Let’s play a word association game. When I say “wild,” you say… “exaggerated.” Well, the memoirs and nonfiction books in this list certainly tell wild and exciting tales, but they are by no means exaggerated!
These books are all accounts of unbelievable but true stories, from wilderness survival, to inner journeys, to political dramas. Whether you’re an armchair explorer or want to compare these tales to your own, these BC books are sure to pique your interest.
A coming of age for the modern wild West Coast 20-something. This beautifully illustrated traveller’s journal notes author Norwell’s 1,700-kilometre kayak journey from Victoria, BC up the coast to Gustavus, Alaska. He regales us with his exploits and epiphanies on the water and his motivations for the trip, all intertwined with illustrations of his surroundings in the perfect medium for this case: watercolour. A BC Bestseller!
Out now!
For young readers, this picture book tells the story of Lilian Bland, the first woman ever to design, build, and fly her own airplane. Eventually making a home in Quatsino Sound, on Vancouver Island, Bland accomplished amazing strides in aviation. This story is from the same author/illustrator duo behind Her Courage Rises (which is nominated for a BC & Yukon Book Prize). Part of the Trailblazing Canadians series.
Out now!
Capturing the Summit: Hamilton Mack Laing and the Mount Logan Expedition of 1925 by Trevor Marc Hughes (Ronsdale Press)
Ninety-eight years ago, 1,600km north-west of Vancouver, a naturalist and a mountaineer joined an expedition to climb Mount Logan. The account of that climb is told in Hamilton Mack Liang and Fred Lambart’s own words, from their own diaries. The account offers “the reader a visceral experience of the North and its mighty landscapes.” (Vancouver Sun) Whether you wonder why, oh why do people climb mountains or want to do it yourself, this book will interest you.
Out now!
The ’70s was an unbelievable time full of adventure on BC’s West Coast. If you talk to those old-timers, you’re likely to hear true stories like the ones in Gumboot Guys. A companion to Gumboot Girls and Dancing in Gumboots, this book tells first-hand accounts of a generation of bold, seafaring men from Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii to the Comox Valley.
Coming September 15, 2023!
Philip Hankin, BC’s own proverbial “rolling stone,” first came to Vancouver Island in 1858. Witness to a tumultuous period in the history of the province, Hankin tried his hand at many things, including surveying, prospecting, and serving as colonial secretary. In his journeys on the Indigenous homelands of the Nuu-chah-nulth and Huu-ay-aht Peoples in what is now Vancouver Island, and the Lummi, WSÁNEĆ and Tulalip Peoples to the south, Hankin learned several Indigenous languages, a skill that would prove pivotal in his career. Read Geoff Mynett’s memoir on Hankin to find out his full story.
Coming September 1, 2023!
East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE by Nick Marino (Arsenal Pulp Press)
It’s the 80’s. You’re at the PNE. It’s summer, it’s dark, and you’re a teenager working at the fair. Author Nick Marino was that kid for six summers, and in this memoir, he shares stories of the Wild West of the city’s East Side. With a foreword by beloved Vancouver comedian and author Charles Demers, this book features stories of the hijinks of the local kids at the fair, archival photos of the fairgrounds, and a cast of colourful characters.
Out August 8, 2023! (Just in time for the PNE!)
Transland: Consent, Kink, and Pleasure by Mx. Sly (Arsenal Pulp Press)
This memoir explores transformation, self-discovery, and fetish communities from a gender diverse perspective. Mx. Sly shares stories of what happens when a non-binary person goes looking for self-worth and a sense of belonging in fetish subculture, only to find that fetish communities come with just as many problematic rules, expectations, and hierarchies as mainstream ones. This memoir is an odyssey of kinky hookups and gender euphoria.
Please note that this memoir is intended for adult readers.
Coming October 17, 2023!
Wild but true! Jeremy Evans, a 32-year-old hunter, was attacked by a grizzly bear in the Rockies. His memoir tells the story of his survival, of journeying out of the wilderness to find help for his injuries. Incredibly, Jeremy holds no ill will towards the bear and still enjoys spending time in the backcountry. To him the grizzly was doing what the best parents do: protect their young.
Out now!
Ah, the Vikings. Wild, but certainly real. (Except, maybe, for some exaggerated depictions on TV shows on the subject.) Bestselling author Bill Arnott takes us along for the adventure in this travelogue as he explores ancient civilizations, unearths Viking secrets, and follows pilgrimage paths across Europe, Scandinavia, and the Arctic. A perfectly captivating and humorous read!
Out October 3, 2023!
This story of a mother’s struggle to save her son from addiction is a tragic story that is all too common. Kathy Wager writes this painful and healing memoir with grief and love. Gabor Maté, of The Myth of Normal, praises the book: “Written with novelistic skill, Kathy Wagner’s vivid and moving memoir depicts how trauma, unrecognized, can blight a family across generations and culminate in tragedy, even in the face of fierce and abiding parental love. And, miraculously, how out of tragedy can arise the redemptive blessing of healing and compassion.”
Coming September 9, 2023!
Searching for Franklin by Ken McGoogan (Douglas & McIntyre)
Truth, when it comes to what happened to explorer John Franklin, is elusive. Arctic historian Ken McGoogan challenges the vision of Franklin as a heroic martyr and instead investigates his hubris in his latest book on Arctic exploration. Why did Franklin reject the advice of Dene and Métis leaders? What led to his crews dying of starvation, exhaustion, murder, and cannibalism?
Coming Oct 7, 2023!
This true story of the murder that shocked Toronto in 1894 centres on race and class politics. Carolyn Whitzman tells the story of a courageous Black woman in nineteenth-century Toronto and paints a portrait of a city and a society that have not changed enough in 125 years.
Out now!
William Lyon Mackenzie King’s interesting personality is what you may remember about him from high school social studies, but do you know the entire story about the 1935 General Election? Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this book details this important election in which five major parties ran! This tale of a wild and dramatic political turning point is told with truth and effectiveness.
Out now!