Since we like to stay local whenever we can, and because I like lists so much, here are some randomly selected novels that take place in Winnipeg that may be interesting. If you happen to read or have read one, let me know how it was!

Fox. Sweatman, Margaret. (01 Jan. 1991): 200.

Cherry: a novel. Mayor, Chandra, 1973-. (01 Jan. 2004): 128.

An ordinary decent criminal. Van Rooy, Michael, 1968-. (01 Jan. 2005): 340.

Larry’s party. Shields, Carol. (01 Jan. 1997): 339.

The dead of midnight: a mystery. Hunter, Catherine, 1957-. (01 Jan. 2002): 360.

Mangoes on the maple tree. Parameswaran, Uma. (01 Jan. 2002): 224.

Summer of my amazing luck. Toews, Miriam, 1964-. (01 Jan. 2006): 220.

In the first early days of my death. Hunter, Catherine, 1957-. (01 Jan. 2002): 141.

Amber and amethyst. Gregory, Kay. (01 Jan. 1990): 285.

Some great thing. Hill, Lawrence, 1957-. (01 Jan. 1992): 240.

Shelf Monkey

Corey Redekop

ECW Press

A very interesting read for nerds and book lovers. So chock full of snobbery and highbrow name dropping, that I plan to reread it so that I construct myself a booklist. To be honest, I didn’t recognize all of the authors and works that were mentioned as being awesome, and also liked a few of the books that were put down, which probably doesn’t say good things about my status as a book nerd.

On top of being about book people finally venting their rage on those they consider to be ruining books with stupid plots, etc, it is also set locally. I found the characters unusual, interesting, and believably self-contradictory. The plot was unpredictable and compellingly odd.

Highly recommended to all, but especially to those that recognize in themselves the tendency to be intellectually snobby.

The Bolshevik’s RevengeAllan Levine

Great Plains Fiction

It was an interesting read as it was set here in Winnipeg. Unfortunately the mystery plot was for me overshadowed by the descriptions of the Winnipeg General Strike which occurred in the background. Some elements were very well done, though, such as the shades of gray of characters’ involvement in the strike, in socialist thinking, and in fervor of purpose. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling that the plot was not strong enough to compete with the fascinating events of the Winnipeg General Strike, and wished that the focus had been on those events, rather than on tangental ones that were woven into them. To be fair, that may be because I am so drawn to that chapter in history.

In the end, it was a fun read, and so is recommended to people interested in the politics and personal of the Strike of 1919, which created headlines across the world, or in a (historical) Winnipeg setting.