If you have a hobby (or two, or three!) that you love to dive into in your spare time, you’re aware of how much fulfillment pursuing your passions can bring to your life. This week, we’ve curated some fantastic BC-based books about hobbies and deep dive fascinations that keep you engaged and entertained. Whether you’re passionate about collecting, journaling, hiking, photography, crafting, or simply finding inspiration in the endless paths your creativity can explore, these books will take you to new heights.
Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Zazie Todd (Greystone Books)
Is your dog showing fear or anxiety, like biting or aggressive barking? In Bark!, Zazie Todd offers science-backed solutions, teaching you how to manage common fears, use positive reinforcement, ensure safety, and create a secure environment for your dog. Compassionate and practical, Bark! helps you support your dog’s emotional well-being.
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Fleece & Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands by Francine McCabe (Heritage House Publishing)
Fleece and Fibre explores Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands’ growing land-based textile economy, showcasing the region’s vibrant fleece and fibre community. Author Francine McCabe is a self-taught fibre artist and is involved in local fibresheds and fibre arts organizations on Vancouver Island. Through captivating photography, this book highlights the diverse fibres produced along the Salish Sea—such as sheep wool, llama, alpaca, mohair, and hemp—and details their production, processing, and use. In response to the unsustainable global textile industry, this book offers a local alternative, connecting farmers, makers, and consumers while promoting a more ethical, sustainable textile economy.
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300 Mason Jars: Preserving History by Joanne Thomson (Heritage House Publishing)
300 Mason Jars by Joanne Thomson tells a family’s story of hope, challenge, and persistence through watercolour paintings of everyday objects—flowers, tools, toys, and more—arranged in glass jars. Each item, collected from family and nature, represents the complexities of daily life, touching on themes like gender roles, food security, generational treasures, and family secrets. This visually stunning book offers a deeply meaningful exploration of family history and the objects that shape it, making it a captivating addition to any art lover’s collection.
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You’re Gonna Love This by Dina Del Bucchia (Talonbooks)
You’re Gonna Love This tracks the narrator’s entwined relationships with her spouse, her love of watching television, and herself. Displaying Del Bucchia’s trademark nuanced media literacy, this distinctly working-class long poem unravels how media culture’s around-the-clock presence impacts our connection to the world. Recapping episodes in her experience of caregiving, she also addresses her own mental health journey with dark humour and wry cultural references.
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What Inspires by Alison Hughes, illustrated by Ellen Rooney (Orca Book Publishers)
What Inspires captures the boundless essence of creativity, sparking conversation about how anything can be considered art—whether it’s painting or building a stick fort. Through the playful adventures of three friends, their outdoor explorations at the park ignite a series of imaginative events, from constructing forts to sailing on imaginary seas and staging a parade. As the day turns to night, the children’s creativity flows into their dreams, where the possibilities are limitless and imagination knows no bounds.
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Two Springs, One Summer by Frank Wolf (Rocky Mountain Books)
Renowned adventurer Frank Wolf embarks on long-distance wilderness journeys, including a 280-kilometre ski trip across Baffin Island, a 1,750-kilometre canoe expedition through the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and a 550-kilometre ski retracing of John Rae’s 1854 route—all within a year. These challenging expeditions, across rugged landscapes and remote rivers, are undertaken with various teams in some of the harshest environments. Beyond the adventures, Wolf reflects on the difficult “idle” times between trips, revealing that his internal struggles in modern life often feel wilder than the physical challenges of the wilderness.
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The Art of Misadventure by Dave Brosha (Rocky Mountain Books)
Embark on an inspiring journey through photography and personal growth in this captivating memoir by renowned Canadian photographer, Dave Brosha. In The Art of Misadventure, Dave takes you through his life of quirky missteps and memorable moments, blending humour, determination, and a touch of ridiculousness. As a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, father, and writer, Dave reflects on the value of experiences over possessions, sharing his adventures and misadventures as one of Canada’s top adventure photographers.
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Bad Artist by Nellwyn Lampert, Pamela Oakley, Christian Smith, and Gillian Turnbull (TouchWood Editions)
Bad Artist is a collection of twenty-one essays on creativity and writing from Canadian and international writers, offering an antidote to today’s toxic productivity culture. In a world that prioritizes output, these artists share how they create for art’s sake, often fitting creativity into the cracks of their lives. The essays, written by those who have faced systemic barriers, reflect on resisting productivity pressures and embracing the many forms of creativity. Together, they provide warmth, support, and empathy, reminding us that creating—not producing—is what truly matters.
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Quest For Speed: A History of Trains from Rocket to Bullet and Beyond by Derek Hayes (Douglas & McIntyre)
This book takes a global journey through the history of high-speed trains, beginning in Britain and covering nineteenth and twentieth-century developments across Europe. It highlights the French TGV, inspired by Japan’s Shinkansen, which sparked the modern high-speed rail movement in the West. The book also features American and Canadian trains from the 1930s, including steam and diesel innovations. Exquisitely illustrated with hundreds of photos, both archival and modern, Quest for Speed is a visual feast for anyone interested in railways.
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