Non-Prose Books: Staff Picks for the 2019 Reading Challenge
Are you taking our 2019 Reading Challenge? So are library staff all across the city. In honour of World Poetry Day on March 21, we decided to ask them about their favourite books for the category, "A non-prose book". Plus April is National Poetry Month!
On the Reading Challenge webpage, we're describing a non-prose book as "any book that doesn’t have typical sentence and paragraph structure." The suggestions we received have been organized by general category and include books for children, teens and adults.
If you have already read a non-prose book, any of these titles can be used for the Reading Challenge category "A book recommended to you by library staff". We've also included other categories these books could be used for.
Poetry and Novels in Verse:
Kara's Recommendation: Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green. For ages 8 and up.
Why did Kara pick it?
"I read it in 2017 because it was Canadian. Macy McMillan is one of the more memorable characters I have encountered recently. The author uses the non-prose format, along with different fonts, to illustrate how Macy communicates (her internal monologue, when she signs to people, and when she uses her voice). Macy's relationship with her older neighbour, Iris (she of the rainbow goddess fame) is charming yet bittersweet, as Iris is starting to forget things. Macy also has to deal with her mother's impending wedding. While she likes her mom's boyfriend, she wonders how she will like changing from a two person family to a three person. After the wedding they will also be moving to a different house. Macy isn't sure she is ready for all the changes coming in her life. I love books with well written, realistic portrayals of family, and this book just hit all the right spots for me!"
What other categories could you use it for?
- A book by a Canadian award-winning author
Sheilah's Recommendation: The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris. Suitable for all ages.
Why did Sheilah pick it?
"We have it in our collection as an adult book but it is up for both a Kate Greenaway award (illlustration) and Carnegie (writing). It was written because Oxford announced it was removing some words from their Children's Dictionary to make room for New words. Being removed were a lot of words related to nature - dandelion, bluebell, otter, fern, etc.
It is full of astonishingly beautiful paintings and poetry (called spells in the book) about the "lost" words."
Reagan's Recommendation: The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur.
Why did Reagan pick it?
"After seeing the hype about this collection, I happily devoured this book of poetry. So much so that I bought her first collection as well, Milk and Honey, and proceeded to lend it to everyone and anyone who wanted to read it. It really sparked a renewed appreciation for non-prose style writing. It's concise, easily digestible (even for non-poetry lovers) and really gives you an opportunity to do some big picture thinking about relationships, family, immigration, and self-love."
What other categories could you use it for?
- A book by an author in a visible minority.
Amy's Recommendation: The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace.
Why did Amy pick it?
"It's about feminism, resilience and standing your ground. It also discusses issues of misogyny and rape culture. I picked it up because I enjoyed The Princess Saves Herself In This One. This one's a bit heavier. Both are poetry and have fairy tale elements woven in, but not quite as many as you may initially think. I'd recommend this book to older teens (16+) and adults."
Myrna's Recommendation: Motherland, Fatherland, Homelandsexuals by Patricia Lockwood.
Why did Myrna pick it?
"Her poems are weird, hilarious, surreal and sad."
Diana's Recommendation: Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám by Edward FitzGerald and Omar Khayyám.
Why did Diana pick it?
"I remember liking it because of the rhyming scheme. It wasn't until I was older, that I came to appreciate the imagery of the quatrains and double meanings of the individual words. Now, considering the many meanings of words and how they've changed, the Rubáiyát can be read and discovered anew."
What other categories could you use it for?
- A book in translation.
Maggie's Recommendation: To Say the Least: Canadian Poets from A to Z, edited by P.K. Page.
Why did Maggie pick it?
"It's a great collection of tiny poems by Canadians. It's a poetry book for people who don't read poetry."
Wendy's Recommendation: The Sparrow by A. F. Moritz.
Why did Wendy pick it?
"A. F. (Al) Moritz has just been appointed Poet Laureate of Toronto, so I'm going to be checking out his latest book - a volume of his selected poems called The Sparrow. He also has a new chapbook coming out next month called Art of Surgery."
What other categories could you use it for?
- A book from a Canadian award-winning author.
Other Non-Prose Books:
Alice's recommendation: YOLO Juliet by Brett Wright.
Why did Alice pick it?
"A fun, silly take on Shakespeare told entirely in texts and emoji. Quite light and irreverant."
Reagan's Recommendation: Farm to Chef: Cooking Through the Seasons by Lynn Crawford.
Why did Reagan pick it?
"I have read and made recipes out of this beautiful and rustic cook book (the food just screams to be served in a red Le Cruset dish!). Being a proud, local Leslievillian, we decided to host our wedding reception at Ruby Watch Co, Lynn Crawford's restaurant right here in the city. It was a special evening with Lynn cooking for us and taking pictures and signing this cookbook for my husband and I. The recipes are simple and delicious and the pictures are fantastic!"
Isabel's Recommendation: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton.
Why did Isabel pick it?
"It's "The story of a romantic relationship... told in the form of a catalog from the auction of objects previously owned by the fictional couple". I haven't heard much about it but I find the concept very intriguing!"
Other Recommendations:
Both staff and members of the Reading Challenge Facebook group have given additional recommendations of non-prose books. :
- Gmorning, gnight! : Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Images and short text).
- Swing by Kwame Alexander (Novel in verse. Recommended for age 13 and up).
- Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North (Graphic novel. Text, play excerpts and images).
- Ebb & Flow by Heather Smith (Novel in verse. Recommend for age 9 and up).
- The Mousetrap and Other Plays by Agatha Christie (Play).
- Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourne (Play).
- A Number by Caryl Churchhill (Play).
- Six Poets: Hardy to Larkin by Alan Bennett (Poetry anthology).
- The Golden Gate by Seth Vikram (Novel in verse).
- Correspondent by Dominique Bernier-Cormier (Poetry).
- Alternative Baker: Reinventing Dessert with Gluten-Free Grains and Flours by Alanna Taylor-Tobin (Cookbook).
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (Novel in verse. Recommended for age 13 and up).
- Finding Baba Yaga by Jane Yolen (Novel in verse. Recommended for age 16 and up).
- If They Come For Us by Fatimah Asghar (Poetry).
- All the Gold Hurts My Mouth by Katherine Leyton (Poetry).
- The World of the Happy Pear by David and Stephen Flynn (Cookbook).
- Was She Pretty? by Leanne Shapton (Images and short text).
We have received – and continue to receive – so many amazing suggestions. We encourage you to read the full suggestion thread and contribute your own favourite titles. You don't need a Facebook account to view the thread, although you do need one to add your own suggestions.
Other Non-Prose Reading Lists:
- Our Toronto Poetry Map
- Poetry and Kids: Celebrating National Poetry Month (April 2018)
- National Poetry Month at Your Library (April 2016)
- Listen Up, Poem Fairy! (April 2016)
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