Canadian Authors to Discover on Your Niagara Falls Vacation

There’s nothing better than reading a great book while relaxing on vacation, and it can become an even more immersive experience if you read books penned by writers who hail from the country you’re visiting. Canadian authors can often be overshadowed by their south-of-the-border counterparts, but Canada has a rich literary history and a number of award winning authors on its roster.

If you’re looking for a great read while you visit Niagara Falls, these are some of Canada’s most prolific and popular authors as well as some of their best works.

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood may be Canada’s most well-known writer, and her work is popular across the globe. While she tends to write dystopian novels such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Oryx and Crake,” her volumes of work span many genres and any reader will find a Margaret Atwood book to suit their taste.

In her collection of short stories, “Bluebeard’s Egg and Other Stories”, Ms. Atwood includes a story called “The Whirlpool Rapids”, which focuses on a daredevil of a young girl and her Niagara experience. This story will certainly set the mood for your Niagara experience, without the daredevil experience, of course.

Yann Martel

Many people might not have been familiar with Canadian author Yann Martel until the blockbuster film “The Life of Pi” hit theaters a few years ago. Based on his novel of the same name, “The Life of Pi” is as wonderful to read as it is to watch, and this fantastic novel makes perfect vacation reading.

“Beatrice and Virgil” is another of his most popular works and tells an allegorical tale of the Holocaust. While not necessarily light reading, Martel’s unique style is intensely engaging and could have you turning pages for hours as you read poolside.

Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue might have never become as well-known as she now is if not for a certain book called “Room.” Once it was made into a motion picture and Brie Larson won the Academy Award for best actress for her starring role, this book became a household name. If you haven’t already read this emotional powerhouse of a novel, we highly recommend it.

This Irish-Canadian author writes about controversial subjects, and some of her best works have been nominated for a number of literary awards.

Alice Munro

Alice Munro is a prolific Canadian author and Nobel Prize winner who specializes in short stories, many of which take place in Huron County, Ontario and some even feature the Niagara region as a backdrop. Short stories can often be a better alternative than a novel during a vacation, as the time commitment is obviously less intimidating.

A fun fact about Ms. Munro: when she won her Nobel she was not in attendance and the prize committee had to call her to inform her that she’d won. However, she didn’t answer the phone and they actually left a voicemail.

On your next visit to Niagara Falls, be sure to check out titles by one of these Canadian authors. Who knows? You may even find a new favorite.

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