Christmas 2010 Recommendations
Available at Polar Peek Books & Treasures.
– Reviewed by Angie Abdou for The Fernie Fix’s December 2010 Issue

Warriors of the Zombie Hamlet: Prose and Poems of the Great Zombie Apocalypse
by Bubba T. Cook
Buy local, read local, be local. This Christmas, Fernie readers have a new local book to support. If you don’t yet know about Bubba T. Cook, then you don’t really know Fernie. A musician, a writer, an artist – Bubba is a central figure (perhaps the central figure) of Fernie’s art community. His long-awaited Zombie book will have you doubled-over laughing. Warning: it may not be for the young readers on your Christmas list. I would quote you some examples, but I’d get censored. Let’s just say that Bubba’s not afraid of the F-bomb. In the words of Brina Schenk, "Warriors of the Zombie Hamlet is vulgar, most likely offensive, but most importantly, it’s hilarious."

Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod
I feel like I discovered Alexander MacLeod myself. A couple years ago, I stumbled across his short story "Miracle Mile" in a literary journal, and its vivid representation of competitive sport and base human impulse made such an impression on me that I sent MacLeod a fan e-mail. It’s the only time I’ve ever been moved to do so. I also forced the story upon every member of the Sport Literature Association, insisting that Alexander MacLeod was a writer to keep an eye on. It turns out I was right. MacLeod released his first book, a short story collection including the "Miracle Mile" piece, in November and it was immediately short-listed for the prestigious Giller Prize. Interestingly, it turns out that he’s the son of one of my other favourite short-story writers, Alistair MacLeod. I eagerly ran out to grab a copy of the new collection, and as high as my expectations were, I wasn’t disappointed. Every single story in Light Lifting blew me away. It’s as good as a short-story collection gets.

Annabel by Kathleen Winter
Kathleen Winter is responsible for me being late with this month’s column (for first time ever, I might add!). I picked up Annabel on Friday and couldn’t do anything else until I finished it. Annabel is the emotionally involving story of a hermaphrodite raised as a boy in small town Labrador. Not only does Winter make deeply profound statements about gender (gesturing towards a wish for society to move beyond gender), but she also perfectly captures the ethos of small community life – something that will be particularly resonant for residents of Fernie.

Home and Away: In Search of Dreams at the Homeless World Cup of Soccer by Dave Bidini
Who knew there was a Homeless World Cup of Soccer? Certainly not me. Home and Away is eye-opening in many ways, and it’s my non-fiction pick of the year.

An Open Door in the Landscape by Elisabeth Harvor
What a treat – one of my very favourite writers has a new poetry collection out! I sure hope I get this one for Christmas (how’s that for a not-so subtle hint?). Watch for a full review of it in January.