear to life. As entertaining on the page as he is onscreen, Palin weaves a well-told story, peppering it with his trademark humour and demonstrating great love and respect for his family.

 

The Adversary
Michael Crummey

Business rivals and siblings Abe Strapp and The Widow Caines battle for dominance in an outport on the coast of northern Newfoundland. As the community struggles against punishing storms, marauding privateers and scarcity of fish, the lifeblood of the region, the two merchants concern themselves only with their own selfish vendettas. As always, Crummey digs deep into the colourful and often irreverent vernacular of Newfoundland to lighten the darkness of blustery and spare times.

 

The Witching Tide
Helen Meyer

Martha is a healer, a midwife and a servant. But when a witchfinder comes to East Anglia, the gifts that have always made her useful to the community suddenly make her a target. Literally voiceless, Martha is unable to defend herself against the harsh allegations of those who were once her loving friends and neighbours. Readers may feel a certain sense of deja-vu as condemnations founded on rumours devastate villagers’ lives.

 

My Name is Barbra
Barbra Streisand

A six-decade career is bound to engender some fascinating stories and Barbra Streisand, now 81, is keen to share. That Barbra is talented and famous is a given. That she name-drops while discussing her career is simply expected. From in-depth discussion of her films to her vocal career and impressive list of romantic interests (hello, Pierre Trudeau) the super-sized book is a well-crafted and entertaining journey through the star’s life.

 

Picturing the Game: An Illustrated Story of Hockey
Don Weekes

This illustrated history of hockey is a delightful grab bag of newspaper snippets, editorial cartoons and sports illustrations. Delving back as far as 1900, Don Weekes highlights hockey hallmarks such as the personalities, on-ice violence, and the timeless Canada-USA rivalry. Editorial is only resonant in its social context, and each illustration is given sufficient historical background. This thoughtful but tongue-in-cheek look at Canada’s national game will appeal to diehard fans and those willing to learn!