On Books and Our Frozen City

Tom Thomson of the Group of Seven's Winter Morning

I think one of the main reasons Canada is such a literate and well read nation is our long, cold winters (see outside for an example of said winter).  A few years ago, I read a statistic that stated the Prince George Public Library was one of the most well used libraries – per capita – in the world, which means that in a country of readers, we’re leading the pack.  In Prince George we love our winter sports and activities but  we also spend a lot of time housebound and even though technology is such that we can go out (and survive) on a -30°C day, even the most hardcore winter lovers among us don’t always want to.

I know my favorite way to spend a frozen evening is under a blanket with a warm drink and a good book.  The choice of book depends on my mood.  Sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly worn by the cold and dark, I’ll pick something light that will transport me to a warmer climate.  I find Alexander McCall Smith’s No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books to be the perfect antidote to a day where the wind brings the temperature down below -40°C.  A visit to Botswana with Mme Ramotswe is the perfect cure for the winter blues.

If, however, I’m feeling proud of my ability to thwart the cold, I’ll read something soaked in winter, something that revels in the cold and makes me feel proud to be a part of the community that survives and thrives in winter.  Something like Keith Billington’s Cold Land, Warm Hearts or House Calls By Dogsled. I may not be trudging through the snow, frost on my eyelashes, but I still get that particularly Canadian feeling of conquering the cold even if it is by simply staying indoors by the fireplace.

I’m also enjoying Adam Gopnik’s new collection Winter: Five Windows on the Season during our current cold snap.  As the 50^th edition of the CBC Massey Lectures, this book is beautifully written and thought provoking.  It’s the perfect companion to a hot chocolate, a fire and the couch.  On a day like today, it was hard to get out of my warm bed and go out into the world, but I know that a nest of blankets and a good book await me there at the end of the day.

August 10 – Upcoming Events Email!

Welcome to another stunning week and the beginning of the PGX weekend!

This Friday, August 12th, we have southern Ontario belle Andrea Gauster in Café Voltaire!  Andrea’s mission this week: “to folk you up!”  Please come down to the shop at 8pm this Friday for an amazing show presented by this gifted singer/songwriter!  As always, we’re proud to present this show completely free of charge!

We have a super special treat for all of our writers, wannabe-writers and anyone entertaining the thought of someday putting a pen to a piece of paper for any reason whatsoever THIS Wednesday, August 10th!  C’mon down to Café Voltaire at 7pm for a meeting with the members of the Federation of BC Writers!  This event will be hosted by PG darling Vivien Lougheed (FBCW’s Northern Representative), will feature an introduction to the Federation by FBCW President (the honourable) Craig Spence, and will be graced by readings from local legends Jacqueline Baldwin, Joylene Nowell Butler (who you may remember from this month’s author visit to Café Voltaire) and a host of other awesome homegrown talent!  Another amazing event you do not want to miss!

Remember when we told you that local gent Ray Olson just published his first book From Liaboe to Loos and Beyond, which he described as “a collection of stories and photographs tracing the Olson/Liaboe family’s migration from Liaboe, Norway to the U.S. and on to the Fraser River/Robson Valley?”  Well guess what!  Ray is slated to visit the shop on Saturday August 21st at 1pm for a signing and chit-chat about his exciting new book!  This is another absolutely free event and we strongly encourage your attendance, it’s going to be fascinating!

Author of House Calls by Dogsled and Cold Land, Warm Hearts and another of Books & Co.’s favourites, Keith Billington is returning to the shop on Tuesday August 23^rd! You may remember Keith from one of his past visits to Books & Co. and if you do, you’ll remember the stories he’s told about the times when he and his wife Muriel lived in a village just South of Inuvik and how they provided stanch care throughout the 1960s, most importantly you’ll remember that they have incredible tales of sending a dogsled over a frozen waterfall, or of being towed behind a snowmobile on a frozen river while wearing water skiis, all in the line of duty!  If you don’t remember, haven’t heard the stories before, or are just super interested in this amazing man and his breathtaking stories, please visit the store at 7pm for a slideshow, signing and chat with Keith about his life and work!  This event is absolutely free and we can’t wait to see you there!

On Wednesday August 24^th we have a fantastic adventure in music for you!  Join us upstairs as Ingrid Gatin and Matthew Tomlinson take the Artspace stage at 8pm!  Gatin, one of Winnipeg’s finest, is travelling across Canada “with her signature accordion, piano, vocals, handclaps, foot-stomps and tambourine!”  Tickets are $10 each and are available at Books & Co.!

May we jog your memory again?  Do you recall the book Policing the Fringe: The Curious Life of a Small-Town Mountie?  Well!  The author of that popular book, Charles Scheideman, is at it again!  He has recently released a new book Tragedy on Jackass Mountain: More Stories from a Small-Town Mountie to add more of his incredible experiences as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, harnessing the same wry humour you loved in his first book!  Better yet?  Scheideman will be at Books & Co. on Saturday September 10^th at 2pm to chat with you, swap shop talk, read from his new book and sign your dog-earred copy!  Don’t miss this event!

If you’ve found that you’re not a big fan of banned books and nitty-gritty non-fiction just aren’t your bag, we’ve got another opportunity for you to get your book on!  This brand new book club is geared to get you and your lil’ tyke out of the house, get you some much needed adult conversation and get you as far away from Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po and Tinky Winky as is physically possible!  That’s right folks, a Mom and Dad book club, the Shhhh, Mommy’s (or Daddy’s) Reading book club – specially designed for new parents who need to get out of the house.  The books discussed will not just be about babies and parenting, but we promise that they will be easy to read while Little Angel is taking a nap and so riveting you won’t want to put them down at bedtime!  The first meeting for this book club is Monday September 12^th at 10am in Café Voltaire and the first books to read and discuss are The Help by Katherin Stockett and Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.  Can’t wait to see you!

That’s it for this week, folks!  Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook (we love your feedback), Twitter (140 characters or less) and on our fantastic homepage!

Enjoy the rest of your (beautiful sun-shiny) week!  For those of you attending the 99th Annual PGX – have a wonderful, safe and super fabulous time!  For the rest of you – you have a wonderful, safe and super fabulous time, too!

August 3 – Upcoming Events Email!

Happy first week of August, folks!  It looks like our patience has paid off – we’re seeing some pretty lovely summer weather!

This Friday (August 5^th) is a Café Voltaire mystery!  Our dearly beloved Friday Night Mics organizer Eric Tompkins is on vacation and unable to advise us as to who’s going to be playing the café this week – we will be just as surprised as you!  We implore you, despite our not knowing who will be playing, to come down!  We always have a great (free) show for you, The Mystery Show will be no different!

On Sunday August 7^th, from 2-4pm, we are hosting a special and super exciting event at Books & Co.!  To celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh’s 90^th birthday we’re inviting all of you to come down for an afternoon of card making!  Once your greeting card masterpieces are complete our favourite Booksters will collect and send them to the New York Public Library, the home of the original Winnie-the-Pooh doll set, for the festivities later in the month (Pooh’s actual birthday is on August 21^st)!  This is definitely something to attend with the family!  See you there!

Then, at 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10^th, we’re calling on all of our writers, wannabe-writers and anyone entertaining the thought of someday putting a pen to a piece of paper for any reason whatsoever to come down to Café Voltaire for a meeting with the members of the Federation of BC Writers for some fun and an introduction to the Federation!  This event will be hosted by PG darling Vivien Lougheed (FBCW’s Northern Representative), will feature an introduction to the Federation by FBCW President (the honourable) Craig Spence, and will be graced by readings from local legends Jacqueline Baldwin, Joylene Lowell Butler (who you may remember from this month’s author visit to Café Voltaire) and a host of other awesome homegrown talent!  Another amazing event you do not want to miss!

Books & Co. favourite Keith Billington, author of House Calls by Dogsled and Cold Land, Warm Hearts returns to the shop on Tuesday August 23rd! Come down to the store at 7pm for a slide-show, signing and a chat with Keith about his work! This event is absolutely free and we’d love to see you there!

That’s it for this week, folks!  Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook (we love your feedback), Twitter (140 characters or less) and on our fantastic homepage!

Have a fantastic week!