I can’t wait any longer! Now that the Best First Book shortlist has been revealed, it is time to take a look at the Best Non-Fiction of 2019. Two of the books that were on the longlist were shortlisted for Best First Book, consequently, they are ineligible to be shortlisted in another category. So that leaves us with nine entries from which four will be selected to be on the 2019 shortlist for a “The Very Best!” Book Award.
- Hiking Trails of New Brunswick by Marianne Eislet and H.A. Eislet
- Fishing the High Country: A Memoir of the River by Wayne Curtis
- A Wholesome Horror: Poor Houses of Nova Scotia by Brenda Thompson
- A Family of Brothers by J. Brent Wilson
- Canadian Confederate Cruiser: The Story of the Steamer Queen Victoria by John G. Langley
- In the Court of Better Fiction by Debra Komar
- The Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster by Bruce Campbell
- ABOUT FACE: ESSAYS ON RECOVERY, THERAPIES, AND CONTROVERSIES OF ADDICTIONS IN CANADA Edited by Douglas Gosse
- The Great Trees of New Brunswick (2nd Edition) by David Palmer and Tracy Glynn
The four titles that will move on to the shortlist are:
- In the Court of Better Fiction by Debra Komar
- About Face: Essays on Recovery, Therapies, and Controversies of Addictions in Canada Edited by Douglas Gosse
- A Wholesome Horror: Poor Houses of Nova Scotia by Brenda Thompson
- Fishing the High Country: A Memoir of the River by Wayne Curtis
The range of non-fiction books this year was certainly broad: Lac Mégantic to poor houses to mental illness to the great outdoors of New Brunswick. The four shortlisted titles represent some of the best research and writing to come out of Atlantic Canada in the past year.
I must also acknowledge the generosity of the publishers and authors for supplying me with review copies throughout the year. They do this in exchange for a fair and independent review; other than a free copy of the book, I receive no other monetary compensation from either authors or publishers.
In early August, I will announce the Fiction shortlist!
