Canadians: What is the best book you read this summer?

What did you read this summer that has stayed with you? That moved you and made you think? What book did you want to pass along to friends and strangers alike? Did you have any of those rare reads that you couldn't put down, didn't ever want to end, but couldn't wait to see the outcome?
Share with the rest of Canada and all other interested LTers!

I'm not from Canada, but I'd like to answer this one... mostly because I have literally told everyone I know -- and some I don't know -- to read WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. It's an amazing book, wonderful story and so well-written. Definitely the best fiction I've read in 2007, perhaps even longer than that.

I also really enjoyed THE YEAR OF FOG, GRACE (EVENTUALLY) and HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER....

Recommend all of them :-)

I have heard that How to Talk to a Widower is very good. And Water for Elephants has done very well.
I recently read "Astrid & Veronka" and loved it. I loved Linda Olsson's style very much. Her descriptions were wonderful. I sold two copies of the book by just describing one scene early into the book because at that point I had only read 70 odd pages. I have since sold more. I look forward to more work from her. Now reading a French Canadian book by Gaetan Soucy "The Girl who was too fond of matches" which is very interesting and I am enjoying very much. It's different but oh so clever. I will look up the others you mentioned. I am always interested in what people are reading and the funny thing is that just very recently, I have been seeing many people reading in public. I love it!

Since June 1, the closest one that fits for me was
The Pearl Diver by Jeff Talarigo

I read Le voile de peur by Samia Shariff, I'm not sure if it's been translated but wow, emtional stuff. It's the story of an Algerian born girl and her story of forced marriage, abuse and final escape from a hellish existance. She now lives in Quebec. Maybe someone else might know the title in English. It left me absolutely proud for all Canada stands for and a broken heart for all women who are forced to live out the religious fanatic's view of women and their place in the world. I don't read a lot in french but I found this to be an easy read, and never a bored moment. I recited the story to my daughters each morning after reading at night and they were as enthralled as I was as to know what would happen next.

My favourite read this summer is (The Madonnas of Leningrad.) It is the story of the seige of Leningrad through the eyes of a lady who was a docent there. She is now drifting into Altzheimers and her story is told as if she has glimpses of the past. well written and seems thorighly researched re the actual seige.

I read and really liked the following The Reliable Wife Last Night in Montreal. I am half way through Little Bee which is tremendously excellent writing, heartwrenching, brilliant so on & so on. Just loving it. These three books are from the ER program and Wow! am I ever happy that I received these books!