Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Bestseller by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feel
Why Evolution Built Your Emotions, and How to Make Them Work for You
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Literary Canon

Best Books from Canada

Canada has produced some of the most formally adventurous literary fiction in the English language. Alice Munro's Nobel Prize recognised a body of short stories that quietly revolutionised the form; Margaret Atwood's speculative fiction, from The Handmaid's Tale onwards, has proved prophetic in its understanding of patriarchy and power. Michael Ondaatje, Yann Martel, and Anne Michaels have brought cosmopolitan range and lyric intensity to the Canadian novel. The country's multicultural reality — Indigenous, French, immigrant, and settler — makes it one of the most various literary cultures in the world.

#1
Cover of The Blind Assassin
literary-fiction

The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood· 2000
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score82/100
#2
Cover of Life of Pi
literary-fiction

Life of Pi

Yann Martel· 2002
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score77/100
#3
Cover of The Stone Diaries
literary-fiction

The Stone Diaries

Carol Shields· 1995
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score74/100
#4
Cover of The Handmaid's Tale
science-fiction

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood· 1985
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score71/100
#5
Cover of The English Patient
literary-fiction

The English Patient

Michael Ondaatje· 1992
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score68/100
#6
Cover of Spin
science-fiction

Spin

Robert Charles Wilson· 2006
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score66/100
#7
Cover of A Fine Balance
literary-fiction

A Fine Balance

Rohinton Mistry· 1995
Oprah's Book Club
Editorial Score45/100
#8
Cover of The Shock Doctrine
politics-society

The Shock Doctrine

Naomi Klein· 2007
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score45/100
#9
The Handmaid's Tale
classic-literature

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood· 1985
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#10
Novels (Handmaid's Tale / Life Before Man / Surfacing)
science-fiction

Novels (Handmaid's Tale / Life Before Man / Surfacing)

Margaret Atwood· 1990
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#11
Princess Prunella and the purple peanut
fantasy

Princess Prunella and the purple peanut

Margaret Atwood· 1995
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#12
alias Grace
history

alias Grace

Margaret Atwood· 1996
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#13
The Collected Works of Billy the Kid
poetry

The Collected Works of Billy the Kid

Michael Ondaatje· 1970
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#14
The journals of Susanna Moodie
poetry

The journals of Susanna Moodie

Margaret Atwood· 1969
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#15
True Stories
poetry

True Stories

Margaret Atwood· 1981
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#16
Cat's Eye
childrens

Cat's Eye

Margaret Atwood· 1988
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#17
Up in the Tree
childrens

Up in the Tree

Margaret Atwood· 1978
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#18
Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You
psychology

Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You

Alice Munro· 1974
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#19
The English Patient
historical-fiction

The English Patient

Michael Ondaatje· 1992
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#20
Cover of The Testaments
science-fiction

The Testaments

Margaret Atwood· 2019
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score41/100
#21
Cover of The Colony of Unrequited Dreams
historical-fiction

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams

Wayne Johnston· 1998
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score41/100
#22
Cover of Fugitive Pieces
literary-fiction

Fugitive Pieces

Anne Michaels· 1996
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#23
Cover of Station Eleven
science-fiction

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel· 2014
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score39/100
#24
Cover of Oryx and Crake
science-fiction

Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood· 2003
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score39/100
#25
Cover of The Tin Flute
literary-fiction

The Tin Flute

Gabrielle Roy· 1945
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score38/100
#26
Cover of The Diviners
literary-fiction

The Diviners

Margaret Laurence· 1974
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score38/100
#27
The Blind Assassin
science-fiction

The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood· 2000
Editorial Score38/100
#28
Oryx and Crake
science-fiction

Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood· 2002
Editorial Score38/100
#29
The Testaments
science-fiction

The Testaments

Margaret Atwood· 2019
Editorial Score38/100
#30
Handwriting
poetry

Handwriting

Michael Ondaatje· 1998
Editorial Score38/100
#31
Cover of Unless
literary-fiction

Unless

Carol Shields· 2002
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score37/100
#32
Cover of Cat's Eye
literary-fiction

Cat's Eye

Margaret Atwood· 1988
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score37/100
#33
Cover of Alias Grace
historical-fiction

Alias Grace

Margaret Atwood· 1996
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score36/100
#34
Cover of No Logo
politics-society

No Logo

Naomi Klein· 1999
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score35/100
#35
Cover of The Stone Angel
literary-fiction

The Stone Angel

Margaret Laurence· 1964
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score32/100
#36
Cover of Surfacing
literary-fiction

Surfacing

Margaret Atwood· 1972
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score31/100
#37
Cover of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
literary-fiction

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Mordecai Richler· 1959
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score30/100
#38
Cover of Fall On Your Knees
literary-fiction

Fall On Your Knees

Ann-Marie MacDonald· 1996
Oprah's Book ClubKirkus Reviews
Editorial Score27/100
#39
Carried Away: A Personal Selection of Stories
classic-literature

Carried Away: A Personal Selection of Stories

Alice Munro· 2006
Editorial Score25/100
Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

Genres

Literary Fiction20Science Fiction10Historical Fiction9Classic Literature7Poetry5Politics & Society3History2Children's Books2Adventure1Religion & Spirituality1Romance1Fantasy1Psychology1Mystery & Thriller1Business & Economics1

Notable Authors

Margaret Atwood18 booksYann Martel1 bookCarol Shields2 booksMichael Ondaatje4 booksRobert Charles Wilson1 bookRohinton Mistry1 bookNaomi Klein2 booksWayne Johnston1 bookAnne Michaels1 bookEmily St. John Mandel1 book

Canada Literature — FAQ

What are the best books from Canada?

The top-ranked books from Canada include The Blind Assassin, Life of Pi, The Stone Diaries — all highly scored by international editorial consensus.

Which Canada authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Canada has produced several Nobel Prize laureates. Our rankings highlight these winners alongside other critically acclaimed authors from the country.

How many books from Canada are ranked on 50 Best Books?

We currently rank 39 books from Canada, spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more.

What literary traditions is Canada known for?

Canada's literary tradition includes Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction — genres where the country has produced world-class authors.

Where can I read more about Canada literature?

Explore our dedicated guide at /best-books-in/canada for a comprehensive overview of Canada's literary landscape, key authors, and recommended reading order.