On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis

This book beat out work by Douglas Coupland and Will Ferguson because it is very, very good — a terrific Canadian political satire.

Here’s the set up: A burnt-out politcal aide quits just before an election — but is forced to run a hopeless campaign on the way out. He makes a deal with a crusty old Scot, Angus McLintock — an engineering professor who will do anything, anything, to avoid teaching English to engineers — to let his name stand in the election. No need to campaign, certain to lose, and so on.

Then a great scandal blows away his opponent, and to their horror, Angus is elected. He decides to see what good an honest M.P. who doesn’t care about being re-elected can do in Parliament. The results are hilarious — and with chess, a hovercraft, and the love of a good woman thrown in, this very funny book has something for everyone.




Just Watch Me by John English
This magnificent second volume, written with exclusive access to Trudeau’s private papers and letters, completes what the Globe and Mail called “the most illuminating Trudeau portrait yet written” — sweeping us from sixties’ Trudeaumania to his final days when he debated his faith.

His life is one of Canada’s most engrossing stories. John English reveals how for Trudeau style was as important as substance, and how the controversial public figure intertwined with the charismatic private man and committed father. He traces Trudeau’s deep friendships (with women especially, many of them talented artists, like Barbra Streisand) and bitter enmities; his marriage and family tragedy. He illuminates his strengths and weaknesses — from Trudeaumania to political disenchantment, from his electrifying response to the kidnappings during the October Crisis, to his all-important patriation of the Canadian Constitution, and his evolution to influential elder statesman.

And we have SIGNED copies available!!

Old City Hall by Robert Rotenberg

Kevin Brace, Canada's most famous radio personality, stands in the door
of his luxury condominium, hands covered in blood, and announces
to his newspaper delivery man: "I killed her." His wife lies dead in
the bathtub, fatally stabbed.

It would appear to be an open-and-shut case.

The trouble is, Brace refuses to talk to anyone -- including his own lawyer --
after muttering those incriminating words. With the discovery that the
victim was actually a self-destructive alcoholic, the appearance of
strange fingerprints at the crime scene, and a revealing courtroom crossexamination,
the seemingly simple case takes on all the complexities of a
hotly contested murder trial. Meantime, much to everyone's surprise, the
Leafs are making an unlikely run for the Stanley Cup.



Swan Lake Ballet Theatre

The perfect gift for dancers and dreamers! A gorgeous, fold-out miniature stage, interchangeable scenery, and moveable figures offer hours of fun as children reimagine all four acts of Tchaikovsky’s great ballet. The haunting story of SWAN LAKE comes to life through:
— A full-color book relating the story of the ballet and offering staging suggestions
— A sophisticated collection of scenery and backdrops
— Nine dancing figures and supporting cast
— An audio CD featuring music from SWAN LAKE

We have a beautiful Swan Lake Ballet Theatre on display at the store. Come check it out! This is a really neat gift for Christmas.