When it comes to reading Quebec authors, I think the majority of us can admit that we don't know too many. Well, now is the perfect time to change that! See our list of Quebec authors to check out below. Visit MTLBlog for more headlines. Throughout this time of social distancing, there are only so many things you can do to stay busy. Many people are turning to Netflix to binge-watch movies, while but others are diving into a good book. On this note, I'm here to tell you that there are so many amazing books written by Quebec authors and if you have yet to read them, now is the ideal time to do just that. Personally, I've been spending my time doing one of the many at-home workouts being given by Montreal trainers, cleaning every drawer in my house, and testing some of the latest products sold at the SQDC. And of course, indulging in some literature. Reading is very therapeutic. For those of you having a little anxiety during this confusing time in history, books can be a great way of escaping reality and diving into a world that is so far from what is currently happening in the world. All of the books on this list are known to be page-turners. And best of all, they are all written by Quebec locals, which makes me love each of them even more. Some of the books have plots set right here in Montreal. One thing is for sure — all of them will leave you turning page after page, in awe with their captivating storylines. Mad Shadows Author: Marie-Claire Blais Genre: Fiction View this post on Instagram #twisted #wicked #goodread #madshadows A post shared by Jenn (@92jeb) on Oct 29, 2015 at 6:34am PDT This novel explores the psychology and dynamics of a single-family. Each character adds their own zest to the novel making it the classic that it is today. Lullabies For Little Criminals Author: Heather O'Neill Genre: Literary Fiction View this post on Instagram Heather O’Neill is a Canadian author who clearly has Montreal in her veins. Like her other books, ‘Lullabies for Little Criminals’ presents the dispossessed population of French Canadians who live in the city’s poorest districts, dealing daily with trauma, addiction, mental illness, poverty, and crime. Contrary to the seemingly bleak context, though, these characters burn bright and beautiful. They are romantic just as they are troubled; hopeful even when the are all the way down at rock bottom. Baby, the book’s thirteen-year-old protagonist, is the best of them: sweet, funny, observant, and with similes like no other (aside from Atwood, of course!), she shows readers her world in her terms as she grapples with coming of age too soon in a community that childhood can’t really survive in. #readthenorth A post shared by bibliofeed (@bibliofeed) on Jun 16, 2018 at 6:25pm PDT This is by far one of my favourite books ever. Lullabies For Little Criminals is set right here in Montreal and tells an emotional tale about a 12-year-old named Baby as she is forced to grow up in the dark side of our city. Her mother passed when she was young and her father struggles with drugs, which forces her to give up her innocence at a young age. The Return Author: Dany Laferrière Genre: Literary fiction, Autobiographical novel View this post on Instagram Dany Laferrière J’ai connu mon premier exil à l’âge de cinq ans. À Petit-Goâve, chez ma grand-mère Da. Ma mère m’a conduit très tôt le matin à la Station Sud. Bruits de camions en partance pour la province (Léogâne, Grand-Goâve, Petit-Goâve, Miragoâne, Jacmel, Bainet, Les Cayes, Jérémie, Port-Salut, Torbeck, Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Pestel, Corail, etc.). Foule en sueur. Je suis impressionné par le spectacle des marchandes vantant à tue-tête leurs marchandises. Ma mère me hisse sur le siège avant, à côté du chauffeur (cette place coûte le double du prix normal). Ensuite, elle se dirige vers la portière de celui-ci. #DanyLaferrière #nyfoh2010 #friendsofhaiti2010 A post shared by Friends Of Haiti2010 (@friendsofhaiti2010) on Jun 19, 2019 at 6:57am PDT This book tells the story of a 23-year-old from Port-au-Prince who packs his bags to head to Montreal during the harsh and never-ending winter. The Favourite Game Author: Leonard Cohen Genre: Fiction View this post on Instagram #ifoundacopy of “The Favourite Game” by Leonard Cohen ➖ “Some say that no one ever leaves Montreal, for that city, like Canada itself, is designed to preserve the past, a past that happened somewhere else.” ➖ This is Cohen’s first novel! It is inscribed to Gilles Hénault, a Québécois journalist, art critic, poet and translator. ➖ #abookaday #bookoftheday #bookstagram #bookcollector #bookcollection #booklife #bookcover #bookquotes #bookcommunity #bookish #bibliophile #bibliomania #bibliomaniac #fiction #leonardcohen #thefavouritegame #gilleshenault #firstedition #modernfirsts #rarebooks #signedbytheauthor #signedbook #mtl #montreal A post shared by I Found a Copy (@ifoundacopy) on Apr 26, 2019 at 6:41am PDT Leonard Cohen will be remembered for many things including this unforgettable novel. The Favourite Game was Cohen's first novel. It tells the story of a young Jewish boy living in Montreal. This coming of age story follows his relationship with his family and depicts the sacrifices that come with love. October 1970 Author: Louis Hamelin Genre: Fiction View this post on Instagram #brothers !! #autourdeva #salondulivredemontreal #louishamelin #boreal A post shared by Richard Hamelin (@richamelin) on Nov 19, 2016 at 2:17pm PST This phenomenal novel tells a fictional story of the October crisis. Filled with conspiracy theories and mystery, this book is a true page-turner. Hysteric Author: Nelly Arcan Genre: Fiction View this post on Instagram Mon exemplaire de l’édition de 2004, avec ses notes toujours à l’intérieur. Hommage cette année à l’auteure québécoise dix ans après son suicide. #nellyarcan A post shared by Geoffroy Deffrennes (@geoffroydeffrennes) on Sep 17, 2019 at 1:35am PDT This daring novel is about self-examination and confession as it explores the tortured end of a passionate love affair that was doomed from the start. Bottle Rocket Hearts Author: Zoe Whittall Genre: Literary Fiction View this post on Instagram The year is 1995 and the news is playing nothing else but the Quebec referendum. Bombs wake up lovers on the east side of Montreal. Eve is dating a girl who seems to be dating everybody. She wants stability, her own apartment and love. This is Montreal Canada by Zoe Whittall . . . . #bottlerockethearts #zoewhittall #montreal #canadianfiction #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bookclub #bookish #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #read #reading #readersofinstagram #reader #readers #bibliophile #goodreads #goodreadschallenge #goodreadschallenge2020 #queer #queerart #queerwriters #toronto #goodmorning #newyearsday A post shared by Bigmouth_Strikes_Again _ (@bigmouth_strikes_again_) on Jan 1, 2020 at 7:48am PST This novel tells the story of a 19-year-old girl named Eve, who is living her rebellion in Montreal during the '90s. This coming of age story has a ton of dramatic twists and turns throughout the novel and is one that is promised to keep you wanting more. The Fat Woman Next Door Is Pregnant Author: Michel Tremblay Genre: Literary Fiction View this post on Instagram Un livre à croquer dans la lumière de Montreal rue Marie-Anne #litterature #livres #littqc #roman #micheltremblay #lagrossefemmedacoteestenceinte #montroyal #mtl #montreal #luv A post shared by Lis-moi ça (@lismoi.ca) on Sep 7, 2015 at 10:13am PDT This book was originally written in French but was translated in English in 1981. It tells the story of working-class families and two prostitutes. The novel takes place in Montreal's Plateau. Many of the female characters are pregnant throughout the novel, but only of them got pregnant by someone shes loved, which is just the start of the scandal that you can read about. Nikolski Author: Nicolas Dickner Genre: Fiction View this post on Instagram Nikolski - Nicolas Dickner « Le territoire ne se mesure pas en kilomètres carrés. Tu dois aussi considérer les ancêtres, la postérité, la tradition orale, les pistes de ski-doo, les liens familiaux, la chasse au phoque et la pêche au saumon, le lichen, les recours juridiques contre Hydro-Québec... Le territoire, c’est surtout l’identité. » J’avais lu ce livre pour un cours il y a deux ans et ce que j’ai aimé, c’est qu’il donne une définition particulière à la notion de géographie. On la pens sous un regard complètement différent, mais ça se tient tout autant. 🗺 . . . . . . . #nikolski #nicolasdickner #livre #book #bookstagram #bookaddict #cocooning #food #smoothiebowls #instadaily #geographie #litterature #lecture #conseillecture #alto A post shared by Andréanne (@voyages_litteraires) on Nov 13, 2019 at 6:44am PST Set in 1989, this page-turner follows the separate lives of three young people who all end up in our city of Montreal. Each of them is on a journey of self-discovery as they experience heartbreak, family drama, and so much more. Happy reading!
