If you doodled or daydreamed your way through high school English class, then you probably didn’t really appreciate that Ondaatje novel as much as you could have. We don’t blame you – no matter how much an author rules, it’s hard to really fall in love when you’re reading on the clock and highlighting furiously for essay research. Rediscover those awesome authors now! Here are 5 that are totally worth digging out of your closet.
Michael Ondaatje: This Sri-Lankan born author moved to England and then Toronto in adulthood, and cultural history plays a big part in his work. His novels and poems are full of sensual imagery and magic realism components.
Recommended reading: The English Patient (novel), The Cats Table (novel), The Cinnamon Peeler (poem)
Alice Munro: South Western Ontario born and raised, Munro is known for her moving female-coming-of-age tales. She truly captures what it’s like to be a lady growing up in a small town and aspiring for greener pastures.
Recommended Reading: Lives of Girls and Women (novel) Who Do You Think You Are? (novel)
Leonard Cohen: Leave it to the man who described his grad school experience as passion without flesh, love without climax to create some seriously uninhibited and sensual work. His melancholy music is a beautiful intro to his poetry. Listen and read the lyrics aloud with a lovah.
Recommended Reading: Beautiful Losers (novel)
Margaret Atwood: The poster woman of Canadian lit has a lot more to offer the literary scene than the science fiction you probably read in high school. Her work spans poetry, novels, essays in a ton of different genres. She’s also an activist for feminism and environmentalism.
Recommended Reading: Dancing Girls (short fiction collection) The Handmaids Tale (novel)
Mordechai Richler: Much of Richler’s work uses his hometown of Montreal as the backdrop. He pokes fun at the artist, and people who take themselves too seriously. The Jacob-Two-Two author speaks to readers of all ages with his ability to tell it like it is. Simple, poignant truth comes through in his lighthearted dialogue.
Recommended Reading: Barney’s Version (novel), The Street (short story collection)
