When I saw that the blog entry was favourite Canadian authors, I have to admit I was a bit stumped. Much of the Canadian literature I've encountered has been through required readings for academic reasons. I hate to say this, but Canadian literature has somehow formed a reputation of being dry and boring compared to the popular European or American literature. Or rather than that, no one really talked about Canadian literature, so it was just this unknown and hidden thing that I never bothered to find out more about. Sometimes I didn't even know that the author was Canadian, until further research. Luckily, the few Canadians books that I've encountered have been great reads.
1. David Chariandy: Soucouyant
I absolutely loved this book. It is a story about a woman who suffers from dementia and the relationship with her son who is burdened by her physical disabilities and disappearing memories. I really enjoyed the writing style and the whole perspective on how the past can really impact the future generations and their struggles with their own history. Chariandy is also a SFU professor and this was his first book. It always amazes me when I read books by local authors, because it feels like they are so close. It gives me a sense of familiarity, like I can relate and that the authors are just normal people
2. Ashok Mathur: Into Skin
This is a short story telling the life of an immigrant and his/her struggle with a different language and everything that comes with beginning a new life in an unfamiliar place. This was a really compelling piece of literature because of the way the author uses sound and how the protagonist is never really identified. I really enjoyed how language could transform into so many different forms and could even be used as an identifier. This is a short read but I would definitely recommend it. I think many people can relate to this, as we are all 'immigrants' to Canada. Although it isn't evident in the later generations (I'm first generation), for my parents I know their experience with the English language must be somewhat similar to the protagonist (although probably not so violent). It just makes me think how the way we communicate can have so much power.
Side Note:
I mentioned I was second generation earlier and that made me remember a conference by Roy Kiyooka titled "We Asian North Americanos: An unhistorical 'take' on growing up yellow in a white world". He talks about being caught in between two cultures, the difficulty in seeing who we are and the stereotypes that we have internalized. Being of Chinese ethnicity but being the only one in my family born in Canada, I remember times when I struggled to keep up with Chinese traditions, language and history. I felt as if I needed to know them but that I couldn't live up to the standards of being "Chinese". My appearance didn't match up with what was inside.
3. Joy Kogawa: Obasan
I first encountered this book in high school, not as a novel study but in a reading credits program (we read books, get tested on them and get credits) in one of my English classes. In the beginning, the book is pretty dry but as the story moved on it definitely became much more appealing. It's a short novel, but the themes throughout the literature, the fact that it is based on a true story and that it happened in places that are in some of my fondest memories (the PNE) definitely created an impact on me. I guess because I've lived in Vancouver most of my life, but didn't learn about the Japanese internment in Canada it not only shocked me, but also opened my eyes to how important history was to understand why both sides acted the way they acted and how it shapes the world of today through current events, stereotypes, and literature.
4. Eden Robinson: Monkey Beach
A tragic First Nations story set in Kitamaat, British Columbia about a sister and her brother who goes missing on a boating trip. It unfolds into a rather complex situation where what occurs is a result in the histories of the forced Christian religion, residential schools, violence, alcohol and much more that was brought upon First Nations people. It is a story of finding identity and coming to terms with what has happened. I won't say anymore because I think it is fairly easy to give away spoilers. This is definitely a must read if anyone wants to learn more about First Nations, but it is also a very enjoyable novel for a rainy day.
1. David Chariandy: Soucouyant
I absolutely loved this book. It is a story about a woman who suffers from dementia and the relationship with her son who is burdened by her physical disabilities and disappearing memories. I really enjoyed the writing style and the whole perspective on how the past can really impact the future generations and their struggles with their own history. Chariandy is also a SFU professor and this was his first book. It always amazes me when I read books by local authors, because it feels like they are so close. It gives me a sense of familiarity, like I can relate and that the authors are just normal people
2. Ashok Mathur: Into Skin
This is a short story telling the life of an immigrant and his/her struggle with a different language and everything that comes with beginning a new life in an unfamiliar place. This was a really compelling piece of literature because of the way the author uses sound and how the protagonist is never really identified. I really enjoyed how language could transform into so many different forms and could even be used as an identifier. This is a short read but I would definitely recommend it. I think many people can relate to this, as we are all 'immigrants' to Canada. Although it isn't evident in the later generations (I'm first generation), for my parents I know their experience with the English language must be somewhat similar to the protagonist (although probably not so violent). It just makes me think how the way we communicate can have so much power.
Side Note:
I mentioned I was second generation earlier and that made me remember a conference by Roy Kiyooka titled "We Asian North Americanos: An unhistorical 'take' on growing up yellow in a white world". He talks about being caught in between two cultures, the difficulty in seeing who we are and the stereotypes that we have internalized. Being of Chinese ethnicity but being the only one in my family born in Canada, I remember times when I struggled to keep up with Chinese traditions, language and history. I felt as if I needed to know them but that I couldn't live up to the standards of being "Chinese". My appearance didn't match up with what was inside.
3. Joy Kogawa: Obasan
I first encountered this book in high school, not as a novel study but in a reading credits program (we read books, get tested on them and get credits) in one of my English classes. In the beginning, the book is pretty dry but as the story moved on it definitely became much more appealing. It's a short novel, but the themes throughout the literature, the fact that it is based on a true story and that it happened in places that are in some of my fondest memories (the PNE) definitely created an impact on me. I guess because I've lived in Vancouver most of my life, but didn't learn about the Japanese internment in Canada it not only shocked me, but also opened my eyes to how important history was to understand why both sides acted the way they acted and how it shapes the world of today through current events, stereotypes, and literature.
4. Eden Robinson: Monkey Beach
A tragic First Nations story set in Kitamaat, British Columbia about a sister and her brother who goes missing on a boating trip. It unfolds into a rather complex situation where what occurs is a result in the histories of the forced Christian religion, residential schools, violence, alcohol and much more that was brought upon First Nations people. It is a story of finding identity and coming to terms with what has happened. I won't say anymore because I think it is fairly easy to give away spoilers. This is definitely a must read if anyone wants to learn more about First Nations, but it is also a very enjoyable novel for a rainy day.