Book News Vol. 5 No. 32

BOOK NEWS

Virtual Festival

The latest recording in our recently launched series of archived events from Festivals-past features Karen Connelly, Lorna Crozier and Brian Brett. Salt Spring Island, Burma and Saskatchewan. These places are at the heart of three works on non-fiction by Canadian authors interviewed by the estimable Bill Richardson. 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

Vancouver's Scot Ritchie is one of the nominees for the various Canadian children's book awards recently announced. All of the finalists are listed here.
http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/finalists_announced_2010_canadian_childrens_book_centre_awards

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney's Human Chain has been shortlisted for the Forward prize for best poetry collection.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/20/forward-poetry-prize-shortlist

NEWS & FEATURES

There are 17 Poets Laureate in Canada and these rhymers, rappers and writers of verse met for their first national gathering last week in Halifax.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/07/15/poets-laureate-halifax.html

The book Three Cups of Tea by humanitarian worker Greg Mortensen has become required reading for US high command.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/19/greg-mortenson-us-army-afghanistan-pakistan

The connection was precipitated by military wives reading the book and recommending it to their husbands.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/world/asia/18tea.html?ref=books

Patrick Kingsley and others argue that endlessly skimming short texts on the internet is making us stupider. Just as we have had a 'slow food' movement, there is the beginning of a movement to reacquaint ourselves with the art of 'slow reading'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/15/slow-reading

Academics report that we are becoming less attentive book-readers.
http://www.bookninja.com/

And lines of poetry are tough to fit in e-form.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/breaking-up-is-hard-lines-of-poetry-a-tough-fit-in-e-form/article1639820/

Clay Shirky and Nicholas Carr offer two other perspectives.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-the-shallows-by-nicholas-carr-and-cognitive-surplus-by-clay-shirky/article1642993/

The Vancouver Sun recommends three Canadian authors' new Young Adult titles for summer reading.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Teen+heroes+with+second+chances/3290813/story.html

Michael Stanley's top 10 African crime novels.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/30/michael-stanley-african-crime

Douglas Coupland is moving from fiction to fashion, having launched a new line of clothing promising to 'explore a new way of seeing Canada'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/14/generation-x-fiction-fashion

Bret Easton Ellis credits his abusive father for his becoming a writer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/jul/18/bret-easton-ellis-interview

The Irish Independent calls his latest book, Imperial Bedrooms, "a merciless novel".
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/review-imperial-bedrooms-by-bret-easton-ellis-2262617.html

Aspiring writers wishing to write like their favourite writer can assess themselves on "I Write Like" by clicking on the link, entering some text into the box, hitting "analyze" and voila.
http://iwl.me/

Alison Flood was thrilled to discover the website confirms she writes like Margaret Atwood.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/jul/15/i-write-like-margaret-atwood

Here is a Q & A with the creator of "I Write Like".
http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/a-qa-with-the-creator-of-i-write-like-the-algorithm-is-not-a-rocket-science

The Awl includes a short history of the bookmobile, established despite some fears about books in "the wrong hands".
http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/the-invention-of-the-bookmobile-rural-filesharing-networks

The Tyee has named Andrew Nikiforuk its first Writer in Residence.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/07/15/Nikiforuk/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=190710

Penguin Group USA and U.S. cable network Starz Entertainment have collaborated on a multimedia version of Ken Follett's blockbuster novel The Pillars of the Earth—the Amplified Edition-—combining the full text of the book, with video and audio clips, and more.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2010/07/20/follett-pillars-amplified-novel.html

French publisher Éditions du Public has initiated 'crowdfunded' publishing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/19/france-pioneers-crowdfunded-publishing

BOOKS & WRITERS

A little-known 70-year-old novel by the Australian author Christina Stead has been given a new lease on life in the U.S., thanks to Jonathan Franzen’s rave review in the New York Times of Stead’s The Man Who Loved Children.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/14/jonathan-franzen-australian-writer

The New Yorker includes a story by Dinaw Mengestu, one of its 20 under 40.
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2010/07/12/100712fi_fiction_mengestu

Reviewers continue to praise David Mitchell’s The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. The Gazette calls Mitchell the David Bowie of contemporary fiction.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/David+Mitchell+shows+cultures+conflict/3257743/story.html

James Bradshaw’s interview focuses on the varied complex structures of Mitchell’s stories.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/tricksier-than-it-looks/article1644085/

The first in a series of interviews with authors shortlisted for this year’s Guardian children’s fiction prize is with Marcus Sedgwick, author of the YA book White Crow.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/16/marcus-sedgwick-teenage-novel

Mai Peet, last year’s Guardian children’s fiction prize-winner reviews Michael Morpurgo’s An Elephant in the Garden. The elephant is called Marlene and the story includes a Canadian reference.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/16/elephant-in-garden-michael-morpurgo

Matt Stewart’s novel was first published as a series of tweets—and now it’s out in paperback—and easier to read.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/15/NS3U1EBDV8.DTL&type=books

Mameve Medwed, however, describes it as liberté, fraternité, gimmickry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071305649.html

The Letters, an assemblage of about 200 letters between Beat men Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac offers insight into their friendship, their souls and their writing.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-kerouac-ginsberg-20100718,0,6040928.story

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
Anvil Press presents the launch of Jenn Farrell's second collection of short fiction. Thursday, July 22 at 7:00pm, free. Railway Club (579 Dunsmuir). More information at www.anvilpress.com.

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.

OCW MAGAZINE LAUNCH
Relaunch of one cool word magazine. Features Parlour Steps, Elephant Train, Wilderness Years and more. Tickets $15 and include magazine and subscription. Friday, July 23. Rickshaw Theatre.

VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Youth slam featuring Lara Bozabalian. Monday, July 26 at 8:00pm. Admission: $5/$3. Cafe Deux Soleils (2096 Commercial). More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.

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.

BURNING WATER
The W.A. Deacon Literary Foundation is pleased to announce a 12 hour marathon reading of George Bowering's award winning novel. The general public is invited to participate by taking turns reading from the novel. Friday, July 30 starting at 8:00am. 700 block Granville Street (between West Georgia and Robson Street). For more information, visit deaconfoundation.com.

Upcoming

HARMONY ARTS FESTIVAL
Join poets Trevor Carolan, Daniela Elza and English guitarist Andrew Collins as they perform new and favourite poems and songs
on the themes of Love and Art. Monday, August 2 at 1:00pm. Art Tent at the Ferry Building Gallery, Ambleside, West Vancouver. For more information, visit www.harmonyarts.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.

SUMMER DREAMS AWARDS CEREMONY
Celebrate those in the writing community who deserve to be honoured. Friday, August 20 at 7:00pm. Jacana Gallery (2435 Granville Street).

SUMMER DREAMS LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL
Annual one day event showcasing and celebrating the on-going literary events, programs and resources available to the community. Features Evelyn Lau, Brad Cran and many others. Saturday, August 21. Complete details here, http://sites.google.com/site/summerdreamsfest/home.