Skip to main content

Ask The Hockey History Blogger:
What Other Books Do You Read Besides Hockey?

Ha ha! Great question.

Truth be know, not a heck of a lot. I don't get a heck of a lot of time to read books outside of hockey. And I'm a notoriously slow reader.

As a rule I don't read novels. I know, I know, but I've always found non-fiction more satisfying. I like travel books in particular.

Here's five books that I found time to read this summer. None of them have anything to do with hockey:

1. Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw - Part novel. Part travel guide. Part history text book. Part comedy. Part memoir. All brilliantly put together by one of my favorite non-hockey writers - Will Ferguson (mind you, he did help out on The Girlfriend's Guide to Hockey)

2. Country Roads of British Columbia: Exploring the Interior - I like to explore spots most people have never even heard of. Gas prices got way too high this summer, and are here to stay, so until I strike it rich, I guess I'll have to travel vicariously through Liz Bryan's excellent book.

3. How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day - Great book. But I need to re-read it because me not a genius!

4. Breaking Dawn - Yeah right, who am I kidding. But I did give my girlfriend's kid my Chapters card so she could save 10% on it, so technically I bought it. At least I bought enough of the hottest selling book of the summer to warrant the cheap plug on this website!

5. Frommer's Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands & the San Juan Islands - I'm going on vacation there for almost three weeks, although this book has made me realize I need about 3 months off of work!

An old friend recommended I read Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid. If that's how long the title is I'm thinking the book must be unbearably long. Perhaps I'll settle for The Sex Lives of Cannibals instead.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Good question. I just finished one of the most obscure hockey books I could find in my library: Gary Unger and the Battling Blues. I'm not a Blues fan (Penguins in fact), but the title interested me, if anything, for the nostalgic fact of it all.

When I take a break from my hockey readings, I normally crank out something by Vonnegut, Stephen King, Hunter Thompson or any random book I can find on the discount rack at B&N.

Popular posts from this blog

Free Patrick Roy Books

Wiley is giving away two copies of Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else . This offer is exclusive to readers of HockeyBookReviews.com ! All you have to do is email me the names of three other 2008 Wiley hockey book releases. Here's a helping hint - there are currently 5 2008 Wiley titles reviewed at HockeyBookReviews.com . It's just that easy! Then email your answers to hockeybookcontest@hotmail.com . As always, those with the correct answers are put into a draw, with two lucky winners being selected randomly. One entry per person. Contest is open to North American mailing addresses only. Winners will be announced on October 15th .

Interview With The Author: Kirstie McLellan Day

A couple of weeks ago I named Theo Fleury's book Playing With Fire as the Hockey Book Reviews.com 2009 Book Of The Year . It was a pretty easy choice this year, due to Theo's tragic story, the book's impact and bestselling status. But I was also full of praise for the book's authorship. It is Theo's story, but Kirstie McLellan Day is the book's unsung hero. She understood her subject probably more than she wanted to. By doing so, she kept the emotion and the anger in the text brilliantly. I recently had the chance to chat with Kirstie McLellan Day, seen below with Theo Fleury at a recent book signing. Here's the interview: From one author to another, what is it like to wake up in the morning, look at the bestselling books list in a variety of newspapers/media sources and see your book at the very top?! As you know Joe when you are a storyteller, your main goal is to have people listen to your stories. So it is really gratifying to hear that someone is tou...

Over The Boards by Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser, one of the most celebrated figures in hockey, has graced the world with her insightful memoir "Over The Boards: Lessons From The Ice". In this eloquent and deeply personal account, Wickenheiser takes readers on a remarkable journey through her storied career while imparting invaluable lessons learned both on and off the ice. From the outset, Wickenheiser's narrative captivates with its candidness and authenticity. She invites readers into her world, sharing the triumphs and tribulations that have shaped her into the iconic figure she is today. From her humble beginnings in small-town Canada to achieving Olympic glory on multiple occasions, Wickenheiser's story is one of perseverance, passion, and unwavering dedication to the sport she loves. One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Wickenheiser's ability to seamlessly blend personal anecdotes with profound insights into the game of hockey. Through her experiences, readers gain a deepe...