Book News Vol. 6 No. 11

BOOK NEWS

Incite @ VPL

The next installment of Incite (http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/readingseries) will feature Lorna Crozier, Pauline Holdstock and Susan Juby.

7:30 pm on Wednesday, March 23
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incitemarch23
Admission is free
Alice MacKay room, Central Library

Let us know you're coming by registering here, http://incitevpl.eventbrite.com. Please note that registration is so that we know how many people to expect. Admission on the night is always on a first-come-first-served basis.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Howard Jacobson - April 13, 2011
(2010 Man Booker award winner)
The Finkler Question is a scorching story of friendship and loss, exclusion and belonging, and of the wisdom and humanity of maturity. Funny, furious, unflinching, this extraordinary novel shows one of our finest writers at his brilliant best. Presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Festival. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/jacobson.

Simon Winchester - April 18, 2011
The bestselling author of Krakatoa, returns to the natural world with his epic new book, a "biography" of the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories. http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/winchester.

Elizabeth Hay & Miriam Toews - May 5, 2011
Two of Canada's most acclaimed and beloved writers will discuss their new books, Alone in the Classroom and Irma Voth. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/haytoews.

A Dram Come True - May 13, 2011
Presenting the ninth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/dramcometrue

AWARDS & LISTS

President Barack Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Humanities to novelist Joyce Carol Oates earlier this month.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/950702--joyce-carol-oates-books-luminato

Joyce Carol Oates will be reading at Incite on April 20.
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/inciteapril20

Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad has been awarded the US National Books Critics Circle fiction prize.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/03/11/arts-egan-prize.html

After serving as a judge on the Independent's Foreign Fiction Prize, Boyd Tonkin announced that Latin America is back with a boom. The longlist is here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/independent-foreign-fiction-prize-latin-america-is-back-with-a-boom-2238068.html

Short story author Deborah Eisenberg has won this year's PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Previous winners include Philip Roth, John Updike and E.L. Doctorow.
http://www.seattlepi.com/artandlife/1404ap_us_books_pen_faulkner.html

The 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction popularly known as the "Arabic Booker" has been split between The Doves' Necklace by Saudi novelist Raja Alem and The Arch and the Butterfly by Moroccan politician, journalist and author Achaari.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/mar/15/arabic-booker-prize-winner

Téa Obreht, Emma Donoghue, Jennifer Egan and Kathleen Winter are four of the twenty writers longlisted for The Orange Prize.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/the-tigers-wife-author-obreht-nominated-for-orange-prize-2242927.html

Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has donated the honorarium received for verses written for Prince William's wedding to create a poetry prize named after previous laureate, Ted Hughes.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-blaggers-guide-tothe-ted-hughes-award-for-new-work-in-poetry-2240305.html

NEWS & FEATURES

The Vancouver Sun's coverage of the BC Book Prize includes the additional information that some authors will participate in a reading tour at schools, bookstores and libraries throughout B.C. in April.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Book+Prize+short+lists+announced/4422395/story.html

Globe and Mail editors argue in favour of allowing more foreign investment in publishing houses to ensure a robust Canadian publishing industry.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/why-canlits-next-chapter-should-involve-foreign-investment/article1940682/

Anna Porter notes that, with the changes to the book business, the real question is: What kind of government policies do we need to keep our vital publishing houses functioning?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/time-to-lead-the-shaky-state-of-canadian-book-publishing/article1941700/

31 authors from across the country answer the question: Is Canada a good country in which to live and work as a writer?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/our-authors-speak-up-is-this-country-good-to-its-writers/article1941359/

Taylor Clark's Nerves discusses what it takes to keep cool under pressure, how people deal best with fear, pressure, and stress—and prompts many questions.
http://www.slate.com/id/2287216/

It had been announced that, after 60 years, Hans Falluda's Alone in Berlin would be published in English. Then the original manuscript was discovered—with an additional chapter that changed the story.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/09/chapter-hans-fallada-alone-berlin

James Kidd interviews Manju Kapur, the Jane Austen of modern Anglo-Indian literature, about her new novel, Custody.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/manju-kapur-pride-and-prejudices-2240299.html

A series of unknown poems by Angela Carter, one of Britain's most celebrated authors, was discovered at her former London home after her death.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/13/angela-carter-unpublished-poems-found

New York's Gagosian art gallery will publish James Frey's The Final Testament of the Holy Bible, in which the second coming of Christ takes place in The Bronx projects. The book will be released in time for Easter.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/15/james-frey-new-book-published-art-gallery

BOOKS & WRITERS

Michiko Kakutani describes Téa Obreht's debut novel The Tiger's Wife as an audaciously written work providing an indelible picture of life in an unnamed Balkan country still reeling from the fallout of civil war.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/books/the-tigers-wife-by-tea-obreht-book-review.html?ref=books

Kapka Kassabova writes: “Obreht's real journey is back in time, to the difficult times, ...and crippled afterlife of that mythical place once called Yugoslavia.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/12/tigers-wife-tea-obreht-review

An excerpt is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/books/excerpt-the-tigers-wife-by-tea-obreht.html?ref=books

Seth describes Ben Katchor's The Cardboard Valise as a work of great beauty and eccentricity.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-cardboard-valise-by-ben-katchor/article1938432/

In a related article, Seth deconstructs Katchor's cosmically curious cartoon universe by breaking down three panels from The Cardboard Valise.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/seth-deconstructs-the-cosmically-curious-cartoon-universe-of-ben-katchor/article1938511/

Terrorism, fame, celebrity worship, art vs. commerce—Timothy Taylor skillfully juggles the intimate with the public, the small-scale with the monumental in The Blue Light Project, writes Ian McGillis.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Review+Taylor+Blue+Light+Project/4380039/story.html

David Chau describes The Blue Light Project as a complex novel with the veneer of a thriller.
http://www.straight.com/article-378965/vancouver/book-review-blue-light-project-timothy-taylor

After winning the 2010 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, Michelle Paver has written Dark Matter: A Ghost Story for adults—a book reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft's work, says Christy Ann Conlin.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/dark-matter-a-ghost-story-by-michelle-paver/article1933910/

In this the centenary of Elizabeth Bishop's birth, three titles explore Bishop through her poetry and prose and her correspondence with the New Yorker.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/books/la-ca-elizabeth-bishop-20110313,0,7941385.story

Tim Flannery's Here on Earth takes as a given that Darwin must be seen as one of the great figures in the history of science and there is now a quite different way of looking at life.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/here-on-earth-by-tim-flannery-2238060.html

The Somali/Dutch feminist Ayaan Hirsi Ali combines the polemic and narrative strands of her writing to electrifying effect, says Alexander Linklater in his review of Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/hirsi-ali-nomad-personal-journey

Two books deal with media and celebrity, one more successfully than the other: Carl Hiassen's Star Island and Leo Benedictus' The Afterparty.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/12/fiction-carl-hiaasen

Jonny Steinberg's Little Liberia: An African Odyssey in New York City is an extraordinary mix of reportage, history and biography—and the vagaries of memory.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/12/little-liberia-jonny-steinberg-review

In his latest work of fiction, Song of Slaves in the Desert, Alan Cheuse has written an ambitious story about slavery with an interesting twist.
http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2011/03/13/an_epic_story_of_jewish_involvement_in_human_bondage/

Even sloppy presentation can't diminish Hanif Kureishi's fierce mind, says Leo Robson of Kureishi's Collected Essays.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/13/hanif-kureishi-collected-essays-review

Kate Taylor notes that Jared Bland's introduction to Finding the Words suggests that writers are artists burdened with a particularly coarse clay. Taylor counters with the thought that many would consider language more gift than burden.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/finding-the-words-writers-on-inspiration-desire-war-celebrity-exile-and-breaking-the-rules-edited-by-jared-bland/article1938717/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Donato Mancini and Jess Hill. Thursday, March 17 at 7:00pm. Cost: $5 suggested donation at the door. The Prophouse Cafe, 1636 Venables Street. For more information, email blinsh_pandoras@yahoo.ca.

CAROLINE ADDERSON
Join author Caroline Adderson for a discussion about her novel The Sky is Falling. Part book club, part literary reading, the event includes wine, light refreshments and lively debate. Thursday, March 17 at 7:00pm. Cost: $20. Christianne's Lyceum, 3696 8th Ave. W. Call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com to register.

JORDAN SCOTT
Reading by the author of Silt and Blert. Friday, March 18 at 8:00pm, free. People's Co-op Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Drive. More information at http://www.newstarbooks.com/news.php?news_id=40111.

BECKETT SOUNDINGS
Launch party for Inge Israel's new poetry collection. Also readings with Barbara Pelman and Pamela Porter. Sunday, March 20 at 5:00pm, free. Ardea Books & Art, 2025 4th Ave. W. More information at ronsdalepress.com.

MIRANDA PEARSON
Literature Alive presents poet Miranda Pearson. Monday, March 21 at 7:00pm. Room 1808, Douglas College, New Westminster.

PEN-IN-HAND
Poetry and prose reading featuring Rhea Tregebov and Cathy Ford. Monday, March 21 at 7:30pm. Cost: $3. Serious Coffee, 230 Cook Street, Victoria.

WILD CARD SLAM
Vancouver poetry house presents the Last Chance Slam for team playoffs. Monday, March 21 at 8:00pm. Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at vancouverpoetryhouse.com.

JEANETTE LYNES
Literature Alive presents poet and novellist Jeannette Lynes. Wednesday March 23 at 7:00pm. Room 3343, Douglas College, New Westminster.

ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Suzanne Buffam and Derek Lundy. Thursday, March 24 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Library/Bookstore at Robson Square, Plaza Level, 800 Robson St. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

DEBORAH CAMPBELL AND ANDREAS SCHROEDER
UFV Writer in Residence Elizabeth Bachinsky is pleased to host authors Deborah Campbell and Andreas Schroeder at the University of the Fraser Valley. Thursday, March 24 at 7:00pm, free. Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies/University House, room F125, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford.

PEARLS LAUNCH
Douglas College's Creative Writing Department is pleased to launch the 30th issue of Pearls, a yearly student anthology. Friday, March 25 at 7:00pm. Studio Theatre, Room 4140, Douglas College, New Westminster.

Upcoming

FERNWOOD BOOKS
Readings and discussions by Kouri T. Keenan and Joan Brockman, authors of Mr. Big: Exposing Undercover Investigations in Canada, and Rebecca Haskell and Brian Burtch, authors of Get That Freak: Homophobia and Transphobia in High Schools. Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00pm, free. Ardea Books & Art, 2025 4th Ave. W. More information at ardeabooksandart.com.

GORDON BITNEY
Author reads from his book Provence Je T'Aime. Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00pm, free. West Point Grey Branch, VPL, 4480 10th Ave. W. For more information, phone 604-665-3982.

ROBERT SAWYER
Award-winning author reads from Wonder, his final installment of his WWW trilogy. Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.

THREE POETS READING
New books of poetry presented by Cathy Ford, bill bissett and Mona Fertig. Saturday, April 9 at 3:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye rooms, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. For more information please contact VPL - Literature and Social Science at 604-331-3738.

ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Ryan Knighton and Ed Macdonald. Thursday, April 7 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Library/Bookstore at Robson Square, Plaza Level, 800 Robson St. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

RAISE SHIT!
Come join Susan Boyd, Donald MacPherson and Bud Osborn discuss their book Raise Shit! Social Action Saving Lives, which explores the community activism in Vancouver's DTES that led to the opening of the first safe injection site. Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. For more information please contact VPL - Literature and Social Science at 604-331-3738.

JUSTIN LUKYN
Reading by the author of Henry Pepper. Friday, April 15 at 8:00pm, free. People's Co-op Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Drive. More information at http://www.newstarbooks.com/news.php?news_id=40111.

NON-FICTION WRITING CONTEST
EVENT is both a literary journal showcasing fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction and a sponsor of an annual non-fiction contest. The deadline for submissions to the 2011 EVENT Non-Fiction Contest is April 15, 2011. Three winners will each receive $500 (plus publication payment). Publication in EVENT 40/3 (December 2011). Submission details here: http://event.douglas.bc.ca.

ANNE PERDUE
Author reads from her short story collection I'm a Registered Nurse Not a Whore. Saturday, April 16 at 6:00pm, free. Ardea Books & Art, 2025 4th Ave. W. More information at ardeabooksandart.com.

PEN-IN-HAND
Poetry and prose reading featuring Walk Myself Home: An Anthology to End Violence Against Women, with Janet Marie Rogers, Arleen Paré, Rhonda Ganz and other contributors to the book. Monday, April 18 at 7:30pm. Cost: $3. Serious Coffee, 230 Cook Street, Victoria.

FREEHAND BOOKS LAUNCH
Launch of new titles from Kristen den Hartog, Michael Murphy, and Ian Williams. Thursday, April 21 at 7:00pm, free. Ardea Books & Art, 2025 4th Ave. W. More information at ardeabooksandart.com.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Readings by Jacob McArthur Mooney, Susan Musgrave and Matt Rader. Thursday, April 21 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Library/Bookstore at Robson Square, Plaza Level, 800 Robson St. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL
The inaugural Vancouver International Poetry Festival will harness the diversity of spoken word in Canada and beyond to present a world-class spoken word festival that showcases the best that Canada has to offer, as well as exploring and expanding the boundaries of contemporary spoken word. April 18-23, 2011. For complete details, visit http://vancouverpoetryfestival.com.