Vancouver Public Library and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.
Whether you are planning an escape to your summer cottage or just thinking of heading to the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Cabin Fever exhibition, put yourself in the mood with these books.
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Cabin Design
150 Best Cottage and Cabin Ideas by Francesc Zamora Mola
Set your eyes on this delightful and varied look at cabin designs from around the globe. From idyllic vacation homes and country hideaways to innovative structures of all kinds, this book will provide inspiration for you cabin dreams!
Beachside Bohemian: Easy Living by the Sea by Robert Novogratz
Design duo Robert and Cortney Novogratz reveal how they created the perfect balance of bohemian chic style and practical family living for their seaside get-away. Learn more about their adventure transforming an unremarkable cottage into a beloved family retreat.
The Family Cabin: Inspiration for Camps, Cottages, and Cabins by Dale Mulfinger
If you are looking for inspiration for your own cabin retreat, check out this collection of 37 new and old cabins from across North America. Author and "cabinologist" Dale Mulfinger provides insights and strategies for realizing your own cabin dreams.
Recipes
Easy Cottage Cooking: 140 Tested-till-perfect Recipes for Cottages by Canadian Living Test Kitchen
The key to great cooking at the cabin is simple, satisfying, and easy-to-prepare fare. Let the food experts in the Canadian Living Test Kitchen guide you on creating tasty and easy meals for any summer getaway.
Stories
To the New Owners: A Martha's Vineyard Memoir by Madeleine Blais
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author Madeleine Blais recounts the many memories housed in her family’s humble vacation cottage on Martha's Vineyard. Her charming reminiscences of the simple pleasures of summers spent on the island is the perfect summer read in any location.
The Girl of the Lake: Stories by Bill Roorbach
These often funny and always moving stories range from quirky romance, to dark comedy, to exhilarating adventure. Bill Roorbach reveals his vibrant imagination, storytelling brilliance, relentless humor, and a tender appreciation of the human heart.
A Crossing of Hearts by Michel Tremblay
This historical novel will transport you back to Quebec in August, 1915. Amid a heat wave, Maria takes her two young children, Nana and Théo, on a vacation to the Laurentian Mountains to visit family. Nana, the young city girl, explores the natural world’s beauty and discovers the enchanted world of her inner self.
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares
After their divorce, Lila and Robert agree to share custody of their three daughters and their Long Island beach home. Family relations get complicated when Sasha and Ray, the couple’s two children with their new partners, finally meet. This young adult novel will appeal to teens and adults who enjoy moving and realistic stories of domestic disharmony.
Falling by Jane Green
Emma Montague escapes both upper-crust England and high-demand Manhattan for a more tranquil life in a dilapidated cottage in Westport, Connecticut. If you are looking for a sweet and smart romance to read this summer, check out this novel by the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including The Beach House, Jemima J, and Summer Secrets.
The Summer House: A Novel by Hannah Roberts McKinnon
Flossy Merrill’s grown children meet for their father’s 90th birthday, but a happy event turns sour when Clementine, Samuel, and Paige must face the reality that their beloved childhood retreat will soon be sold. In the wake of this news, cherished memories and long-kept secrets are revealed. This engaging and bittersweet novel reveals the truth that cracks and strains exist in every family.
Pop by your local Vancouver library on your way out of town to borrow these books.
