Book News Vol. 5 No. 30

BOOK NEWS

Virtual Festival

The eighth recording in our recently launched series of archived events from Festivals-past features Robert Arthur Alexie and Cathleen With. http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives

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

Sandra Birdsell, Marq de Villiers, Hélène Dorion, John Mighton and Glen Sorestad—six writers of poetry, plays, fiction and nonfiction—were among the 74 new appointments to the Order of Canada, announced last week.
http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13725&lan=eng

Barbara Demick, chief of the Los Angeles Times' Beijing bureau, has won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nothing to Envy, a journalistic investigation into the lives of North Koreans in the 21st century.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/01/samuel-johnson-prize-barbara-demick

W.S. Merwin has been named the 17th U.S. Poet Laureate.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-poet-20100702,0,687560.story

The octogenarian's 'profound and accessible' poems will gain a wider audience when he takes up his post later this year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/05/ws-merwin-us-poet-laureate

Sierra Leone's Olufemi Terry has won the Caine prize for African writing (known as the African Booker) for Stickfighting Days.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/06/olufemi-terry-wins-caine-prize

Hiromi Goto's Half World is one of the novels shortlisted for the Young Adult 2010 Sunburst Award, which recognizes the finest of Canadian fantastic literature. The complete list of Adult nominees and YA nominees is here:
http://www.sunburstaward.org/content/shortlists-2010-sunburst-awards

NEWS & FEATURES

Ria Bleumer, who managed Duthie Books' 4th Avenue store for 16 years (prior to its closure last February), will open Sitka Books & Art on West 4th Ave. in Kitsilano in August. A detailed press release (PDF) is here:
http://www.cbabook.org/files/News/Sitkapressfinal.pdf

Beryl Bainbridge, one of the grandes dames of the UK's literary scene, has died. Five books shortlisted for the Booker, twice a winner of the Whitbread, she was working on her nineteenth book when she died.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/02/beryl-bainbridge-dies

This obituary supports the belief that her novels drew upon the drama of her own life.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/02/beryl-bainbridge-obituary-author

Academics, collectors and readers gathered at a conference in Bristol last week to mark the 75th birthday of Penguin Books.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/30/penguin-books-75th-birthday

Amazon offers authors 70% royalties in a bid to become publisher of digital editions of their books.
htttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/06/amazon-lures-authors-with-70-percent-royalty-deal.html

American critic Lee Siegel has declared the Amercan novel dead: "damagingly self-referential and led by the nose by publicists". The focus of his attack seems to be the British critic James Wood, who writes for the NY Times.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/04/literary-storm-lee-siegel-american-novel-dead

Robert McCrum argues that not only is Siegel wrong, but that history will view this as a golden age of English language creativity.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/jul/05/lee-siegel-death-of-the-novel

Elsewhere, McCrum argues in favour of reading books aloud, if only for the health benefits.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/04/reading-aloud-therapy-health-books

The Independent reports that there is now a glut of new literary magazines.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/notes-from-the-underground-a-fresh-breed-of-literary-magazines-2018295.html

BOOKS & WRITERS

Thomas Hurka writes that Bernhard Schlink’s Guilt About the Past has thoughtful reflections on a variety of topics.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-guilt-about-the-past-by-bernhard-schlink/article1624188/

The poet C.K. Williams has written On Whitman, the second of Princeton’s series Writers on Writers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/books/review/Vendler-t.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=booksupdateema3

Jonathan Raban writes about his hero, and friend, poet Robert Lowell.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/03/robert-lowell-hero-jonathan-raban

Karen Armstrong hails Marilynne Robinson’s Absence of Mind, the published version of the Terry lectures Robinson delivered at Yale University last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/03/absence-mind-marilynne-robinson-review

There are differences of opinion about the literary worth of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/over-hyped-or-unforgettable/article1626780/

It is equally clear that the book’s characters and storyline have had a strong and lasting impact on its readers.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/a-novel-about-family/article1626778/

And Helen Taylor in The Independent reminds that the novel remains an icon of literature—and law.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/to-kill-a-mockingbird-the-life-and-afterlife-of-harper-lees-misunderstood-classic-2015863.html

Editor Kaye Webb believed that every child could read six hundred books during childhood and that each should be filled with imagination and subtle characterization. The publication of Valerie Grove’s So Much to Tell, a biography of Webb, adds to Puffin Books 90th birthday celebrations.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/830571--puffin-books-hits-a-milestone-70-years

In Wolf: The Lives of Jack London, Texas historian James L. Haley has written a sharply focused biography recapturing the breadth of London's achievements and the intricacies of his personality.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070202258.html

Tim Waterstone, former and again book chain owner, has written In for a Penny, In for a Pound, described as a thinly disguised saga of book world treachery.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/04/tim-waterstone-book-world-waterstones

Charles Foran describes David Mitchell’s The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet as ‘masterful’. ‘intelligent’, ‘rich’.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-the-thousand-autumns-of-jacob-de-zoet-by-david-mitchell/article1625703/

In his review, Ron Charles declares that Granta, the Guardian and the Mail on Sunday were prescient a decade ago when they marked David Mitchell as one of Britain’s best young writers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/29/AR2010062904512.html

The New York Review of Books includes an excerpt of Literary Peace Prize winner David Grossman’s To the End of the Land.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jul/15/to-the-end-of-the-land/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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).

SARAH SELECKY
Book launch for This Cake Is for the Party. Monday, July 12 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore Robson Square, Plaza Level, 800 Robson. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

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.

THE STORYBOX
The Thursdays Writing Collective launchs its 4th chapbook. Thursday, July 15 at 8:00pm, free or by donation at the door. The Brickhouse, 730 Main Street. For more information, visit www.thursdayspoemsandprose.ca.

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.

Upcoming

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.

MORRIS BATES
Author reads from his book, Morris as Elvis: Take a Chance on Life. Friday, July 23 at 6:00pm, free. Carnegie Theatre, Carnegie Branch, 401 Main Street. For more information, please contact Vancouver Public Library at 604-331-3603.

GEORGE WOODCOCK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Vancouver Public Library and BC BookWorld are pleased to present the sixteenth George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding literary career in British Columbia to acclaimed writer Anne Cameron. Thursday, July 29 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. For more information please contact the VPL at 604-331-3603.

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.