The armchair traveler
By Michelle Sterling
There's nothing bookish about getting inspired: Six motivational reads.
Leave those comfy slippers and pajamas on: Your travels can start in the comfort of your own living room. Whether you're a lover of architecture, a history buff or a devoted foodie, here are five books fuel your wanderlust.
The Imagined City: A Literary History of Winnipeg (Turnstone Press)
Edited by David Arnason and Mhari Mackintosh
In the late 1800s, Winnipeg, Manitoba, was a boomtown teeming with big business, brothels and bars. A regular stop on the vaudeville circuit, which showcased legends like Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx, the city was infused with a carefree spirit unmatched in Canada at the time. Since then, Hollywood has borrowed its classic New York- and Chicago-style architecture to depict turn-of-the-century America, and, like all great cities, Winnipeg's legacy is best represented through its literature. In The Imagined City: A Literary History of Winnipeg, well-loved writers, such as media guru Marshall McLuhan and novelist Carol Shields, trace a historical narrative through one of Canada's most storied artistic communities.
eat.shop.vancouver. (Ten Speed Press)
By Sophia LaDouceur and Nicholas Heron
Eating and shopping are a must in any metropolis. With two simple categories – imbibe and devour – this insiders' guide is chock-full of hip boutiques and restaurants where Vancouverites hang out and indulge. Added bonus: It's small enough to fit into a compact handbag or a blazer pocket, so hit the streets in style!
The French Side of Toronto (Franco Toronto Media & Publishing)
Edited by Krizia de Verdier
You don't have to be in Quebec to immerse yourself in French. This essential guide to Toronto's French food and culture will have you salivating over the authentic bistros and fun cultural outings listed in these pages. Whether you're a self-professed Francophile or just a lover of whatever's buttery and sweet, this handy guide to all things français in Toronto will help you capture that joie de vivre.
Susur: A Culinary Life (Ten Speed Press)
By Susur Lee, essays by Jacob Richler
Susur Lee, Canada's poster boy for fusion cuisine, has finally fulfilled every foodie's gastronomic dream. This two-piece cookbook, studded with mouth-watering photos and intricate recipes, reveals the magic of the famed Toronto restaurant Susur.
The Golden Spruce (Random House)
By John Vaillant
The Queen Charlotte Islands, located off the coast of British Columbia, were originally referred to by the local Haida people as "Islands Out of Concealment of the Supernatural Beings." As the name suggests, this area has been steeped in mystery ever since the famed golden spruce was cut down by a lone activist. Vaillant continues his investigation started in the The New Yorker while evoking the rugged beauty of Canada's West Coast.
JPod (Bloomsbury USA)
By Douglas Coupland
With its glass high-rises, sleek sky train and looming Science World, Vancouver is the tech mecca of Canada. Douglas Coupland cashes in on the geek chic with a novel geared to the Google age. A group of video game designers toiling in the city's urban playground have fun with Canadian pop culture – from Adbusters magazine to Alanis Morissette and Coupland himself.
Photo credit: The Imagined City: A Literary History of Winnipeg (Turnstone Press)
