Here is brief rundown of some really great books I have checked out of the OCADU Library recently. The Library is great for assignments and all, but there are also some really awesome books there for leisure reading and personal interest. I have a hand in picking them, so maybe I’m a little biased, but I think our collection is really good!
First off, we have lots of new graphic novels in right now… I think I will do a separate graphic novel post here soon. One really sweet graphic book I recently picked up at the Library is Lynda Barry’s “Picture This”.
Lynda Barry is probably best known for her Marlys comic, or her YA novel “Cruddy” (so good!), but in recent years she has been making graphic books which examine the concept and experience of creativity. These books are great for newbies and seasoned artists alike. Barry has an interesting sense of humor and a special kind of wisdom. You can check out a preview of the book on the publisher’s website, Drawn & Quarterly. If you like the book, check out “What it is” (about overcoming drawing-block) and “One Hundred Demons” (about exorcising your demons through Chinese ink painting), also available at our Library.
Next, I want to talk about a really great book for those of you interested in sustainability, environmentalism, gardening and food security: “City Farmer: Adventures in Urban Food Growing” by Lorraine Johnson.
My family comes from farming folk so it’s no surprise that I love growing food and getting my hands into the soil. It is possible to do in Toronto! For many years I have been able to grow a lot of food in a tiny garden plot (2 feet by 5 feet has produced lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, sunflowers, beets, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, kale, mint and more). Here are the reasons I loved Johnson’s book:
- So many books on ecology speak of the present global situation from a perspective of fear and impending-apocalypse. Johnson’s book comes from a positive, empowered perspective of what can actually be done on a personal level (and not just the tired vote-with-your-dollar mentality).
- Johnson is Toronto based, so many of the examples in the book come from Toronto. It was exciting to learn of all the great initiatives going on in our city. There are also plenty of outside examples as well.
- Near the end of the book there is a chapter on keeping chickens. Not legal in Toronto (yet), but so cool!!!
If you enjoy this book, also check out “GreenTOpia : towards a sustainable Toronto” edited by Alana Wilcox, Christina Palassio and Jonny Dovercourt, also available at the Library.
Continuing on the Toronto tangent, the last book that I would recommend is “Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto” by Shawn Micallef.
Micallef, an instructor in the Faculty of Design, takes you on walks through many of Toronto’s most-loved neighbourhoods and streets. I found this to be an interesting reading experience in comparing how people (Micallef and myself) experience same places in such different ways.
Read anything good lately? Feel free to comment with your personal recommendations!
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