Our 2025 Oxford Reads Title is...
Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan
Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan
An inspiring memoir about perseverance, identity, and the power of staying true to oneself. Born and raised in the Garden River First Nation, Nolan overcame adversity to reach the highest levels of professional hockey, winning the NHL’s Coach of the Year award. But his journey was never just about the game—it was about navigating two worlds, facing discrimination, and ultimately returning to his roots to uplift Indigenous youth. Candid and deeply personal, this book is a must-read for hockey fans and anyone moved by stories of resilience and leadership.
About the Author
TED NOLAN grew up on the Garden River First Nation Reserve and played three seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He served as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers and as head coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 1995 to 1997 and from 2013 to 2015; he was also head coach for the New York Islanders from 2006 to 2008. Ted has coached internationally, taking Team Latvia to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games in 2014.
More Ways to Get Involved
Stay tuned for information about all the exciting programs we'll have lined up this fall to celebrate our 2025 selection including book clubs, Paint Nights, Workshops, and more! This all leads to our Oxford Reads Gala, where we sit down with the author at the Market Centre Theatre for an in-depth conversation about this year's book.
For Oxford County Library programs, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.
For Woodstock Public Library, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.
About last year's title
Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
In this debut novel, a morbidly anxious young woman stumbles into a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church and soon finds herself obsessed with her predecessor’s mysterious death. A delightful blend of warmth, deadpan humour, and pitch-perfect observations about the human condition, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a crackling exploration of what it takes to stay afloat in a world where your expiration — and the expiration of those you love — is the only certainty. This novel was long listed for The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award, and a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards.
About the Author:
Emily was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. She studied English Literature and Religious Studies at King's University College, and Library and Information Science at Western University. She received two writing grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, and has a background in libraries, teaching, and working as an information architect. She currently resides in Ottawa / the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
If you liked Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead...
Previous Oxford Reads Selections
2024 - Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin
2023 - The Maid by Nita Prose
2022 - Driven by Marcello di Cintio
2021 - Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
2020 - Crow by Amy Spurway
2019 - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
2018 - The Purchase by Linda Spalding