Canlit - NL style

As an add-on to my post about a recent trip to Newfoundland with a literary inspired tour of Cape Random, I thought I'd share some book recommendations.  Some of my favourite books are by Newfoundland authors or are set in Newfoundland.  Whether the stories are from long ago or more recent, they're always inspiring and interesting because after all, it is an inspiring and interesting place.

Newfoundland continues to produce great authors and inspire authors "from away" to write amazing stories as well; here are some of my favourite books set in that beautiful place:

From top to bottom of my pile of books:


1.  The Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnston.  Somewhat of a sequel / follow-up to The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, this book focuses on the unforgettable character of Sheilagh Fielding who also appeared in Colony so you may want to read that one first.


2.  Kit's Law by Donna Morrissey - A story about the trials and tribulations of a set of characters in rural Newfoundland, this was Donna Morrissey's first novel and it is a wonderful story.


3.  Waiting for Time by Bernice Morgan - A sequel to Random Passage, this book goes back and forth between present day and a continuation of the Random Passage story, following the characters along for many more years.


4.  Random Passage by Bernice Morgan - This novel chronicles the lives of a family and the people they meet as circumstances brought them to the fictional Cape Random, Newfoundland from England in the early 1800's.  The characters are amazing and memorable.


5.  The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston - When I read this book, I loved it so much that I was inspired to read anything else that Wayne Johnston had written, I have it bad for his writing and frequently stalk his website to see if he's working on a new book.  Please write another novel Wayne, I'm begging you.  Alas, this is one of my all time favourite books and as a good historical fiction novel always does, it melds historical events and people (namely Joey Smallwood, first premier of Newfoundland) with fictional characters and events so well that it makes the history lesson enjoyable and not a lesson at all.


6.  The Wreckage by Michael Crummey.  Beautiful novel, war time, Newfoundland love story.  I see that Michael Crummey has just released a new novel - can't wait to read it!