With Toronto and Peele regions entering a second lockdown, the tail-end of fall semester may seem to drag out longer than usual.
Instead of wallowing in despair or zoning out during Zoom class, you can find a little bit of escapism in the comfort of books.
Whether you are looking for a bestseller, a timeless classic, new releases or an audiobook to listen to while you’re cleaning, there is a ton of variety for every reader.
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
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This 2016 bestseller made headlines with its counterintuitive approach to living life to the fullest.
In a publishing world focused on self-help novels becoming a popular genre for millennial audiences, Mark Manson’s novel is brutally honest and doesn’t sugarcoat the harsh reality of life.
Manson’s novel focuses on how happiness isn’t the answer to our life problems, how we are all wrong and how society has fostered a culture that fears failure and questions how we define success. Since publishing The Subtle Art, Manson has since published a second book titled Everything is F*cked.
You can listen to Manson’s book on audible and get it for free after starting your 30-day free trial!
- Film for Her by Orion Carloto
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With the release of her second poetry book, Orion Carloto is making a name for herself! Carloto, a Latinx poet based in Los Angeles, released her first book Flux in 2017 which focused on coming to terms with a broken heart.
Now in her second novel, she highlights her experiences dealing with loneliness after moving away from family. This story is a perfect read for those dealing with feelings of isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, it also touches on where people can seek comfort during early adulthood.
Carloto’s book is available on Amazon Canada.
- They said this Would be Fun by Eternity Martis
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Check out this memoir from an award-winning journalist (and Ryerson associate-professor!) Eternity Martis. Her national bestseller talks about ‘party culture’, race, identity and gender violence on university campuses.
Martis relays the experiences she had while attending Western University for her undergrad. According to The Varsity newspaper at UofT, she uses tact and humor to paint an all too familiar picture of the university, while also laying the foundation for her to share her experiences as a Black woman in a predominantly white community. Her story is not only one of pain, but of resilience.
Buy or order her book online at Indigo, you can also purchase the ebook version too!
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
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Perhaps you can relate to the title of this book with the state of things going on in the world, but don’t be fooled, there is no pandemic here! Bestselling author of The Man called Ove has now released his latest novel, which is on sale for $14.99 at Chapters-Indigo.
This thrilling comedy is centered around eight different New Yorkers during an apartment viewing gone lethal, when a failed bank robber is brought in and holds the character’s hostage. Now, these strangers are forced to open up about their deepest struggles and life problems.
- How Did I Get Here? By Bruce McCall
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Bruce McCall is something of a Canadian legend. McCall is a Toronto born artist who is well-known for his cover art and writing at The New Yorker. He has drawn over 77 covers for the magazine, as well as his written contributions to Shout and Murmurs dating back to 1980.
In his memoir, McCall recounts his childhood during World War II, his coming of age in the 1950s and how dropping out of high school led him to become a self-taught artist in the Mad Men era of advertising.
How Did I Get Here? was published on Nov. 24 and is available at Chapters-Indigo through both hardcover and Kobo ebook.
- Embers by Richard Wagamese
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Before his passing in 2017, Indigenous author Richard Wagamese had released a book of meditations in one of his most personal novels to date.
Wagamese does not aim to be a self-help guru or teacher, his honest observations on persistence, gratitude and joy leave readers with wisdom and insight into their own personal lives.
- Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
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Many know Stephen Chbosky as the author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, his singular novel that became a YA classic in 1999. Since then, Chbosky has been a writer and director of multiple Hollywood movies (including the 2012 adaption of said novel). 20 years later, Chbosky released a second book titled Imaginary Friend.
The story is centered around single mother Kate Reese and her son, seven-year-old Christopher as they flee from her abusive relationship and find safety in a small town in Pennsylvania. Chbosky moves entirely from the coming-of-age genre that he is known for and writes a suspenseful horror story as Christopher and his mother must complete building a tree house by Christmas or else his ‘imaginary friend’ will wreak havoc on the town.