In Case You Missed It… or what else happened in April besides #NPM15

Our blog was pretty much all poetry, all the time throughout the month of April. Since National Poetry Month only comes once a year, we tend to save up a lot of our poetry-related exuberance and let it out all at once. But we know a lot of other things happened in April and other, non-poetry books were released that you might be interested in. So ICYMI, here are just a few of the titles that became available in April that might catch your literary fancy:

The past month has finally seen the weather round a corner for most of the country: spring is here! If this means you’re out for longer walks with your furry companion, you should read: Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis, published by Coach House Books.What if dogs had the same level of consciousness and ability to speak as we do? In this compelling look at the beauty and perils of human consciousness, the dogs become divided among themselves: who resists change, preferring the old way, and who embraces this newly unfamiliar world. Caution: if you are a dog lover this book may bring you to tears (but in the best way possible).

Speaking of walking, in April we signed up for ECW Press’s walking challenge that officially began on May 1st. If you want to know what all the pedestrian hype is about check out Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act by Dan Rubinstein.Walking is an act that transcends age, geography, culture, and class but one that seems to have fallen by the wayside as most modern cultures fixate on speed. But as one of the most economical and environmentally responsible ways to get from point A to point B, especially in the era of obesity, anxiety, and climate change, it is one that we should all reconsider.

Turning to the current political landscape, April saw things heating up in the US Presidential race already and we have our own election coming up this October. If you need to add some humour to your politics to keep a cool head then you should read Accidental Genius by Keith Garebian, published by Guernica Editions.With a focus on mainly American politicians, and a sprinkling of pop culture celebrities, Garebian takes well-known utterances of egregious political, social, and cultural atrocity and turns them on their heads. Cameo appearance by Tom Cruise!

Calling all music fans! If you’re still waiting to pick your song of the summer and are getting impatient we’ve got a music bio that will take your mind off things. Read Jim Guthrie: Who Needs What by Andrew Hood, published by Invisible Publishing.You may not know his name, but you’ve definitely heard his music; much of Jim Guthrie’s twenty-year career as a musician has been spent in the background of some of the most popular indie games, films, and ad campaigns. With interviews from collaborators, fans, and even Jim himself, explore how he developed a cult following.

The final half season of Mad Men began airing in April. If you’re intrigued by the secretive Don Draper and aren’t sure where you’re going to turn after the final episode airs then we’ve got a collection of short stories for you. The Secrets Men Keep by Mark Sampson, published by Now or Never.The Secrets Men Keep is a look at the modern man and his relationships, the shifting sense of what it means to be a man, and the lies men tell themselves to keep their dreams and identities afloat.

Not a fan of Mad Men, but rather of the Queen of Dragons? While Game of Thrones is more of a bloody epic, The Sicilian Wife by Caterina Edwards (Linda Leith Publishing) is a genre-bending literary noir with two strong female leads.Chief Marisa de Luca is investigating the death of a corpse in 1989 Italy, while also dealing with the condescension of her male colleagues. Mafia daughter Fulvia who escaped to Edmonton and started anew is drawn back into her old life with the death of her husband in Sicily.* * *Happy reading!