1984—The Year I Was Born: A Daily Record of Events

Brenda Reed is the curriculum and reference services librarian in the
Education Library, Queen’s University.

Like the other titles in the Year I Was Born series, this book begins by
presenting monthly birthstones and flowers. This is followed by a
chronological daily record of events in 1984. Twelve monthly
introductions offer statistical information through a variety of
features. The daily record of events emphasizes sports and
entertainment, with mainly Canadian content. The Sarajevo Winter
Olympics and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics figure prominently, as does
George Orwell’s 1984, in the introduction to January. The daily news
items range from Brian Mulroney’s swearing-in as Canada’s 18th prime
minister to the trivia note that many Vancouverites “aren’t worrying
about mowing their lawns this summer—because they live year-round on
floating homes, houses built on barges and docked on the city’s
shoreline.” Birthdays of notable Canadians are appended to most dates.
Featuring cartoon-style drawings, 1984: The Year I Was Born will appeal
to trivia buffs who were born in 1984. Recommended.