Book News Vol. 5 No. 29

BOOK NEWS

Virtual Festival

The seventh recording in our recently launched series of archived events from Festivals-past features Pauline Holdstock. Join her and Bill Richardson for a glass of champagne (or two?) and some equally effervescent conversation. http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives

Donate your Aeroplan miles
We're getting closer to our goal! So far we have 21,500 airmiles and we need 3,500 more to secure one flight within North America for a writer. Help us bridge that final distance by donating your airmiles today. You can download the donation form from our website, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/supportus/aeroplan.

Special Event

Alexander McCall Smith
The Cellist of Sarajevo author Steven Galloway talks with Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency about his forthcoming book, Corduroy Mansions. Complete details on our website, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/specialevents.

AWARDS & LISTS

Ian Brown's Boy in the Moon and Ryad Assani-Razaki's Deux Cercles, a collection of stories dealing with the frustrations of immigration, have each won the 2010 Trillium Book Award. The winners of the Trillium Book Award for Poetry are Karen Solie for Pigeon and Michèle Matteau for Passerelles.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/brown-assani-razaki-share-top-trillium-book-award/article1616367/

Novelist Neil Gaiman has won the UK's top children's literature prize, the Carnegie medal, for The Graveyard Book. Gaiman is the first author ever to win the Carnegie and the Newbery medals with the same book.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/24/neil-gaiman-carnegie-graveyard-book

Both Tom Stoppard and Ken Follet are concerned about the decline in the printed word and of writing standards. Stoppard calls for more commitment to the humanities. Follett has established an award for good writing. Former Children's Laureate Anne Fine was selected the winner of a Montblanc pen for her written clarity and sense of nuance.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charlottehigginsblog/2010/jun/22/anne-fine-ken-follett-tom-stoppard

Peter Temple has won the Miles Franklin Award for Truth, the first time Australia's oldest literary award has gone to a crime novel.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/25/miles-franklin-booker-prize-crime

Jack Batten writes that much about the book comes as new ground for everybody concerned: the detective Villani, Temple and readers.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/827635--truth-aussie-mystery-star-unveils-a-new-stripped-down-style

Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood is one of four Canadian finalists for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for science fiction writing.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/827044--margaret-atwood-shortlisted-for-sci-fi-award

The complete list of finalists is here:
http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell-finalists.htm

Hilary Mantel has won the inaugural Walter Scott prize for historical fiction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/21/hilary-mantel-walter-scott-prize

The results of the annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (worst opening sentence) were announced Tuesday by San Jose University. Toronto's Paul Chafe was a winner in the romance category, with Jonathan Blay of Bedford, N.S., named runner-up.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/830148--t-o-man-tops-at-writing-wretched-romance

NEWS & FEATURES

The New Yorker magazine has gone Canadian, with its June 28 edition featuring all Canadian advertising. The issue's editorial content is the usual New Yorker fare, but includes a profile of Canadian novelist Howard Engel written by neurologist Oliver Sacks.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2010/06/22/new-yorker-canadian-issue.html

President Abraham Lincoln was both a reader and a writer of poetry. This article includes "My Childhood-Home I See Again".
http://www.slate.com/id/2257666/

The Wall Street Journal argues that Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill A Mockingbird is neither a 'timeless classic' nor 'great literature'.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575283354059763326.html

The New York Observer has responded to the New Yorker's ‘20 Under 40' list with what it describes as "the elephant-sized fact that has been hidden in plain view", namely, that "fiction has become culturally irrelevant".
http://www.observer.com/2010/culture/where-have-all-mailers-gone#

The LA Times challenges, point by point, the argument that "fiction is dead".
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/06/fiction-is-dead-again.html

In response to all those "best under 40" lists, there is Walt Whitman, proving that "you're never too old to start writing".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/27/robert-mccrum-books-walt-whitman

Hull (U.K.) is celebrating Larkin25, a 25-week celebration of the poet Philip Larkin's life and work. A new book of letters to his partner Monica Jones reveals a softer side to him.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/27/philip-larkin-love-hate-women

Inspired by Yann Martel's belief in the power of literature to change the world, and his project of sending books to political leaders, the Guardian's Robert McCrum has developed his own list of books to inspire current British and American world leaders.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/28/books-to-inspire-world-leaders

New Zealand author Lloyd Jones is leading a project to plan, build, and stock a community library on Bougainville (PNG), the setting for Jones' prize-winning novel Mister Pip.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/24/bougainville-library-author

Jan Swafford explains why e-books will never replace real books.
http://www.slate.com/id/2258054/pagenum/all/

BOOKS & WRITERS

Nora Ephron channels Stieg Larsson in The Girl Who Fixed the Umlaut.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2010/07/05/100705sh_shouts_ephron

In the half-century following World War II, there was no more admired British historian than Hugh Trevor-Roper. Michael Dirda describes History and the Enlightenment, a new posthumous collection, as "a wonderfully intelligent and civilized book".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062305093.html

"A police procedural of the soul" is how the blurb describes Adam Ross' Mr. Peanut. Intricately patterned, stuffed with wit and some lapses of judgment, says the Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/26/mr-peanut-adam-ross-review

Scott Turow describes the book as a daring, arresting first novel, and Adam Ross, an author of prodigious talent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/books/review/Turow-t.html?nl=books&emc=booksupdateema1&pagewanted=all

Publisher St. Martin's Press has high hopes for Still Missing, a debut thriller by Chevy Stevens, the pen name for 37-year-old former Vancouver Island realtor Rene Unischewski. Vit Wagner interviews the author for The Star.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/827021--big-buzz-for-thriller

Whatever ones perspective on addiction and addiction memoirs, Bill Clegg's Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man is a book that will not soon be forgotten, writes Susan Juby in her review.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-portrait-of-an-addict-as-a-young-man-by-bill-clegg/article1617834/

David Carr, in the NY Times, reminds us that addicts are narcissistic as a matter of course. So engaged is Clegg in his own story, that characters are so minimally drawn that we get no sense of the collateral damage around him.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/books/review/Carr-t.html?ref=books

Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez is writing a book that focuses on how the drug trade affects those who aren't a part of that life, who've never seen a gram of coke.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/26/juan-gabriel-vasquez-life-writing

In anticipation of the publication of David Mitchell's latest book, Wyatt Mason interviews Mitchell about a variety of topics, including the 'humility topos'.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27mitchell-t.html

Here is an excerpt from The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27mitchell-excerpt.html?ref=magazine

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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.

PRIDE IN THE WORD
Tightrope Books hosts an annual celebration of queer words. Featuring readings from John Barton, Tony Correia, matthew heinz, Jay McLaughlin, Billeh Nickerson, Anna Swanson and Mariah Wilkinson. Special guest Ivan E. Coyote. Saturday, July 3 at 7:00pm. Ambrosia Conference Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria.

SYMPOSIUM ON THE BOOK CONTEST
Think you're funny? Submit a 500-700 word essay of your best humour writing and become eligible for a variety of wonderful prizes! Deadline for entries is: Monday, July 5 at 5:00 p.m. The winner will be announced July 14. For more details, including the three agencies (pick one!) that will accept your submission, go to http://tinyurl.com/257ovhu.

UBC FARM FUNDRAISER
Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks and Brian Brett, author of Trauma Farm, host a fundraiser for UBC Farm. Brian will read from his book and answer questions on farming issues. Reception will include local wines and early bounty from UBC Farm. Wednesday, July 7 at 6:00pm. Tickets: $75 and includes a signed copy of Trauma Farm. For complete information and registration, visit www.bookstocooks.com.

BILLIE LIVINGSTON AND ANTONIA BANYARD
Robson Reading Series featuring Billie Livingston, author of short-story collection Greedy Little Eyes, and Antonia Banyard, author of novel Never Going Back. Thursday, July 8 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore Robson Square, Plaza Level, 800 Robson. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

4POETS
An evening of poetry and conversation with Daniela Elza, Al Rempel, and Onjana Yawnghwe, who will read from their new poetry collection. Thursday, July 8 at 7:30pm. Admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa Houes, 1450 West 64th Avenue. For more information and to RSVP, email kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.

AN EVENING OF POETRY
An evening of poetry with Fiona Tinwei Lam (reading from Enter the Chrysanthemum), Al Rempel (guest author, launching his new book *understories*), Daniela Elza (reading from 4poets plus selected work), and Christi Kramer (reading from selected work). Saturday, July 10 at 7:00pm, free. The Wired Monk Bistro, 2610 West 4th Avenue.

POETRY
Please join poets Kate Braid, Al Rempel, Daniela Elza, and musician Clyde Reed (on bass) with guest poet Al Rempel who will be launching his new book *understories*. Sunday, July 11 at 7:00pm. Cafe Montmarte (4362 Main Street).

Upcoming

OFF THE HIGHWAY
New Star Books presents a launch of author Mette Bach's new book about growing up in North Delta. Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00pm, free. The Sylvia Hotel, 1154 Gilford. For more information, visit www.newstarbooks.com.

HEATHER HALEY
Author launches her new book Three Blocks West of Wonderland. Saturday, July 17. W2 Media Arts Centre. More information at www.heatherhaley.com.

SKIN LIKE MINE
Join critically acclaimed BC poets Garry Gottfriedson, Rita Wong, and Joanne Arnott for a poetry reading to celebrate the release of Garry Gottfriedson's new collection. Thursday, July 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, VPL Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. For more information, phone 604.331.3691 or email ronsdale@shaw.ca.

SUNSHINE COAST FESTIVAL OF THE WRITTEN ARTS
Join Canada's longest-running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers, featuring established literary stars and exciting new voices, with opportunities for writers and readers to mingle amidst Rockwood's heritage gardens. August 12-15, 2010. Tickets are now on sale by phoning 1-800-565-9631 or 604-885-9631. Details at www.writersfestival.ca.