Book News Vol. 5 No. 22

BOOK NEWS

A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the eighth annual Dram Come True Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting. Chat with experts while you enjoy a variety of delicious and distinguished single malts. Rare scotches available at auction include Members's Legacy Caperdonich 1967, a dram regarded as one of the most extraordinary batches of malt of all time. It rates 96 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, an annual whisky book coveted by connoisseurs. Own this extra special treasure that you can't buy off the shelf. Details and photos from last year here: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/supportus/dramcometrue

Join us!
Our membership drive continues with exciting new incentives to join, as well as the benefits of membership:...discounts, earlybird tickets, we could go on... Click for more information, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/supportus/joinus.

Every two weeks we will draw the name of a new member to win an exciting prize. The prize for May 14: A lifetime subscription to Geist. Note: subscription is non-transferable and must be sent to a Canadian mailing address.


Special Event

Alexander McCall Smith
The Vancouver International Writers Festival and Random House Canada present the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series who will talk about his forthcoming book, The Charming Quirks of Others. Complete details on our website, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.

Alexander McCall Smith aficionados may well be more thrilled by The Double Comfort Safari Club than was John Burns.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/still-lives-with-women/article1563320/

AWARDS & LISTS

Seth, one of Canada's best-known comic book artists, who appeared in our 2009 Festival, has been awarded the 2010 Doug Wright Award for Best Book for his graphic novel, George Sprott 1894-1975.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/05/09/comics-books-graphicnovels-dougwright.html

American writer Mary Robison is the latest winner of the Rea Award for the Short Story.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/05/11/robison-rea-award.html

Former union president Buzz Hargrove and economist Jeff Rubin are two of the shortlisted authors for the National Business Book Award.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/05/11/business-book-award-nominees.html

Amitav Ghosh and Margaret Atwood each received a David Dan Prize for literature this past week.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Amitav-Ghosh-wins-prestigious-Dan-David-Prize/articleshow/5866558.cms

The awards were accepted amidst political pressure on the writers.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a3UDSV5teRIA

A reminder that the deadline for entries for the annual City of Vancouver Book Award is Wednesday, May 26, 2010.
http://www.allianceforarts.com/blog/news-nominations-open-city-vancouver-book-awards

NEWS & FEATURES

The threat of legal action has forced Vancouver-based Talonbooks to postpone publication of a book about the Canadian mining industry.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/05/12/barrick-gold-mining-book.html

The government is preparing a copyright bill which lawyer Michael Geist describes as "anti-consumer".
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2010/05/05/copyright-reform-bill.html

"Book-crossers" have been transforming ordinary books into "appreciating assets".
http://www.pw.org/content/book_renewable_resource

As Britons deal with their most recent election, John Mullen identifies the ten best elections in literature.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/08/ten-best-elections-john-mullan

Books are routinely given new covers abroad, with a new cover for each territory, with puzzling results.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/may/09/judge-book-by-cover

The former poet laureate Ted Hughes is back in favour, writes Robert McCrum in the Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/09/ted-hughes-robert-mccrum

BOOKS & WRITERS

A video of Safraz Manzoor's interview with Hanif Kureishi offers insights into writing of the experience of a Pakistani in then largely-white Britain. Kureishi's Collected Stories was published earlier this year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2010/may/05/hanif-kureishi

The Sunday Times (UK) has an extract from Barry Forshaw's The Man Who Left Too Soon, on Stieg Larsson and his Millennium Trilogy. Lisbeth Salander a grown-up Pippi Longstocking?
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/fiction/article7113874.ece

The Globe and Mail has an excerpt from the last book in the Trilogy.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/salanders-final-bow/article1560266/

This week's New Yorker includes Uncle Rock, a short story by Dagoberto Gilb.
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2010/05/10/100510fi_fiction_gilb?currentPage=all

David Mitchell wrote his first novel fourth. Now his fifth novel, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is receiving rave reviews. The Observer says it confirms David Mitchell as the most dazzling British novelist of his generation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/09/thousand-autumns-jacob-zoet-mitchell

Elsewhere, David Mitchell writes of his path to becoming a writer, beginning with an encounter with a Xerox machine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/09/david-mitchell-once-upon-life

The Guardian carries an essay on Tariq Ali: a life in writing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/08/tariq-ali-life-in-writing

The Toronto Star features an excerpt from Marci McDonald's The Armageddon Factor which offers insights to issues raised in the run-up to the G8 meeting.
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/806535--how-canada-s-christian-right-was-built

A world without translation would be comparable to living behind an "iron curtain," argues New Yorker Edith Grossman in her new book.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Gained+translation/2994503/story.html

"A page turner that sells lots of copies, gets great reviews and wins literary awards", a quote from the Australian Literary Review in the Sunday Times (UK) interview with Australian novelist Christos Tsiolkas on his novel The Slap.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article7117246.ece

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by David Derry, Jon Paul Fiorentino, and Matthew Hooton. Thursday, May 13 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore Library, Robson Square, 800 Robson Street.

THE WRITERS' STUDIO READS
The SFU Writer's Studio presents an evening of readings from recent works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Thursday, May 13 at 7:00pm, free. Rhizome Cafe, 317 E. Broadway.

VENUS ON FIRE, MARS ON ICE
John Gray, author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus , discusses his new book Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice and essential elements of wellness, happiness, and passion. Friday, May 14 at 4:00pm. Chapters Robson, 788 Robson.

THE 500 YEARS OF RESISTANCE COMIC BOOK
Arsenal Pulp Press presents the launch of Gord Hill's The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book with refreshments and music by Russell Wallace. Friday, May 14 at 6:00pm, free. Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, 1607 E. Hastings. More information at www.arsenalpulp.com.

JACKIE TIMOTHY
Storytelling by the Vancouver Public Library's 2010 First Nations Storyteller-in-Residence Jackie Timothy. Saturday, May 15 at 11:00am, free. Hastings Branch, VPL (2674 E. Hastings). More information at www.vpl.ca.

CHOOSING TO SMILE
Book signing with authors and cancer survivors Julie Houlker, Michelle Rickaby, and Glenda Standeven. Saturday, May 15 at 1:00pm, free. Hemingway's New and Used Books, 33765 Essendene Ave., Abbotsford. More information at www.choosingtosmile.com.

PULSE
Launch of Lydia Kwa's new novel. Sunday, May 16 at 6:00pm, free. Rhizome Cafe, 317 East Broadway. More information at www.peoplescoopbookstore.com.

STORIES ABOUT GREED
Featuring storytelling by Doreen Giesbrecht, Tony Rainbow, Linda Stender, and Anne Stevenson. Sunday, May 16 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $7 and includes tea. St. Mark's Anglican Church (1805 Larch Street). More information at www.vancouverstorytellers.vcn.bc.ca.

WRITING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE READING SERIES
Visit the intimate living room at Historic Joy Kogawa House for a series of small salon evenings with five writers who use literature to call for social change and justice and as a tool for social transformation. The third writer in the series, Steven Galloway will read from and sign his works. Monday, May 17 at 7:30pm, admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 64th Ave. W. More information here: http://www.kogawahouse.com/node/181.

TELLING TALES
Open mic community storytelling event featuring stories told in under 10 minutes. Monday, May 17 at 8:00pm. The New Bohemian, 3162 W. Broadway.

SPOKEN INK
Poetry and prose by Marni Norwich and Don Simpson, with open mic. Tuesday, May 18 at 8:00pm. La Fontana Caffe (101-3701 East Hastings). More information at www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.

SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Features three days of poetry performances, conversations, interviews, workshops, films, feasting, singing, strumming and storytelling in La Conner, Washington. May 20-22, 2010. For full details, visit www.skagitriverpoetry.org.

Upcoming

SUNSHINE COAST FESTIVAL OF THE WRITTEN ARTS
Tickets to the 28th Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts go on sale on Wednesday, May 26 at 8 am by telephone only at 1-800-565-9631 or 604-885-9631. Canada's longest-running celebration of Canadian writers takes place August 12-15 in the historic Rockwood Gardens in Sechelt, BC. Full details at www.writersfestival.ca.

STUDIO ONE BOOK CLUB
Judy Fong Bates, author of the acclaimed novel Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, has written an absorbing and beautiful new memoir of her search to understand her parents - from their mysterious and conflicting stories of their lives in China, to the poverty-stricken reality of Judy's childhood growing up in rural Ontario. Come meet the author of The Year of Finding Memory in the intimate setting of CBC's Studio One on Wednesday May 26 at 6:30 pm. The only way to get in, is to win! Go to www.cbc.ca/bc/bookclub to enter for free tickets.

DAVE MARGOSHES
Regina writer Dave Margoshes will be reading from his two new books of poetry, The Horse Knows the Way and Dimensions of an Orchard. Wednesday, May 26 at 7:30pm, free. Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street.

ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Brian Brett and Audrey Thomas. Thursday, May 27 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore Library, Robson Square, 800 Robson Street.

WRITE ON VANCOUVER
The Greater Vancouver chapter of the Romance Writers of America hosts its annual conference. May 28-29, 2010. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Richmond Campus, 8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond. For complete details, visit their website http://www.rwagvc.com/wov2010/index.html.

SHUSWAP LAKE 2010 INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL
Enjoy a weekend of writing, readings, and inspiring connections. Many different genres will be offered. May 28-30, 2010. Salmon Arm, BC. For complete details, visit their website at www.saow.ca.

STUDIO ONE BOOK CLUB
Anosh Irani has a new novel Dahanu Road and it's his most personal yet, inspired by his own family history. It's a love story full of tragedy and humour about three generations of the Irani clan, Zoroastrians who fled persecution in Iran and settled in Bombay. As with all of Anosh's writing, it will make you weep and laugh, and weep again because you're laughing so hard!. Come meet Anosh Irani in the intimated setting of CBC's Studio One on Monday May 31 at 6:30 pm. The only way to get in, is to win! Go to www.cbc.ca/bc/bookclub to enter for free tickets.

WRITE ON BOWEN!
Early-bird registration is now being accepted for the 3rd annual Write on Bowen Festival for Writers and Readers. July 2-4, 2010. For the full Festival line-up and registration details, visit www.biac.ca/writersfestival.