Tune in this week as we share book recommendations from some of your favourite authors.
For those who love a good snow-themed winter getaway
Because Venus Crossed an Alpine Violet on the Day That I Was Born
by Mona Høvring, translated by Kari Dickson & Rachel Rankin (Book*hug Press)
Be prepared for an atmospheric novel that will transport you right to the mountain village where these two sisters go, partly to try and rekindle their childhood connection, but also because one of them has just been released from a sanatorium with a prescription for a change of scenery. Although sisterhood is the main theme explored in Because Venus Crossed an Alpine Violet on the Day That I Was Born, you also get themes of mental health, personal connections, and learning to use your voice. With a full cast of hotel employees, family, and more, they all play a role in adding to the vibrancy of the setting they’re in, as well as the imagery surrounding them. You will literally read this in one sitting and then pick it right back up again.
Pair this book with a mug and hot chocolate set to complete the winter-theme aesthetic!
For those who want to be lulled into a different world when reading
Book of Wings by Tawhida Tanya Evanson (Véhicule Press)
Book of Wings by Tawhida Tanya Evanson is another book that you’ll want to pick up again as soon as you’ve finished it. I like to think that this book is definitely one you must read twice—the first time to just absorb the poetic and lilting language, and the second time to read for the journey. This is a heavy book though, with grief, displacement, and heartbreak as a few main themes, but it is also a story of discovery and bravery in a world where you aren’t treated like you belong. Pick this up for the poetic-like language, stay for the physical (and spiritual) journey from Vancouver to the USA, the Caribbean, Paris, and Morocco.
Pair this book with a lovely journal (ideally with birds!) so your recipient can journal their thoughts as they read, but also maybe even create some art of their own.
Maria Zuppardi is a passionate book lover turned Marketing Coordinator at Dundurn Press. When she’s not creating bookish content for Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and her blog, she’s furiously trying to read as much as possible with a ridiculously oversized mug of coffee.
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Thanks so much to Maria for this thoughtfully curated list of books for all kinds of giftees on your list. Stay tuned this week for even more recommendations and follow along with the hashtag #ALUgiftguide!
