A Novel Idea!

WORDS BY HEIDI JOHANNSON

The long lazy days of summer are finally here and one can’t help but to relish the thought of basking in the sun with the perfect summer read. The crack of the spine and the smell of fresh paper - a new book can take you to places undiscovered. It’s an opportunity to turn strangers into friends or possibly, foes. Or perhaps your book of choice is an old acquaintance, a literary keepsake. With an earmarked page, a sentence underlined, it’s like sitting down to dinner with a lifelong companion. Whatever your preference, our long sunlit days are meant for reading and relaxation. Meet a few standout Edmontonians who share their favourite books so we can get started on what’s promising to be a summer to remember.

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SUMMER READ

MIDLIFE

SARAH CHANPianist, Writer, Social Advocate

Book Available atAudreys Books Ltd10702 Jasper Avenue | audreysbooks.com

PHOTO BY RYAN PARKER

This July, I am partial to enjoying Midlife, an anthology of essays written by friends I met at the Gateway student newspaper. I am a writer, co-publisher and co-editor of this book!

This book is witty, sharp, funny, and moving; featuring an equal representation of men and women contributors. No matter what your age, reading Midlife will connect you to yourself and to a community of creatives.

Created as a gift amongst friends during the pandemic, Midlife takes you through personal reflections on self-discovery, growth, ambition, infertility, family illness, parenthood, and health.

Midlife is a passion project fuelled by the desire to reclaim our creativity, particularly in a time when our lives feel like they are narrowing. A true labour of love via a reunion of these friends, and a gift to each other and the community during a time when connection is more important than ever.

Midlife’s contributors all love reading and writing, and recognize that literacy is a privilege. Most of us have careers that are heavily focused on communication, which is one of the gifts of reading. The ability to express yourself and to extract comprehension and meaning from what you read is a beautiful thing. I love celebrating the work of these talented friends and writers in the sun - in my garden.

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SUMMER READ

WORLD WITHOUT END

TERESA SPINELLIPresident, The Italian Centre Shop

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Book Available atAudreys Books Ltd10702, Jasper Avenue | audreysbooks.com

No Wifi, no distractions, just plenty of time spent at the lake, it’s my favourite place to read. And although I love all types of books, I am really looking forward to World Without End by Ken Follett. I spent last summer immersed in The Pillars of the Earth, the first in the trilogy. Simply, it’s a story about the early centuries and the building of cathedrals. There is significance in the hierarchy and challenges faced by each of the characters. Yes, it’s fiction based on historical facts but there are still many lessons to learn. The more we know

about the past and how it came to be, the more we understand and the better prepared we are at making decisions for the future. I’m hopeful that I will get through his second book this summer, learning about serious issues and the in-depth personal perspectives about the life and times of these characters. I’m already anticipating the summer of 2022 when I can finish off the trilogy with A Column of Fire.

“Buon Estate!” - Teresa Spinelli

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SUMMER READ

THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS

CORY CHRISTOPHEREntrepreneur and Designer

PHOTO BY MAT SIMPSON

Book Available atAudreys Books Ltd10702, Jasper Avenue | audreysbooks.com

The pandemic has forced many of us to take a moment from our hustle-and-bustle lives and sit often even uncomfortably with our own existence. Isabel Wilkerson’s thought-provoking exploration of racism in the United States is a masterpiece. Perhaps not a light summer read, but a necessary one, it weaves detailed analysis, impactful stories and moving reflections into a constant page turner. It is a captivating read for anyone seeking enlightenment and deeper understanding of the systemic societal structures that so easily suppress minority groups. It is laced with ‘Aha’ moments and shocking accounts of a country at a crossroad, needing to reckon with its history. Whether reading each page or listening to the audiobook, I hope you find this read as impactful and insightful as I did.

As someone constantly on the go, I can often be found listening to an audiobook while driving. Though I have dreams of sitting under an oak tree and turning the pages with a fresh glass of lemonade, the convenient combination allows me the opportunity to experience and enjoy so much more literature than I could ever imagine. It truly brings me so much happiness and listening to a story somehow reverberates differently than simply reading it myself. But who knows, an oak tree on a summer day might be in my summer reading plans, one should never rule it out.

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