TMR’s Best Books of 2024: Nonfiction

It’s that time of the year! I asked our whole team what their favourite books of the year were and received back more than 50 titles!!! Here are some of the standouts, and what our excellent reviewers had to say about them:

The Old Moon in Her Arms by Lorri Neilsen Glenn

“[Glenn’s] approach is refreshing and graceful, in her words: ‘not embellishing or beautifying or vilifying but simply telling the story and the images and emotions created by it.’ Writing for the author becomes, as she says, prayer — a way of ‘singing [herself] into an understanding of the world.’ Her writing is intimate and at times painful, as when she addresses the issue of violence against women. She tells the story in each moment as it is meant to be told, and it is unforgettable.— Anne Smith-Nochasak

Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir by Danny Ramadan

[writing about both Crooked Teeth and The Old Moon in her Arms] “Two very different approaches to memoir, both offering something important to the genre as a whole. Nielsen Glenn brings her poetic gifts to the book, transcending and embracing time in order to create an evocative sense of place, her place. Ramadan’s memoir of a “queer Syrian refugee” offers a searingly honest, deftly crafted and very well-written book that invites readers to question prevailing tropes of both queerness and what it means to be a refugee.” — Susan Wismer

Vantage Points: On Media as Trans Memoir by Chase Joynt

The Hyphen and Other Thoughts From the In-Between by Maria João Maciel Jorge

The Hyphen by Maria João Maciel Jorge is a beautiful collection of essays filled with passion, memories, and thoughts.” — Carrie Stanton

Water Confidential by Susan Blacklin

“Another book written by the wife of a scientist— this story of her husband’s work with First Nations’ on ensuring potable water is inspiring. Hard to believe there are politicians today voting against this.” —Dawn Mockler

The Good Walk: Creating New Paths on Traditional Prairie Trails by Matthew R. Anderson

A Perfect Day for a Walk by Bill Arnott

“A balm for the urban spirit. Wandering the streets and neighbourhoods of Vancouver, Arnott points out the natural, the historical, the cultural, and the whimsical attributes that define the city. A perfect read for anyone who lives here, who’s looking to visit, or who once called Vancouver home. Tie up your laces and hang with the crows as you take in everything from shoreline to skyline with Bill as your guide.” — Christina Barber

Marrow Memory: Essays of Discovery by Margaret Nowaczyk

Marrow Memory: Essays of Discovery by Margaret Nowaczyk is a beautiful and generous collection of nonfiction.” — Carrie Stanton

I Don’t Do Disability And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself by Adelle Purdham

Ice: Moments, Photographs by Klaus Hochheim

“A wonderful tribute, put together by his wife and colleagues. The images are artistic and his message an important one. This book will show you the effects climate change.” — Dawn Mockler

Beyond the Park: An Anthology of Ecological Experiences Edited by Ángel Mota Berriozábal

“An exclusive passport from French and English writers from across Canada! Beyond the Park, edited by Ángel Mota Berriozábal, captures a distinct flavour.” — Carrie Stanton

Apples on a Windowsill by Shawna Lemay

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