Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Six Historical Fiction Books Set in Canada

Historical Fiction Set in Canada

Happy Canada Day! This is the day that Canadians from coast to coast to coast don their red and white and head out to celebrate our fabulous country, which was born on this day, July 1, 1867. It is with history in mind that I thought I would share six interesting historical fiction novels that are at least partly set in Canada. If you love historic fiction, I hope you will find a new book to add to your reading list.

Despite the unprecedented virus situation in Canada Day 2020, this list is by no means an indicator that Canadians will be staying home and reading on July 1. I will be wearing red and white, cooking up something special on the grill, eating some ripe red strawberries, having a walk in our neighborhood to see from a safe distance many Canadian flags flying high and our red and white attired neighbors before coming home and toasting Canada. Here's how we're celebrating Canada Day Together, Apart in 2020 but I digress. Here's the promised list of six fabulous historical fiction books set in Canada.

UNDER THIS UNBROKEN SKY


UNDER THIS UNBROKEN SKY

Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell is a close look at the settling of Canada. Read this book and you will wonder how the prairies ever came to be settled. If it was not one thing it was another for this poor Ukrainian family when they took up a homesteading on the Canadian prairies in the 1930s. Truly a look at how tough life was for those immigrant settlers with a story line that will capture your attention. I have not written a full review of this fascinating book yet but you can read more about Under This Unbroken Sky on Amazon here.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING


ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING

Anne of Green Gables may be thought of as a children's book but they are totally appropriate for adults, too. They are an interesting look into Lucy Maud Montgomery's Prince Edward Island in the early 1900s.

Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning was written by Kevin Sullivan. Sullivan was the creator of the original Anne of Green Gables movie series. This book is his more recent prequel to the Anne of Green Gables stories. You can read my complete review of Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning here. I have always been a fan of Anne Shirley and I enjoyed this book.

BEFORE OF GREEN GABLES


BEFORE OF GREEN GABLES

Before Green Gables was written by Nova Scotia's Budge Wilson and was my preferred version of what Anne Shirley's life might have looked like before she was sent as an orphan to live on Prince Edward Island. Interesting that two prequels with two totally different stories were published and that they were published just a year apart.  You can find my complete review of Before Green Gables here.

THE HOME FOR UNWANTED GIRLS


THE HOME FOR UNWANTED GIRLS

Joanna Goodman's The Home for Unwanted Girls is set in in French Canada in the 1950s and tells the story of a woman forced to give up her daughter and the tale of that daughter in the Canadian system. There is a lot of heartache in this book but that it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me. You will find my complete review of The Home for Unwanted Girls here.

THE PIANO MAKER


THE PIANO MAKER

The Piano Maker was written by Kurt Palka and tells the tale of a woman's life taking her from France in the era of the First World War to Canada in the 1930s. I enjoyed this book because it was partially set in Canada. It is particularly interesting for anyone who is interested in the piano and who wants a look into war-time fiction set in Canada's maritime provinces. Find my complete review of The Piano Maker here.

THE QUINTLAND SISTERS


THE QUINTLAND SISTERS

I have long been interested in the lives of the Dionne Quintuplets. Pierre Berton's 1978 novel introduced me to the sisters and I have followed the true life story of these mistreated sisters ever since. They were the world's first set of quintuplets to survive infancy. This book, written by Shelley Wood, is an interesting look into their lives in the 1930s when the world was glad to embrace the sisters even if it meant that they were taken from their parents and displayed as a tourist attraction. Find my complete review of The Quintland Sisters here.

There. I hope you have found a novel with a Canadian theme to add to your list!

Happy Canada Day
and Happy Reading!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Discover how we're celebrating Canada Day, 2020.
Discover a page full of fabulous Anne of Green Gables gift ideas.


Six Historical Fiction Books Set in Canada





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12 comments:

  1. Delightful collection of Canadian based stories to while away a holiday weekend. Thanks for the book suggestions and synopses, Brenda. And 'Happy Canada' Day to you and your family. I have always felt a special affinity with my Canadian neighbors because I have ancestors from both sides of my family who immigrated to New York and New England from Canada (both Toronto and Quebec). Thus, I've always felt 'part-Canadian'myself :) Enjoy your special day as we on this side of the border enjoy ours this weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Pat. I guess many of us have ancestry on both sides of the Canadian and American border. I believe my grandmother was a girl in Boston.

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  2. First, Happy Canada Day! I would love to share those strawberries and grilling fun with you, Brenda. As you know, I too love Anne of Green Gables. Because of your previous reviews, I have already read a few of the other featured books as well and enjoyed them. The title of the first featured book, "Under This Unbroken Sky" just seems to beckon me, even without a synopsis. It is the kind of title that would cause me to pull the book from the shelf to further inspect. Excellent compilation of books for our readers to consider.

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    1. Thanks, Cynthia. I just finished Under This Unbroken Sky and it was a very interesting look at life in difficult times!

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  3. Wonderful list of books Brenda. I think I have read all but one. I will have to look for that one for sure. All of them are great stories and really enjoyable reads. Thanks for this list and I'm going to go share them now. Happy Canada Day!

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  4. Thanks for outlining these suggestions. I remember the movie years ago about the Dionne Quints and wow was it upsetting - terrible what happened to their lives. Shameful. I have yet to read Anne of Green Gables, can you believe that! As a Canadian I rarely admit that hahaha - the other books sound terrific too

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    1. You've missed out then, Barbara. You do have me wondering if you have watched any of the Anne of Green Gables programs...

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  5. I love anything to do with history. I haven't read any of these books but will now have to check them out. Thanks Brenda!

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  6. Belated Happy Canada Day, Brenda! What a wonderful way to commemorate this special holiday. I, too, have been meaning to read Anne of Green Gables for years and have never gotten around to it. Maybe this will be the year!

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  7. Am a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables - but have not read the prequel- yet! Thank you for highlighting the best of list from our friends to the north!

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