~ ENRIQUE JARDIEL PONCELA
When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.
Gifts of books are always well received by family and friends at Christmas. Here is a sampling of recently published rural Manitoba writers whose books you might want on your gift list. Many of these authors are already well known in their communities. Some have already received a fair amount of publicity. We encourage you to support these fine writers.
Read Also
Giant Canada geese have gone wild in Manitoba
Giant Canada geese are seemingly everywhere and can be fine table fare for local hunters, but 70 years ago, they were borderline extinct.
WHY LITTLE ABRAHAM CAME TO CANADA
Tracing the Long Journey of Our Mennonite People, David Suderman
Suderman retired from a career with the CWB in 1995 and now lives with his wife Meryth in Carman. His book is a compelling story of the Mennonites’ origins in Europe and how they came to make their home in southern Manitoba. The book’s pretext is Suderman telling his granddaughter her family’s history. Available at: Winnipeg at McNally Robinson, CMU Bookstore, in Winkler at the Bible Book Store andWinkler Co-op, Carman Co-op and Carman’s Toews Printing and Stationery, the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Steinbach and Friesens Bookstore in Altona. Price: From $17.50 to $21.95
80 YEARS OF LIFE & LAUGHTER
Lloyd Kitching
Retired Carman-area farmer Kitching has published his first collection of stories reflecting 80 years of farm living in rural Manitoba. Told with characteristic wit and wisdom, Kitching’s storytelling brings to life the rich history shared by all those with rural roots. Available: McNally Robinson Booksellers and Carman Co-op or by contacting the author at (204) 745-3180 or email: [email protected].Price: $20 (includes tax) plus shipping and handling if required.
JEWELL ADVENTURE
Gilbert Hofer
Illustrated by Victor Kleinsasser
Many Hutterite boys dream about riding to the neighbours on forbidden bikes. When Gilbert and his friends finally make the trip, the unexpected happens; the German school teacher discovers them. A hietz? Now what? Printed in English and published at the Hutterian Brethren Book Centre on Baker Colony near MacGregor, this is a children’s story featuring beautiful illustrations reflecting the Hutterian way of life. Available at: The Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, McNally Robinson Booksellers, or for more information contact www.hbbookcentre.com.contact. html or (204) 272-5132. Price: $12.50. Other available titles include Marty’s Adventure by Elma Maendel, an illustrated shape book for children, and Es lauft eh Meisl, a collection of Hutterite nursery rhymes, both $9.99.
WHEN HOME CAN’T BE HECLA
Doris Benson
An Arborg author of A Place Called Hecla, Benson has produced this sequel telling the continuing tale of a generation of “Heclingers” affected by the expropriation of Hecla Island for a provincial park. Benson writes passion and insight gleaned from her family’s links to the island. Available: McNally Robinson Booksellers, Arborg Nic Nacs and Arborg Pharmacy, Tergesen’s in Gimli, Flowers for Thought and The Other Place in Riverton, and other Interlake retail outlets selling books. Books also available by contacting the author directly by email at: [email protected].Price: $15.
FROM ALL DIRECTIONS
From 12 rural women who make up Prairie Pens, a writers’ group at Portage la Prairie, this newly published 202-page book is a rich buffet of fiction and non-fiction, humour, poems, and children’s stories revolving around themes such as farm life, parenthood, growing up, family ties and personal development. The stories scan a time period from the Second World War to the present day. Available at: www.fromalldirections.net.(No copies available until Dec. 18 first printing.) Price: $14.95 (plus postage if necessary).
A SLICE OF THE PARKLAND
Ed Stozek
Those who experienced history come to life in The Saw-Mill Boys, P. O. W.’s and Conscientious Objectors will enjoy this new release by Dauphin’s retired school teacher and writer. Stozek interviewed and collected photos to produce this fascinating glimpse of past and present life in the Parklands. Available: Pennywise Books in Brandon, Sitko’s Farm Supply in Oakburn, Erickson’s Mountain Park Pharmacy, Mitchell’s Drugstore in Roblin, Minnedosa’s Dollar Store, all Chapters and McNally Robinson locations. For other locations or to purchase a copy directly contact Ed at (204) 638-4114 or email: [email protected].Price: $24 (includes taxes, shipping and handling).
BEYOND THE PERIMETER
Wanda Ryder
This Portage-area author has just released her second collection of short stories, all written from a rural perspective and set in a time period from the 1930s to the present day. Two stories in this collection have been excerpted from plays including Number One West which was originally written as a segment in a television series. Available: Portage and District Art Centre, the Portage library, Herman Prior Centre, Tiger Hills Art Gallery in Holland, Man., Pennywise Book Store in Brandon and McNally Robinson stores in Winnipeg. Price: $15.
