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Pack Your Boots and Your Books

VPL and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.

vpl-logo VPL and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.

With balmy breezes whispering through stately conifers, a chilled beverage in hand and the sounds of nature serenading you... you’re camping in beautiful B.C. Take a deep breath and relax – what better accompaniment to the rustic splendor of our provincial backyard than a read or two from this campground-worthy selection brought to you by the library’s reading experts.

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The Complete Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven

Need to know how to fight off an irate mountain lion? Has a hurricane just doused your campsite? Maybe your folding chair's been sucked into quicksand. Fret not – Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht's ultimate survival guide will help you get out of the stickiest camping traumas. This ridiculously charming handbook can help turn things around when your outdoor adventure goes awry.

Gumboot Girls a collection of memoirs by various authors

Not camping this year, but still desire a taste of the great outdoors? Enjoy this outstanding collection of memoirs by 34 women who traded big city life for the wild and woolly north coast of B.C. Often humorous, occasionally harrowing and totally inspiring, you can also enjoy this unique and local read on one of VPL's e-readers that are pre-loaded with books from B.C. authors and publishers!

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Settle into your tent with a headlamp and and get cozy with the book that inspired the film of the same name with Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon. Cheryl Strayed's page-turner is an honest memoir that pulls no punches about life's ups and downs, twists and turns. This gripping travel account of roughing it alone in the Pacific Northwest is both an entertaining and reflective journey.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson hiked more than 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail back in 1997, before it was cool. His memories of this once-in-a-lifetime experience are a joy to read and have inspired numerous hikers. Filled with off-beat characters and absurd situations, Bryson brings some of the most breathtaking landscapes in North America to the comforts of your reading chair by the lake.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

For the discerning and reflective trekker, Robert M. Pirsig’s book is the perfect inspiration for a meditative retreat. Ride along with him on a summer motorcycle trip across the Pacific Northwest and reflect on the way we live our lives and the endless (but joyful) mysteries that compel us forward. This read is best enjoyed with a warm cup of coffee as the sun rises.

Trapped: A Novel of Terror by Jack Kilborn

What camping trip would be complete without a few genuine chills and thrills? Written in the same manner as the finest movie thrillers, Jack Kilborn tells the story of six troubled teens and two court-appointed guardians who set up camp in Michigan's wild Upper Peninsula. When all hell breaks loose as a campfire ghost tale comes to life, members of the group begin disappearing one by one!

Visit vpl.ca for more great reads from your library!