I know the rest of Canada is poking fun at us, but it’s been really cold in Vancouver.  For those of us who’ve never experienced winter anywhere but the west coast, snow and weather below zero can be confusing.  All right, maybe it’s just confusing to me.  But my point stands.

During any gross weather, there’s nothing better than curling up with a glass of tea, whiskey, or hot chocolate, and diving into your favourite book.  As an English Lit major, I’ve read many.  The ones I connected with most always conjured feelings of familiarity and home.

There are four in particular that I loved; all written by local, female authors.  Each book has strong female characters, and will show you a BC that is familiar yet foreign.

Simple Recipes – Madeline Thien
Simple Recipes is a collection of short stories dealing with family and longing.  Thein brings her Malaysian-Chinese background into the book to create a snapshot of growing up in that culture.  She deals with family issues that hit close to home, no matter where you grew up.

Blood Sports – Edin Robinson
Set in Vancouver’s infamous downtown eastside, Blood Sports showcases a Vancouver you won’t find in those “best city to live in” reviews by travel magazines.  It chronicles the drug-riddled relationship between two cousins as they try to survive in the city’s most forgotten neighbourhood, and the problems that are created when love and family enter the picture.

Disappearing Moon Café –  Sky Lee
Lee follows generations of Chinese women as they make their way through racism and obstacles in early and late Vancouver.  Each woman tries to connect with previous generations to understand their past and the choices their ancestors made.  Lee effortlessly portrays clashes with tradition and identity as she weaves a family history full of mystery.

Dead Girls – Nancy Lee 
Another collection of short stories, Dead Girls is gritty and a little uncomfortable.  Part of the uneasiness will come from your personal connection with characters whose flaws are all too apparent.  Lee profiles women who aren’t afraid of their sexuality, and tears at relationships with a reality you won’t find in love novels. 

~ Meghan Roberts