Personally, I started obsessing about snowboard-cross (Have you seen this? Spectacular!) and I have fully indulged my younger self's love of pretty things by watching as much ice dancing as possible. Watching the opening ceremonies with the Native American dances and the Mounties, I started to realize that we share so much cultural and political history with our neighbors, yet I know so little about them.
One of my favorite ways to learn more about a culture is by reading their literature - not boring books about their history, but fiction and poetry that offers unique perspectives on their lives and minds.
Here are a few of my personal favorite Canadians and some of their best works:
This haunting, dystopic tale, told from the perspective of a women who remembers better times, was the best book I read last year. Atwood's take on a future society sometimes resembles today's world in more ways than the reader cares to admit.John McCrae and In Flanders Fields
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow..." starts the most beautiful and painful poems. Written by McCrae while in the trenches of WWI, this poem reminds me that it was not just American soldiers crossing the Atlantic to fight on the fields of Flanders, Canadians were fighting with us too. You will never look at the red poppies in the same way again.
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow..." starts the most beautiful and painful poems. Written by McCrae while in the trenches of WWI, this poem reminds me that it was not just American soldiers crossing the Atlantic to fight on the fields of Flanders, Canadians were fighting with us too. You will never look at the red poppies in the same way again.
Lucy Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables
This is where the story begins. I cannot count the number of times I read these stories as a kid, and, even today, I nurse and enduring love for Anne and her strength throughout life's problems. It is never too late to start reading about dear Anne!
This is where the story begins. I cannot count the number of times I read these stories as a kid, and, even today, I nurse and enduring love for Anne and her strength throughout life's problems. It is never too late to start reading about dear Anne!Alice Munro and Open Secrets
Each of these short stories is devoted to a different woman who must overcome or succumb to different situations, each written with love and understanding. At times, I wanted to reread the poetic beauty of each line and, at other times, I threw the book across the room in anger.
Each of these short stories is devoted to a different woman who must overcome or succumb to different situations, each written with love and understanding. At times, I wanted to reread the poetic beauty of each line and, at other times, I threw the book across the room in anger.and, last but not least,
Robert Service and The Shooting of Dan McGrew and Other Poems
Anyone who knows me will laugh when they see this! Not more than a day passes when I don't quote from my favorite Service poem, "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Service gives voice to the thousands of men who left everything to prospect in Alaska during the gold rush - their pain, their suffering, and the siren's call they couldn't deny.
Anyone who knows me will laugh when they see this! Not more than a day passes when I don't quote from my favorite Service poem, "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Service gives voice to the thousands of men who left everything to prospect in Alaska during the gold rush - their pain, their suffering, and the siren's call they couldn't deny.
