{"title":"Best Newfoundland \u0026 Labrador Books of 2025","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"cautiously-pessimistic","title":"Cautiously Pessimistic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn intimate and enlightening no-holds-barred memoir that uncovers the many unexpected details of dying, Cautiously Pessimistic is one woman’s personal account of her husband’s death and what it means to die in the public eye.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cbr\u003e\r\nCautiously Pessimistic is both deeply moving and funny, as it recounts McGee’s husband’s diagnosis of brain cancer and the eight months leading up to his death. It is told in the first person and through posts from Facebook and Twitter, text exchanges, and email. Alternating chapters tell the story of McGee and her husband’s tumultuous early relationship, through the use of excerpts from journals and letters. Throughout the narrative the presence of the tightly knit St. John’s arts community is strongly felt. The etiquette of offering condolences on social media is examined in an afterword by the author.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46155124572337,"sku":"9781778530579","price":22.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46155124605105,"sku":"30fc36e6-0607-34d8-9bc4-5fc4a663014f","price":16.79,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_28b3ead2-63f0-4885-8b3e-d8ebeb467f5f.jpg?v=1763680586"},{"product_id":"the-lucky-seven","title":"The Lucky Seven: The Story of the Elite Navigator","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne night in July 2024, the \u003cem\u003eElite Navigator\u003c\/em\u003e fishing boat and its crew seemed to vanish. The vessel, which had been fishing for turbot, caught fire after several days at sea, forcing the crew to abandon ship and wait for rescue on a life raft. Initially reported missing, their last signal was transmitted around 8:30 p.m. the night before, according to the Canadian Coast Guard, and their fate seemed grim.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn New-Wes-Valley, which is an amalgamation of several small fishing communities along Newfoundland’s northeast coast, friends and family braced for the worst. But on the night of Friday, July 19, searchers spotted a flare in the ocean that led them to the life raft, where the seven fishermen—now referred to as \"The Lucky Seven\"—were waiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the remarkable true story of a dramatic rescue at sea that took place after all hope had been lost. Award-winning author Gary Collins recounts the relentless and heroic efforts of the men and women on land, at sea, and in the air which led to a miracle, one which grabbed national headlines in the summer of 2024. \u003cem\u003eThe Lucky Seven\u003c\/em\u003e is an inspiring reminder of courage, resilience, and the strength of community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the true story of a dramatic rescue at sea that took place after all hope had been lost. Award-winning author Gary Collins recounts the heroic efforts of the men and women on land, at sea, and in the air which led to a miracle, one which grabbed national headlines in the summer of 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46156749602993,"sku":"9781774572504","price":22.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46156749635761,"sku":"387937ba-3aef-3c3a-b25c-f359d3b8e3b8","price":9.89,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_9d2bda84-63e4-4c9f-b1d0-25190efadbbe.jpg?v=1763715749"},{"product_id":"the-girls-of-belvedere","title":"The Girls of Belvedere","description":"The sudden death of Kitty Murphy’s mother sends Kitty and her younger sisters, Hannah and Ruth, to an orphanage in St. John’s. Their brother is allowed to stay home because “boys earn and girls cost.” The next seven years are a test of endurance as they cope with brutality from a cruel, self-righteous nun and the bullies who curry the Sister’s favour. Kitty tries her best to protect her younger sisters in this unpredictable environment.The 1940s in Newfoundland offered very little to a woman. Life in a fishing outport meant unrelenting poverty and an exhausting cycle of pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing. Too many mothers died, and their children were turned over to the Sisters to raise in St. John’s. Mothers without husbands entered sudden and desperate relationships with men or fell into prostitution. Some women became nuns to escape motherhood with all its perils. They wanted a chance for peace and predictability. However, those young women discovered life in a cloister meant a different foot was on the back of your neck.All these lives intersected at the doors of Belvedere Orphanage.","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46165088075953,"sku":"9781774572474","price":22.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46165088108721,"sku":"8bc3e0cc-79d0-3893-a14e-08ff144fd225","price":9.89,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_54830ee9-92b7-4fbd-9fdb-0f57045d9981.jpg?v=1763715742"},{"product_id":"openly-karl","title":"Openly Karl","description":"\u003cp\u003eOpenly Karl \u003cem\u003eis a frank and generous memoir by one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most well-known media figures.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDive into the private and public life of Karl Wells, as told in his own words. From his birth in Buchans and early life in St. John’s, to his rise in media and a 32-year career with \u003cem\u003eHere and Now\u003c\/em\u003e at the CBC, \u003cem\u003eOpenly Karl\u003c\/em\u003e is a rare opportunity to bring the face and voice you know from your television back into focus. While he will forever be known as “the weatherman,” \u003cem\u003eOpenly Karl\u003c\/em\u003e explores the expanse of Karl Wells’s career and the nuances of his personal life, including coming to terms with being gay during a less tolerant period of Newfoundland and Labrador’s history and throughout the subsequent decades of social change. At times fascinating and funny, at others harrowing and heartbreaking, Karl’s story will keep readers tuned in.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46165061894321,"sku":"9781778530395","price":24.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46165061927089,"sku":"75778910-cd06-3fc3-a94a-b9cf24db94f6","price":18.39,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_ebbbd0cb-5fbb-4ac9-ad22-22ef7a8376a7.jpg?v=1763715748"},{"product_id":"just-around-the-corner","title":"Just Around the Corner","description":"\u003cp\u003eJust Around the Corner\u003cem\u003e is the story of Member of Parliament for Labrador, Yvonne Rumbolt-Jones, a woman from a northern community who broke free of her geographic and political isolation to embrace opportunity. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eJUST AROUND THE CORNER is the story of Member of Parliament for Labrador Yvonne Rumbolt-Jones, a woman from a northern community who broke free of geographic and political isolation to embrace opportunity. An intimate memoir from the longest-serving female politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, \u003cem\u003eJust Around the Corner\u003c\/em\u003e uncovers Rumbolt-Jones’s strength as a survivor as well as her determination and courage through both her private life and her political life. She reveals her early years of dealing with child sexual abuse and experiences with family alcoholism, and her challenges as an adult confronting personal grief and loss, the sexism, public scrutiny, and challenges of party politics, as well as being diagnosed with cancer—twice. Through it all, the thread of Rumbolt-Jones’s love for Labrador and its people, and her hope and joy in working for the future of both shines through. She writes with confidence and candour about overcoming adversity and marginality to be elected to both the provincial House of Assembly and the national Parliament, where she has been a strong leader and voice for women, Indigenous peoples, and Canada’s North. Her story is that of a woman who refused to let the scars of the past define her, but rather used them to help her grow and understand that while we may not control what harms us, we can control how we move forward.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46192770318513,"sku":"9781778530357","price":26.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46192770351281,"sku":"8f05f478-c4e3-318c-bf3c-7f0236cc4965","price":19.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_6fc29d73-6c5f-4b70-937f-46e496d222b2.jpg?v=1763715744"},{"product_id":"gander","title":"Gander: The Airport that Became a Town","description":"Gander, Newfoundland, is a rare example of a town that emerged after its airport. Opened in 1939, the airport played a crucial role in World War II, reportedly becoming the world's largest multinational military base. Immediately after the war, a new town developed, with residents initially living in renovated military structures on airport grounds. As commercial transatlantic aviation flourished, the town was relocated a short distance away and officially opened in 1959.This book captures the unique lifestyle that grew within this aviation-centric, isolated Newfoundland community. Blending history and memoir, it details the buildings of the old town, complete with photos and maps, offering a vivid glimpse into the lives of its residents. It also shares untold stories from the original town of Gander, which thrived at the edge of the runways of a bustling international airport.","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46218062495954,"sku":"9781774572566","price":24.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46218062528722,"sku":"ae805b87-74bf-39d2-9a6f-04fbb9f43553","price":9.89,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_2519e641-b60a-4e29-91be-7bf37b6cd99a.jpg?v=1763680586"},{"product_id":"david-blackwood","title":"David Blackwood: Myth \u0026 Legend","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of Canada’s best-known printmakers, David Blackwood (1941–2022) put onto paper an enduring vision of Newfoundland, where he was born and raised. His hauntingly beautiful images draw from personal and communal memory, local tradition, and dreams and legends to capture a way of life that had already begun to vanish during his youth. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracing Blackwood’s career from his days as an art student at the Ontario College of Art to his final drawing, \u003ci\u003eDavid Blackwood: Myth \u0026amp; Legend\u003c\/i\u003e brings together more than eighty drawings and prints, alongside proofs, copperplates, and archival materials to provide a unique insight into Blackwood’s creative process. Essays by AGO curator Alexa Greist and Amy Marshall Furness, the archivist who has stewarded the acquisition of Blackwood’s extensive personal archives, round out the volume. This stunning combination of work spans Blackwood’s entire career and reveals the creative evolution of one of Newfoundland’s, and Canada’s, most beloved artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDavid Blackwood: Myth \u0026amp; Legend\u003c\/i\u003e accompanies a retrospective exhibition at the AGO opening in October 2025. Touring dates and locations to be announced. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46315902337234,"sku":"9781773104782","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_c94ecff4-151f-45f0-8491-564da86dfa8b.jpg?v=1763715741"},{"product_id":"richard-johnson","title":"Richard Johnson: Resilience - Ice Huts and Root Cellars (2007-2021)","description":"\u003cb\u003eA photographic collection that celebrates the tranquility of winter and the ingenuity of vernacular architecture.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a clear, straight-on vantage point and with a pictorial formality echoing the work of documentary photography pioneers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Richard Johnson (1957-2021) spent more than a decade recording and categorizing visual typologies of small, hand-built structures across Canada.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis largest and most celebrated collection of photographs documents ice huts used for fishing across the frozen lakes, bays, and rivers. These huts must be weather-resistant and transportable, giving basic shelter around the opening to the water below. Johnson's photographs reveal the functional and aesthetic similarities and differences of what he called \"renegade architecture\" - a form verging on a vernacular folk art tradition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLater in his life, Johnson began documenting Newfoundland's ubiquitous, earthen-built root cellars. To Johnson, the cellars were place-specific oddities; efficiently constructed and curiously anthropomorphic. They also fit conceptually into his lifelong fascination with small structures built out of necessity and usually by hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore than 200 photographs from these series are complemented by texts from acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Edward Burtynsky and curator Tom Smart that contextualize Johnson's photographs and place his work among the contemporary disciples of the Bechers' Düsseldorf School. A personal text by Johnson's long-time partner, Lucie Bergeron-Johnson, provides an intimate portrait of the artist, and chronicles his journey to the discovery of his subject matter and the development of his signature style.","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46355200868562,"sku":"9781773272757","price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_383c9705-e999-4b79-9d59-1d591aef8c30.jpg?v=1764386327"},{"product_id":"veal","title":"Veal: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e “The atmosphere is undeniably well crafted … Those who don't mind novels that are more vibes based than plot driven will find Nolan and exciting new voice.” — \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\t\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOffering the atmosphere of Twin Peaks and the queer camaraderie of comic strip \u003ci\u003eDykes to Watch Out For\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVeal\u003c\/i\u003e is a thrilling exploration of friendship, fear, and the thin line between justice and vengeance.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\t\t\u003cp\u003eDelores “Lawrence” Franklin is a failed capitalist and a runaway headcase. Following a corporate meltdown, she moves to Mistaken Point, a small town known for two things: Mistaken Point University, where she and her best friend, Anastasia Lanes, are now enrolled, and the grisly murders of countless young women.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\t\t\u003cp\u003eAt her new part-time arcade job, Lawrence meets Francesca “Franky” Delores, gritty, off-putting, and chronically serious, as opposite to Lawrence as her name would suggest. Franky is convinced there is a monster on the loose, a Frankenstein creature born from hatred, responsible for the string of killings the town insists are solved.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\t\t\u003cp\u003eAgainst the advice of Pippa, Franky's closest friend, Lawrence and Stasia join Franky in her sticky, summertime search for the yellow-eyed monster haunting their foggy seaside town between classes, shifts at the arcade, and eating popsicles by the pool. Motivated by her unquenchable attraction to Franky, Lawrence allows herself to be pulled in strange directions, trying to appease Franky’s mania. Through the trials of hunting a monster only some of them believe in, Pippa, Lawrence, Stasia, and Franky uncover a town's legacy of making women answer for men's violence—and the reliability of urban legends.\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46551350640850,"sku":"9781770418066","price":24.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46551350673618,"sku":"5265718f-ad88-3467-90aa-9145ca8b3d26","price":11.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_58b95789-923c-4258-b23a-5d2bcfc383c7.jpg?v=1764380885"},{"product_id":"six-for-saint-pierre-1","title":"Six for Saint-Pierre","description":null,"brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46649462718674,"sku":"c8bd923f-055b-3868-a06d-7b84d8216992","price":16.79,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46703070707922,"sku":"9781778530654","price":22.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_9efcc33f-45f2-4282-b482-f4e778f8384d.jpg?v=1763715744"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.indigo.ca\/collections\/best-newfoundland-labrador-books-of-2025.oembed","provider":"Indigo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}