The Indies Report: Top 5 Books this Week
Plus, interviews with authors Roza Nozari and Saad T. Farooqi
Here are the top five books sold at independent bookstores across Canada this week:
And I can verify this information. My Friends has been a steady seller in the shop since its release May 6th, and it’s hard to believe the rumours, but what if they’re true? Could this really be Fredrik Backman’s last book? Coming in hot in second place is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, and as of today, it is officially a Global Bestseller, topping all charts everywhere in its first week. Reid has published nine books in the last 12 years, and her books have sold over 21 million copies. Let that sink in for a minute. How Taylor Jenkins Reid Became a Publishing Powerhouse is a fascinating read. And Prime Minister Carney’s Value(s) published a few years ago now has been holding its own on the list as pundits everywhere are reading in hopes for some clues as to what kind of leader he’ll be. Next we have a book that continues to climb the charts since its late May release: Is a River Alive? In an interview with the Guardian, Robert Macfarlane said: ‘Sometimes I felt as if the river was writing me.’ And in the final spot we have Guy Gavriel Kay’s tour de force, Written on the Dark. If you’re curious, here’s an excerpt. And that’s a wrap on the bestselling titles for the week.
What book are you taking with you into the weekend?
In other news, there are two new interviews up on the site.
The first is with author Roza Nozari where she shares why she had to tell this story now. Nozari, the author of All The Parts We Exile, will be one of our featured guest authors at our Boozy Book Fair next week in Stratford.
My First Book
Roza Nozari is a writer, artist, and therapist based in Tkaronto ("Toronto"). Known as YallaRoza on social media, her work weaves together writing and visual art to share stories of wounding, healing, and community. Her work invites radical re-imaginings of our world, towards one more invested in collective healing and liberation. She is the illustrator of three children’s books:
The second interview is with writer Saad T. Farooqi where he shares insights into the creative process, discusses books that have lingered, and offers advice for emerging writers. Farooqi is the author of White World.
Why I Write
Born in Saudi Arabia, Saad T. Farooqi moved to Pakistan before his first birthday. There, he survived three separate kidnapping attempts before he was eight. His family eventually settled in the United Arab Emirates. After initially enrolling in electrical engineering to please his parents, Saad graduated with a BA in English Literature from the American University of Sharjah. He then earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Kingston University, London. Saad immigrated to Canada in 2015 and resides in London, Ontario. At Kingston University, he studied under several notable authors, including Rachel Cusk and Elif Safak. His short stories and poems have appeared in various magazines in the US, UK, and UAE.
Upcoming Events
*FREE EVENT*
FEATURED AUTHORS:
PETE CRIGHTON has worked as a marketing executive in the arts for many years. He has also studied comedy at Second City, graduating from their Conservatory Program in improv, scene writing and performance and still sings (badly) in the Dolly Parton choir “the Tennessee Mountain Homos.” The Vinyl Diaries: Sex, Deep Cuts and My Soundtrack to Queer Joy is his first book. He lives in Toronto.
ROZA NOZARI is a writer, artist and therapist based in Tkaronto (“Toronto”) and known as YallaRoza on social media. Her work weaves together writing and visual art to share stories of wounding, healing and community. It invites radical reimaginings of our world, towards one more invested in collective healing and liberation. She is the illustrator of three children’s books: Little People, Big Dreams’ Mindy Kaling (2021), Fluffy and the Stars (2023) and The Anti-Racist Kitchen (2023). Her illustrations have been featured locally and internationally—from university campuses to sports arenas and pride festivals. All The Parts We Exile is Nozari’s first book.
Read our interview with Roza Nozari here.
For more information, please visit: www.stratfordartsandlectures.com
COMING THIS SUMMER:
For more information, please visit: www.stratfordartsandlectures.com
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.
And in case you missed it
