SCPL Online NonFiction Book Club discussion

Hello Everyone!

My name is Anne and I will be leading this month’s discussion of “The Right to Be Cold” by Sheila Watt-Cloutier. “The Right to be Cold” tells Watt-Cloutier’s story of growing up in the Arctic and how her fight to protect her culture led her to fight to protect the world.

This book is available from the Library in several different formats, which are accessible at the following link: https://goo.gl/Hup5t3

I hope that you enjoy reading the book this month and I am looking forward to discussing it with you. Please feel free to share your thoughts and respond to any questions that are posted!

For anyone that may have already started the book, do you have any initial thoughts? How much do you know about climate change?

Hi Anne!
I read this book in the summer when I was working on the SCPL Bingo Summer Reading Challenge. ( I needed a book set in Nunavut). I also read it because it was a finalist on CBC’s Canada Reads. It was a HARD read. Very technical and scientific. I enjoyed some aspects of it, particularly Watt-Cloutier’s personal experiences. I won’t be re-reading it but I will be following the discussion. I’ll try and contribute as much as I can.

What did I know about climate change before reading this book? Not a lot and definitely not enough. During Canada Reads Chantal Kreviazuk argued that all of Canada NEEDS to read this book. While I agree with her sentiment in that I feel the subject matter is incredibly important I can definitely say that many people won’t read it. At least not cover to cover. I struggled with it and I’m pretty good with difficult to read books. I’ll be interested to hear input from others.

Hi Heidi,

I agree with both your comments, Watt-Cloutier’s book was a difficult read in parts but it also taught me a lot about climate change in the Arctic. I’m looking forward to our discussion this month!