The Savvy Reader

10 Terrifying Reads for Halloween

Our intern, Ben, is back at the top 10s, this time with his take on books for the 18+ crowd for Halloween.

10 Terrifying Reads for Halloween

You may feel the need to sleep with a light on while reading any one of these books we’ve got for you below. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
A frighteningly good collection of modern day horror stories, 20th Century Ghosts includes an astonishing variety of styles. From terrifying to bizarre, sad to s trangely comforting, Joe Hill’s stories will linger with you even after your hairs stand down. Interesting factoid: Joe Hill comes from an impressive writing family -- his father is author Stephen King.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane, bestselling author of The Given Day and Mystic River, brings you Shutter Island. Rachel Solando, a serial murderer and psychopath, has escaped from her cell despite around the clock surveillance. U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, are sent to the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on Shutter Island to investigate her disappearance. What happens next will a) scare the crap out of you and b) shock your pants off.

10 Tips to Help You Get Ready for Pregnancy

Thinking about getting pregnant? Dr. Michael Lu, author of Get Ready to Get Pregnant, offers these 10 practical tips to help you prepare.

Start prenatal care before you get pregnant.
Schedule an appointment for a check-up before you conceive. This will give your ob-gyn or midwife a chance to identify and correct any problem that needs to be corrected before you get pregnant.

Start “eating for two.”
Not in quantity, but in dietary quality. The foods you eat today can get stored in your body and become building blocks for your baby tomorrow. For example, dioxins are toxic chemicals found in animal fat; the more animal fat you consume, the more dioxins you accumulate in your body. Dioxins are stored in your body for more than 7 years. When you become pregnant, they can cross the placenta to disrupt fetal brain development. You can reduce your total body store of dioxins by going on a low-fat diet well before you conceive; but if you wait until pregnancy to change your diet, it’s too late.

Top 10: Read It Before You See It

Bright stars are shining on the streets of Toronto for the next couple weeks as the Toronto International Film Festival takes over the city. So, of course, we've got our semi-annual list of 10 (plus one or two bonuses) books to read before you see the film adaptation. And if you can only manage one, I'd recommend Shutter Island, because, man, it'll shock your pants off.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
What begins as a routine missing persons case for U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule quickly transforms into an adrenaline pumping tale of paranoia, radical experimentation and corruption. With Martin Scorsese directing and a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo, this psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the end.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic follows a little boy named Max who, thanks to the power of his vivid imagination, is transported to a jungle-like setting where he encounters monsters and gigantic creatures. It’s been over 45 years since its publication, and this wonderful book still inspires children of all ages, especially Spike Jonze, who directed the feature film premiering next month.

12 Easy Ways to Travel Far on a Tight Budget

Author and creator of Squawkfox.com Kerry K. Taylor lists the top 12 ways to travel far on a small budget, even during a recession.

12 Easy Ways to Travel Far on a Tight Budget

It’s that time of year when families plan for a fun vacation and friends travel to new destinations. In 397 Ways to Save Money, author Kerry K. Taylor shows you how to save thousands of dollars on everything from big adventures to short getaways without feeling pinched. You'll also find easy ways to save money closer to home by looking in every corner of every room in your house, from the kitchen to the closet, and by considering the needs of every member of your family, from your toddler to your dog, you can find ways to save thousands of dollars in unexpected places -- and even have fun. Here are 12 easy ways to travel far and save big on a small budget.

Get a good exchange on your loonies
If you’re travelling to the U.S. or overseas, currency exchanges can cost you a bundle. Plan ahead and exchange cash at a your home bank rather than the airport or hotel: counters that cater to tourists offer unfavourable rates. While the Interac system is widely available in the U.S., both the local bank and your home bank usually charge a hefty service fee for withdrawals, and an additional fee (typically about 2% or 3%) for the currency exchange. Ask your bank how you can reduce these charges.

Oh Canada Day: A Top 10 List

Most of us are going to celebrate Canada Day with a bbq or party of some sort. But is beer all that there is to it? This July 1st, celebrate all things Canadian -- the eclectic food, the natural wonders, the economics, and the fantastic literature: there’s so much to be enjoyed. And you’re sure to find all of that on this top ten list that’s as diverse as its native country.

Who Owns Canada Now by Diane Francis
Twenty years ago, Diane Francis’ Controlling Interest shocked the nation by revealing that all the wealth in Canada was divided between just a few families. Now, the National Post editor-at-large returns to show that, in spite of what the mainstream media would like us to believe, the opposite is true: fee trade and tough legislation have allowed for a broad cast of Canadian leaders offering new and diverse policies. Based on extensive interviews and analysis,Who Owns Canada Now is a guidebook to the transformation of wealth and power in Canada.

Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill
With over one quarter million copies sold, Lawrence Hill has already captured Canadian readers, critics and just about every award committee with the epic Book of Negroes. Now, discover the book that came before it. Any Known Blood follows five generations of an African-Canadian-American family, as it slips from the slave trade of 19th-century Virginia to the modern suburbs of Ontario. Elegant wry and witty, this is an engrossing tale about one man’s attempt to find himself through those who came before him.

Grizzlyville by Jake MacDonald
In some Vancouver suburbs and Northern Ontario towns, grizzly bears are as common as raccoons. In Churchill, Manitoba, they’re a tourist attraction. While some experts argue that these animals should be left alone, others believe that responsible hunting would serve both the bears and the people. In this readable, fascinating and often frightening account, Jake MacDonald draws on personal experience -- his own as well as those of others -- to narrate the place that bears occupy in our life, and the place that we occupy in theirs. 

Clara Callan by Richard Wright
Enter the wildly unpredictable world of Clara Callan. Clara is a spinsterish school teacher from small town Ontario with dreams of a bigger future. Her sister Nora is a flighty and beautiful ingénue who travels to New York and hits the big time as a radio soap opera star. Told through diary entries and letters, Wright’s logic-defying sense of the female inner thought earned him the Governor General’s Award, the Giller Prize, and the Trillium Book award, to name just a few.

Darkness at the Stroke of Noon by Dennis Richard Murphy
Aware of far more too much dirt than tolerable, RCMP Sergeant Booker Kennison is quickly exiled to Yellowknife. When a series of freak accidents claim the lives of two archeologists in remote Victory Island, he is dispatched to investigate in the cold wilderness. But winter’s grip and the 24-hour darkness are closing in fast and Kennison must solve two mysteries before time and light run out. Listen to the book’s exclusive radio drama here.

10 Books for Gay Pride Week

With cities around the world celebrating Gay Pride Week (the Toronto one is now in full swing), there’s no better time than now to enjoy some of our favorite gay and lesbian literature. And our new intern Kristin Campbell has come up with the just perfect list. 

10 Books for Gay Pride Week

From the England to the San Francisco Bay -- whether it’s navigating your own course through adversity, recovering personal histories, or embracing new identities, living life on your own terms is always something to celebrate.

Slammerkin  by Emma Donoghue
You know that old Mother Goose rhyme, “For want of a nail, the Kingdom was lost”?  For young Mary Saunders, it’s more about ribbons and virtue. Born into respectable squalor in 1760s London, Mary lusts after the finer things in life, and wants nothing more than to acquire luxurious trappings that might relieve the dire straights she was born to, or at least disguise them. The splendour and deception of clothing bring Mary to the brink of disaster -- Slammerkin is both a brilliant evocation of another era and a timeless tale of the rage of adolescence.

The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley
Charlie Kilworth wants to understand his own history. As he navigates through the scattered events of his mother Lily’s tempestuous life, he begins to chart the map of his own becoming:  will the fears and anxieties of his family limit his course, or will they inspire him in ways he never imagined? In a gently-told tale of the careful negotiations of who we are and who we might become, The Piano Man’s Daughter is a tale of lives reclaimed and of lessons passed on, by one of Canada’s greatest storytellers.

Stephen Fry in America by Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry’s journey across a country that has long fascinated him brought him into contact with people, customs, icons and landmarks both strange and perfectly ordinary. Local eccentricities can be national treasures, as the incomparable Stephen Fry unpacks and examines a nation that truly is the sum of its peculiar parts. 

Galilee by Clive Barker
Clive Barker has been hailed as one of the greatest horror writers of his genereation by everyone from Stephen King to Quentin Tarantino. His latest novel uncovers the terrible secrets of the wealthy and influential Geary clan. An intense and all-consuming feud with the mystical Barbarossa family simmers beneath fragile surfaces, and is brought to the forefront when Galilee, prodigal prince of the Barbarossa clan, meets Rachel, the young bride of Mitchell Geary, thus shaking a seemingly invincible family to its core.

The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue
A single word, ‘friend’, can mean a thousand things, and a single mysterious document can unravel entire lives. Emma Donoghue’s enthralling exploration of scandalous divorce in Victorian London breathes life into real events torn from nineteenth-century headlines. Mired in the circumstances of a private matter turned public spectacle that threatens to ruin them, Emily “Fido” Faithfull and her old friend Helen Codrington must each negotiate consequences which ripple ever outward.  

10 Books for Father's Day

Let’s just admit it: buying for dad is near-impossible. And with Father’s Day fast approaching, most of us are in a state of total gift frenzy. Well, look no more, for this year you can finally break the alternating tie / cologne pattern, with these 10 perfect-for-dad books. Doesn’t matter if he’s the sporty type, a barbecue master or even a not-so-handyman: there’s a book to please every dad on this list!

10 Books for Father's Day

THE SPORTS FAN
Red and Me by Bill Russell
When Red Auerbach died in 2006, Bill Russell, the five-time MVP and star center on the Auerbach teams that won 11 championships, said very little. Their relationship had been too personal to be conveyed in just a few words. Now, Bill’s finally ready to remember life under one of the greatest coaches in sports history. And if you dad isn’t a basketball fan, check out A-Rod for the baseball buff, or American Son for the boxer.

THE ECONOMIST
Filthy Lucre by Joseph Heath
Most dads have a vested interest in the economy right now, but not all are familiar with the fallacies that have us duped. In Filthy Lucre, the bestselling co-author of The Rebel Sell sets out to shatter them all. First, he skewers the 6 favorite fallacies of the right before moving on to the left. Heath leaves no sacred cows untipped as he breaks down complex arguments and shows how the monetary world really works -- all in very simple, relatable terms, fit for dads of any economic literacy. 

THE GRILLING MACHINE
Emeril at the Grill by Emeril Lagasse
Has summer always been dad’s moment in the sun, as he takes over the household cooking with his lean, mean grilling skills? Then he might like to learn a cool new tip or two from the original star chef: Emeril Lagasse. More than just a meaty cookbook jammed with 158 recipes, Emeril at the Grill also offers up plenty of grilling tips and a handy list of essential utensils. With recipes from Chorizo Burger with Green Chile Mayo to grilled Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza, this may just be a gift for the entire family!

THE ACTION SEEKER
The Last Testament by Sam Bourne
If your dad just can’t wait for Dan Brown’s latest to come out, then The Last Testament is the perfect book to tide him over until then. When a “closer” is brought in to negotiate peace talk between Israel and Palestine, she is plunged into two high-profile murders and a mystery rooted in an unsolved riddle in the Bible. The latest bestseller from Sam Bourne, The Last Testament is a pulse-pounding blockbuster of timeless enigmas and modern technology, perfect for the thrill-seeking father.

10 Scary Books to Scare your Socks Off

Who doesn't love a good scary book? Here are 10 suggestions that will definitely leave you not wanting more. What's the scariest book you've ever read? Let us know in the comments section below!

10 Scary Books to Scare your Socks Off

If a good book is one that gives way to your imagination, then a great book is one that haunts you for months -- awake or asleep. Fearlessly penned by some of the best known crime writers out there, as well as some up-and-comers to watch out for, there is no territory that’s left unchartered or convention left intact. So tighten up those belts because these tales are sure to scare the pants off of you.

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Guillermo del Toro, the Oscar-winning director of Pan’s Labyrnth, and Hammet Award-winning Chuck Hogan bring us an epic battle between man and vampire that threatens all of humanity. Vampires have always been here. Waiting, in the darkness. Now their time has come.In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months -- the world.

Darkness at the Stroke of Noon by Dennis Richard Murphy
RCMP Sergeant Booker Kennison knows more dirt than he should and is quickly exiled to Yellowknife. When a series of freak accidents claim the lives of two archeologists in remote Victory Island, Kennison is dispatched to investigate in the cold wilderness. But winter’s grip and the 24-hour darkness are closing in fast and Kennison must solve two mysteries before time and light run out.  Listen to the book’s exclusive radio drama here.

Ritual by Mo Hayder
Bestselling crime novelist Mo Hayder has been dubbed as Britain’s Queen of Fear, and for good reason. On a spring afternoon, police diver Flea Marley closes her fingers around a human hand. The fact that there’s no body attached is disturbing enough. Yet more disturbing is the discovery, a day later, of the matching hand. Both have been recently amputated, and by the looks of it, the victim was still alive when they were removed. When DI Jack Caffery shows up to lead the investigation, the two are plunged into a terrifying underworld of ritual mutilation, drug addiction and muti, African medicine magic.

Flesh House by Stuart McBride
Prior to the publication of Flesh House, Stuart McBride warned fans to “expect cannibalism.” And soon after, comments started flowing in about readers’ McBride-induced nightmares. When notorious serial killer the Flesher is released on an appeal, Aberdeen starts to panic. Then a container filled with human meat turns up at the harbor, and kicks off the largest manhunt in the city’s history. The Flesher is on the run--and looking for revenge.

Reading the Runner Ups: A Top 10 List

Our new sales and marketing intern, Ariel Crawford, has written a fun top 10 list for Savvy Reader this week -- books that have made other lists, both short and long, for some of the world's top prizes.

Reading the Runner Ups: An Top 10 List

Finding your next great read is always a complicated affair. Most people read a book because it’s either been recommended by a friend or it’s won a major award. Here are 10 books that were nominated for either the short or the longlists of various prizes over the last few years. Summer is the perfect reading season -- and any of these titles would make for an enjoyable afternoon filled with literary delights.

The Plague of the Doves by Louise Erdrich
(Shortlisted for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
The unsolved murder of a farm family still haunts the white small town of Pluto, North Dakota, generations after the vengeance exacted and the distortions of fact transformed the lives of Ojibwe living on the nearby reservation. The collective stories of two interwoven communities ultimately come together to reveal a final wrenching truth.

10 Gifts for Mommy Dearest

It’s that time of year again, the time to make your mom proud and let her know that you are thinking of her, and that you appreciate all she has done for you.  We’ve rounded up titles that are sure to please every mom –- from the romance reader to the history buff –- we’ve got you covered! 

10 Gifts for Mommy Dearest

The Heartwarming/Heartbreaking Stories

Home by Marilynne Robinson
A perfect gift for the sensitive mother who loves a good, heartbreaking story. Home is a moving and healing book about families, family secrets, and the passing of generations, about love, and death and fate. The three main characters explore all that it means to come home.

Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
For the mother who loves to have her family around her, this novel is all about coming together in times of need. Three siblings must live their lives in the shadow of their unresolved grief for their mother’s mysterious disappearance when they were children. Now, as adults, they must return home after their father dies and are forced to revisit the childhood tragedy at the centre of their lives.