49th Shelf

Finding publishers like these is now easier than ever, thanks to the Certified Canadian Publisher seal. On our website, users can now easily identify if a book has been produced by a Canadian-owned publisher. Just look for the seal! #BuyCanadian #MadeInCanada #CanLit

Books that Build Bridges · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the translator of the new book The Broken Map Home: Escaping Korea, 1945 (Caitlin Press).

Check out "Books that Build Bridges" - A recommended reading list by Keiko Honda, the translator of the new book 'The Broken Map Home: Escaping Korea, 1945 written by Konosuke Masuda. @caitlinpress.bsky.social
49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11... #CanLit

On Our Radar: Abortion Rights YA, Spies for Christmas, Field Notes, a Life in Comedy, Soviet-Era Intrigue, and More! · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Every month, our editor enthuses about the books piling up on her mind and on her nightstand.

"The Seaside Cafe Metropolis is a rich, funny, and quietly poignant chronicle of this most distinguished undistinguished establishment, where KGB agents listen from the basement to microphones installed at the tables."
49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/12...
@49thshelf.bsky.social

Shelf Talkers: Fall 2025 · Blog Post · 49th Shelf I was going to start by saying something like “Do you feel the chill in the air?” and make an allusion about it feeling like autumn, but nature had ...

To mark the season, and the end of the year (yes, really!), the booksellers of the Shelf Talkers panel have assembled a cornucopia of book recommendations. Check it out at: 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...
#CanLit

A Wealth of Reading · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of the book of sentences (University of Calgary Press). 

in which i offer recommendations for 49th Shelf: new/recent titles by Anna Swanson, Qurat Dar, Isabella Wang, Melanie Dennis Unrau, Gillian Sze, Jumoke Verissimo, Hajer Mirwali + Sadiqa de Meijer, / @49thshelf.bsky.social @talonbooks.bsky.social @gooselane.bsky.social ;
49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

A Wealth of Reading · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of the book of sentences (University of Calgary Press). 

Jazzed to see Non-Prophet included in this recommended reading list by @robmclennan.bsky.social for @49thshelf.bsky.social!

49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

THE WORLD SO WIDE by Zilla Jones is a 49th Shelf Top Fiction of 2025 pick!
49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/12...
@49thshelf.bsky.social @mandagroup.bsky.social

We've got new books on the creative life for you! ...with titles from @houseofanansi.bsky.social @coachhousebooks.bsky.social @dandq.bsky.social @dundurnpress.bsky.social @biblioasis.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/New-Releases... #CanLit

The Joy of Book Lists This past week I received two opportunities that made my book lover’s heart sing: for 49th Shelf I was asked to put together a list of ten Canadian books (Can

Today's blog post is about book lists; one for @49thshelf.bsky.social and one for Shepherd.com. It's an ode to CanLit and the joys of reading. watershednotes.ca/2025/11/19/t...

What We Carry: Fall 2025 · Blog Post · 49th Shelf What We Carry is a book list by managing editor, Justine Abigail Yu, tracing stories of migration, movement, and ancestral memory from authors who write ...

What We Carry is our newest column tracing stories of migration, movement + ancestral memory from authors who write across intersections of identity, borders, cultures + generations. @ecwpress.bsky.social @playcanpress.bsky.social @btlbooks.com @arsenalpulp.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

Publisher Spotlight: Second Story Press · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Welcome to our new Publisher Spotlight series, where we highlight Canadian independent presses doing standout work in the literary and academic world. ...

Second Story Press is featured in a Publisher Spotlight by 49th Shelf! 🌟 @49thshelf.bsky.social

Read the full interview with Second Story Press co-publishers Phuong Truong and Emma Rodgers here: 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

#Publisher #booksky #CanLit #Interview

Remembrance Day in the Classroom · Blog Post · 49th Kids How can books from Canadian creators help educators continue learning about remembrance in the classroom?

CAN POSTERS KILL? ANTISEMITIC PROPAGANDA AND WORLD WAR II is featured in a piece by @49thshelf.bsky.social on teaching Remembrance Day: kids.49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

CAN POSTERS KILL? examines historical posters from WWII to explore the use of propaganda as a tool for spreading hate.

#booksky

What We Carry: Fall 2025 · Blog Post · 49th Shelf What We Carry is a book list by managing editor, Justine Abigail Yu, tracing stories of migration, movement, and ancestral memory from authors who write ...

Starry Starry Night by Shani Mootoo "is a masterpiece and one that will stay with me for a long, long time. Exquisite. Unforgettable,” writes Justine Abigail Yu of @49thshelf.bsky.social in What We Carry, a list tracing stories of migration, movement & ancestral memory. 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/11...

Flex Your Hope Muscle · Lists · 49th Shelf A new longterm Australian study reveals strong links between hope and wellbeing. Even better? Unlike cognitive skills, hope remains malleable throughout ...

A new Australian study reveals strong links between hope and wellbeing. And unlike cognitive skills, hope remains malleable throughout life, which means that it's a muscle we are capable of growing at any stage. Here are some books to get you started! 49thshelf.com/Lists/Member... #CanLit

Illustrator Gallery: This Land Is a Lullaby · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Gorgeous illustrated spreads from This Land Is a Lullaby. 

In a starred review, Booklist calls Delrée Dumont's pointillist illustrations in This Land Is a Lullaby "exquisite," and we agree....and apparently so do the Governor General's Literary Awards! 49thshelf.com/Blog/2024/09... #CanLit @orcabook.bsky.social

Poetry: a Self-ish List of Threads and Connections · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of women and roosters (Book Hug Press). 

"I don’t know all these poets...some of them I know well—some of them I’ve known well into the past century...don’t let that stop you from loving their work—I never do." Check out these reading recos from women & roosters author Fenn Stewart for @49thshelf.bsky.social. 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/09...

Sibling Dynamics: Grief, Loss, and Love · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of The Pugilist and the Sailor (Invisible Publishing).

Sibling relationships are ripe for storytelling: you can grow up in the same place with another person and have completely different experiences. Check out this book list on sibling dynamics by Nadia Ragbar, author of The Pugilist and the Sailor @invisibooks.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10...

On Our Radar: Bittersweet Nostalgia, Time Travel, 1960s' Trinidad, Willow Witches, and More! · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Every month, our editor enthuses about the books piling up on her mind and on her nightstand.

What's on our reading radar this month? Bittersweet Nostalgia, Time Travel, 1960s' Trinidad, Willow Witches, and More with titles from @coachhousebooks.bsky.social @bookhugpress.bsky.social @ecwpress.bsky.social @invisibooks.bsky.social! 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10... #CanLit

Incredible Novels by Short Fiction Writers · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of A Place for People Like Us (Guernica Editions). 

I had so much fun making this list of amazing short story writers and novelists for @49thshelf.bsky.social
It includes @zoewhittall.bsky.social @mbatiz.bsky.social Chava Rosenfarb Val Bah @sydhegele.bsky.social and more 💗💗📚 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10...

Finalists: Governor General's Literary Awards 2025 · Lists · 49th Shelf The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada. They provide finalists ...

The Governor General’s Literary Awards celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada. Congratulations to all those recognized! 49thshelf.com/Lists/Member... #CanLit

Incredible Novels by Short Fiction Writers · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of A Place for People Like Us (Guernica Editions). 

Take a look at this recommended reading list by Danila Botha, author of A Place for People Like Us. @guernicaeditions.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10... #CanLit

The amazing crew at @49thshelf.bsky.social are hosting a giveaway of The Wonder Lands War, my latest Cross supernatural thriller. 🎁

Visit 49thshelf.com/Giveaways for a chance to win a copy of The Wonder Lands War.

The giveaway period ends Nov. 1, so enter now!

🔗: 49thshelf.com/Giveaways

Halloween Fare · Lists · 49th Shelf Halloween is a way of life!

Looking for some reads to get into that spooky mood? Check out these titles from @skyhorsepublishing.bsky.social @dundurnpress.bsky.social @harpercollinsca.bsky.social @touchwooded.bsky.social @invisibooks.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Lists/Member... #CanLit

Publisher Spotlight: Book*hug Press · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Welcome to our new Publisher Spotlight series, where we highlight Canadian independent presses doing standout work in the literary and academic world.

Thanks to @49thshelf.bsky.social for shining a light on us in the Publisher Spotlight series. We had the pleasure of chatting about our story & when we arrived on the CanLit scene 21 years ago, stand-out titles over the years, upcoming books we're excited about, & more.
49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10...

What is a chapbook, you ask? Dawn Macdonald unpacks the format.
https://bit.ly/4pY0qXQ

@yukondawn.bsky.social @49thshelf.bsky.social @canadianpoets.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @bookgaga.bsky.social #poetry

On Our Radar: Bittersweet Nostalgia, Time Travel, 1960s' Trinidad, Willow Witches, and More! · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Every month, our editor enthuses about the books piling up on her mind and on her nightstand.

What's on our radar this month? Bittersweet Nostalgia, Time Travel, 1960s' Trinidad, Willow Witches, and More! Check out with titles from @coachhousebooks.bsky.social @bookhugpress.bsky.social @ecwpress.bsky.social @invisibooks.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10... #CanLit

Books to Read at the World Series · Lists · 49th Shelf Okay, Blue Jays! Let's play ball.

Let's play ball! We're riding high from the Jays' win last night! Here are books to read at the World Series ⚾ with titles from @talonbooks.bsky.social @harpercollinsca.bsky.social @biblioasis.bsky.social @invisibooks.bsky.social @radiantpress.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Lists/Member... #CanLit

Canada has a thriving publishing industry putting out books in every conceivable genre. Look for the seal on a book’s physical back cover, copyright page, or on our website to find amazing reads edited, designed, marketed, and distributed by Canadian professionals! #CanLit #IReadCanadian

Books to Read When the Veil is Thin · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Witchy, spooky, creepy reads for October. 

It's spooky season! Here are some "Books to Read When the Veil is Thin" with titles from @latitude46pub.bsky.social @inhabitmedia.bsky.social @ecwpress.bsky.social @steerforthpress.bsky.social @dundurnpress.bsky.social @wolsakandwynn.bsky.social 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10... #CanLit

Publisher Spotlight: Book*hug Press · Blog Post · 49th Shelf Welcome to our new Publisher Spotlight series, where we highlight Canadian independent presses doing standout work in the literary and academic world.

We're excited to shine a spotlight on one of Canada’s many dynamic independent publishers, Book*hug Press. @bookhugpress.bsky.social is a Canadian-owned + operated, radically optimistic independent publisher working at the forefront of contemporary book culture. 49thshelf.com/Blog/2025/10... #CanLit