Books by Canadian authors to read on the plane, train, bus, gate, or in the dorm
There's something about travel—whether you're roadtripping across provinces or heading out on an international adventure—that is made that much sweeter when you pair your current read with your environment. Digging into a good book while on the go can feel like diving into a cozy world all of your own while also better understanding the landscape and culture that surrounds you.
The following novels and memoirs were written by Canadian authors, some documenting the landscape at home with others reflecting on what it means to be Canadian abroad. Wherever you're going, you'll want to bring one of these with you.
I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol
New Yorker by way of Canada, Glynnis MacNicol writes in a way that feels like chatting with a new friend you met by chance at the airport bar. I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself focuses on a snapshot of MacNicol’s life—a summer in Paris peri-COVID—where she reflects on what it looks like to be a forty-something woman finally focusing unapologetically on exactly what she wants.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Romance with big Ontario cottage-core vibes, it's hard to beat Carley Fortune's Meet Me at the Lake when it comes to the perfect Canadian beach read. This one is for readers who easily get swept up in random encounters turn long-term love stories, dock kisses, and an idyllic backdrop set in the Ontario wilderness.
Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill
Charlotte Gill spent 20 years as a tree planter on the West Coast—which is basically the closest thing Canada has to a rite of passage. Eating Dirt is a poetic and quick-witted narrative that follows Gill's experience in the forest, taking readers behind the scenes into the world of tree planting while still weaving an artful ode to the forests that know more than we do.
Beyond the Trees by Adam Shoalts
Adam Shoalts is the kind of person who crosses remote parts of northern Canada alone for fun. While the rest of us are thinking about whether we remembered to charge our headphones before heading to the airport, he's out here casually canoeing the Arctic. Beyond the Trees offers a reflective perspective of what it's like to travel solo through the rugged Northern Canadian landscape, reminding us that there are bigger things than whether or not the airport has free wifi.
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
This heart-wrenching novel follows five survivors of the residential school system as they rebuild their lives in Vancouver. A must-read for all Canadians, Five Little Indians is the kind of book that you feel in your whole body. You'll want to pack tissues and make time to sit with it once you finish the final pages.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
It's not a list of Canadian writers without listing L.M. Montgomery and the immortal Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables is basically required reading if you're heading to Prince Edward Island. Of course, Montgomery's writing is whimsical and delightful, but the novel really does offer the perfect depiction of the island and Atlantic Canadian culture.
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
Set in 1929 on a cross-Canada train journey, this novel follows Baxter, a queer Black sleeping car porter originally from the Caribbean who dreams of getting out of the railway industry and becoming a dentist. The Sleeping Car Porter is both stylish and funny—yet doesn't gloss over the racism and trials that Baxter experiences while working on the train nearly a century ago.
Lines on a Map by Frank Wolf
Frank Wolf's Lines on a Map takes readers through a whirlwind of adventures all over the country. The travelogue weaves together a series of essays that include the likes of climbing volcanoes in Indonesia, canoeing in Scandinavia, and even a private lunch with former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
