BOOK NEWS
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
Listen to the sixth installment in our series of audio archives from past Festival events. This week you'll hear "Non-Fiction After Noon" from the 2011 Festival, featuring Gary Geddes, Charlotte Gill, and Andrew Nikiforuk. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENT
A Dram Come True
7:30pm Friday June 1
While we can't guarantee the weather, we can promise an excellent array of rare, cask-strength bottles and experts at six different tasting bars. So dust off your kilt and unpack your sporran - this is an event that a true connoisseur won't want to miss! Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Amelia Gentleman has won the Orwell journalism prize for what the judges described as 'beautifully crafted examinations of hardship, welfare and justice' in a series of articles.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/may/24/guardian-amelia-gentleman-orwell-prize
Terry Pratchett has won the P.G. Wodehouse Award for his 39th Discworld novel, Snuff, hailed by judges as a comic masterpiece.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/30/pg-wodehouse-award-terry-pratchett
Singing from the Darktime: A Childhood Memoir in Poetry and Prose, by S. Weilbach, an 80-year-old Holocaust survivor and first-time writer, has won the 2012 Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award. David Bezmozgis won the fiction award for The Free World. Other winners are here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/23/jewish-book-awards.html
Debut novelist Rahul Bhattacharya's The Sly Company of People Who Care has won the £10,000 Ondaatje award for his "brilliant" evocation of the history, inhabitants and landscape of Guyana. The prize is for the book which best summons up "the spirit of a place".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/29/ondaatje-prize-rahul-bhattacharya
American author Madeline Miller has won the Orange prize for fiction 2012 for The Song of Achilles, a retelling of one of the most enduring Greek myths.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/30/orange-prize-2012-madeline-miller
YOUNG READERS
Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell is a hilarious story of a not so fabulous life, writes whizzydizzy. It's about Nikki, a British teenage girl who has gone to a private secondary school in America and finds she has a locker right next to the most popular girl in the school. For ages 10 to 13.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/26/the-book-dork-diaries-rachel-renee-russell-review
Sandy beaches, teeming tide pools, endless waves. That's what kids see from the summer shore. But what lies beneath the water's surface? Fascinating answers abound in Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle, by Claire A. Nivola. For ages 4 to 8.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/27/RVC41OL7PL.DTL
Jazz. Risky. Dangerous. Scary. A way to break the rules. We're not talking about failing to study for your final math test or disobeying your parents. We're talking about a type of music called jazz. For all ages.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/all-about-jazz-a-unique-form-of-american-music/2012/05/24/gJQA4bswnU_story.html
John Jensen Feels Different. John Jensen is not the most attractive of reptiles. His penchant for bow ties makes him look a bit nerdy, and his toenails (claws?) could use a trim. He lives in a nice apartment and keeps up with the news. He holds down a decent job. But, as the title tells us, John Jensen feels different. Finally, he learns to celebrate his individuality. To age 10.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Croc+blames+tail/6678393/story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
Queen Victoria, the first monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, tells of meetings with prime ministers, childbirth and love for Albert in over 43,000 pages. Her private journals have been launched online by her great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/24/queen-victoria-private-journals-online
Despite a revolution that called for an end to the rampant censorship that prevailed under the Ben Ali regime, literary censorship has yet to be eradicated in Tunisia. Instead, it has simply changed forms.
http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/05/20/literary-censorship-persists-in-post-revolutionary-tunisia/
The New Yorker is trying Twitter fiction with Jennifer Egan. Black Box will be serialized on Twitter over 10 nights. Each night, it will be tweeted from @NYerfiction and will appear on the New Yorker's revamped book blog, Page-Turner. The magazine hits newsstands May 28—look for the science fiction issue, dated June 4 and June 11.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/05/new-yorker-twitter-fiction-jennifer-egan.html
Twitter is a clunky way of delivering fiction, writes Sarah Crown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/may/25/twitter-feed-clunky-delivery
Before the success of The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen was broke, depressed and stuck in an unhappy marriage. In a lecture on autobiography and fiction, he explains how he overcame shame, guilt and disloyalty, beginning by responding to four unpleasant questions novelists are asked.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/25/jonathan-franzen-the-path-to-freedom
In an interview with Jian Ghomeshi, Toni Morrison expresses her puzzlement at the nostalgic yearning for the 1950s that runs through U.S. culture, given the violence against blacks at that time. Morrison's new book, Home, paints a portrait of the 1950s.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/24/toni-morrison-audio-q.html
To mark the 50th anniversary of Michael Harrington's The Other America, Scribner has brought out a paperback and ebook reprint with a new foreword by Harrington biographer Maurice Isserman. It's chilling to discover that I found much to identify with in Harrington's book, writes Scott Martelle.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-michael-harrington-20120527,0,6329542.story
With his ReadKiddoRead website and popular series like 'Witch & Wizard,' prolific writer James Patterson aims to turn children's lives around through reading. This year has brought new installments of his bestselling children's series, Witch & Wizard and Middle School.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-james-patterson-20120528,0,7278092.story
Costa-winning novelist Kishwar Desai talks to William Skidelsky about India's surrogacy industry and the art of writing topical fiction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/27/kishwar-desai-interview-meet-author
Nicholas Lezard describes Alan Bennett's re-published The Uncommon Reader as a little gem that is the best thing about the jubilee.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/29/uncommon-reader-alan-bennett-review
BOOKS & WRITERS
What attracts us to tomes with apocalyptic-sounding titles about impending financial collapse? asks Todd Hirsch. Jeff Rubin's The End of Growth is another with an alarming-sounding title, yet it departs from others in its accessible writing and more hopeful conclusion, says Hirsch.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-end-of-growth-by-jeff-rubin/article2443650/
Time after time, Ona Simaite, the subject of Julija Sukys's compelling and beautifully crafted biography, would enter the Jewish ghetto of Nazi-occupied Vilnius with food and money and forged documents for those forced behind its walls. Julija Sukys's Epistolophilia, honours Lithuanian librarian Ona Simaite.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Epistolophilia+Montrealer+Julija+Sukys+honours+Lithuanian+librarian/6678385/story.html
Joseph Brodsky was tried in Leningrad for the crime of writing poetry: his “crime” was that he did not have a regular job, and was therefore a “parasite.” Lev Loseff's Joseph Brodsky: A Literary Life confirms that Brodsky never intended to be a Soviet dissident.
http://www.tnr.com/article/books-and-arts/magazine/103341/joseph-brodsky-russian-literature-lev-loseff
The title story of Yasuko Thanh's Floating Like the Dead, is based on a documented 1895 visit by the capital city's medical officer and a journalist, and enables a subtle exploration of racial power dynamics, alienation and camaraderie.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Noble+dreams+pretty+places+prisons+making/6673054/story.html
Peter Hobbs's In the Orchard, the Swallows is a book about resisting the kinds of darkness of which men are capable–hate, vengeance, sadism as a palliative for boredom. This is simple yet breathtaking storytelling, writes Krista Foss.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/in-the-orchard-the-swallows-by-peter-hobbs/article2443896/
Borys Conrad has published an account of life with his eccentric father which exemplifies the curious practice of filial writing. Conrad's memoir is an affectionate portrayal of his father, avoiding Joseph Conrad's literary achievements in favour of an entertaining narrative, writes Kristen Treen.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/27/my-father-joseph-conrad-review
Rosemary Counter writes that Augusten Burroughs's This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More for the Young and Old Alike is equal parts self-help and anti-self-help, with a dash of memoir.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/this-is-how-by-augusten-burroughs/article2445447/
Peggy Blair's The Beggar's Opera, is an impressive debut novel, shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association's Debut Dagger Award in 2010, writes Robert J. Wiersema. The story features Inspector Ricardo Ramirez and the Cuban setting is treated almost like a character in its own right.
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/02/10/book-review-the-beggars-opera-by-peggy-blair/
Juli Zeh's The Method presents a vision of a dystopian future, writes Lucy Popescu, that includes an obsession with health, mass surveillance, and dependence on The Method—a system to ensure "a happy and healthy life, free from suffering and pain". Stepping outside the regime's norms is considered subversive.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-method-by-juli-zeh-7800875.html
It's always a delight to stumble upon a chick-lit novel that is smart, well-crafted and witty, writes Joanna Goodman. Such is the case with Kim Izzo's The Jane Austen Marriage Manual, a debut novel that brings class to the genre.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-jane-austen-marriage-manual-is-it-mr-right-or-mr-rich/article2446365/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
REEL READS MOVIE NIGHT
Screening of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the 2011 movie based on the John Le Carre spy novel. Thursday, May 31 at 6:30pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at www.vpl.ca.
BEN NUTTALL-SMITH
Local author reads from his novels Secrets Kept—Secrets Told and Blood, Feathers, and Holy Men. Thursday, May 31 at 7:30pm. Pelican Rouge Coffee House, 15142 North Bluff Rd., White Rock. More information at www.semiahmooarts.com.
DAVID STARR
Reading by the author of From Bombs to Books: the remarkable stories of refugee children and their families at an exceptional Canadian school. Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30pm. Free but please register by phoning 604-522-3971. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
KUCKI LOW
Author will talk about her memoir recalling her life as South Africa's first female airline pilot, This is Kucki Your Pilot Speaking. Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm. Free but please register in advance by phoning 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
Upcoming
MICHAEL SCOTT
The award-winning Irish author of the popular Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series will be coming to Kidsbooks to present the sixth and final book: The Enchantress. Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $23 and include a copy of the book. Kidsbooks, 3083 West Broadway. More information at www.kidsbooks.ca.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Phil Hall (Killdeer) and Aaron Bushkowsky (Curtains for Roy). Thursday, June 14 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
CHRISTINA JOHNSON-DEAN
Launch of the fifth book in the series The Unheralded Artists of BC, The Life and Art of Ina D.D. Uhthoff. Saturday, June 16 at 8:00pm, free. Martin Batchelor Gallery, 712 Cormorant St., Victoria. More information at www.mothertonguepublishing.com.
BEHIND BARBED WIRE
Literary reading from Behind Barbed Wire: Creative Works on the Internment of Italian Canadians and Beyond Barbed Wire: Essays on the Internment of Italian Canadians with B.C. authors Lynne Bowen, Anna Foschi Ciampolini, Robert Pepper-Smith, and Osvaldo Zappa. Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00pm, free. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
TOM WAYMAN AND KATE BRAID
Award-winning authors present a dynamic evening of poetry. Wayman reads from Dirty Snow and Braid reads from several collections, including a new edition of To This Cedar Fountain. Thursday, June 21 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.
TRIPLE THREAT: CHICKS WHO SOLVE CRIME!
Three Canadian mystery authors - Deryn Collier, Hilary Davidson, and Robin Spano - team up for an evening of readings & discussion. Thursday, June 21 at 7:00pm. Free but register in advance at 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
VISIBLE VERSE FESTIVAL 2012
VVF seeks videopoems that wed words and images, the voice seen as well as heard. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2012. For more information, contact Artistic Director Heather Haley at hshaley@emspace.com.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Book News Vol. 7 No. 18
BOOK NEWS
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
Listen to the fifth installment in our series of audio archives from past Festival events. This week you'll hear "We're Not the Centre of the Universe" from the 2011 Festival, featuring 2007 Griffin Prize for Poetry winner Don McKay. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Richard Ford
In advance of his on-stage interview with Hal Wake on Monday, Richard Ford talks with Greg Quill about his novel, Canada.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1181186--richard-ford-talks-about-his-novel-canada
Ford named the story idea 23 years ago, long before he'd formulated it as a novel. "Canada" was an attractive word, says Ford, always possessingits own pleasing sonority. Writers often choose what they write because of the words they get to use, says Ford.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/richard-ford-why-i-called-my-new-novel-canada/article2437364/
Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
7:30pm Friday June 1st
A beautiful June evening, a wonderful Shaughnessy heritage home, a fabulous selection of scotches... Well, we can't guarantee the weather, but we can assure you of an excellent array of rare and cask strength bottles and experts at six tasting bars to guide you. So dust off your kilt and get out your sporran, this is an event that a true connoisseur won't want to miss! Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Riel Nason, a New Brunswick-based writer, is a regional winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize for her debut novel, The Town That Drowned.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/22/commonwealth-prize.html
Inspired by his experiences during the Holocaust, Blooms of Darkness, a novel by the 80-year-old Israeli author Aharon Appelfeld has won the Independent foreign fiction prize.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/15/aharon-applefeld-independent-foreign-fiction-prize
The Canadian Booksellers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Canadian author Margaret Atwood June 3, 2012, in recognition of Ms. Atwood's outstanding and longstanding contribution to the book industry.
http://www.cbabook.org/files/LibrisAwards/News%20release%20Margaret%20Atwood%20Award.pdf
Nine winners of Atlantic Book Awards 2012, representing a wide range of literary categories, were announced last week. Go here for the full list of winners.
http://www.atlanticbookawards.ca
Twelve authors and illustrators were named popular-vote winners of the 2012 Forest of Reading awards over the course of the two-day Festival of Trees children's literature festival. The awards for fiction, non-fiction, and French-language books were based on votes from 250,000 participating student readers. Go here for the full list of winners.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179975--forest-of-reading-awards-highlight-children-s-literature-festival
YOUNG READERS
Taka-chan and I: A Dog's Journey to Japan by Runcible, as told to Betty Jean Lifton, is a dreamlike tale of a dog who digs his way to Japan, where he encounters a young girl who joins him in an adventurous quest to defeat the Black Dragon. Beautifully illustrated. For all ages.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Books+that+take+near+backyard+Japan/6638885/story.html
Katherine Longshore's Gilt tells the fictionalized story, in the 16th Century, of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, from the perspective of a friend, Kitty. Catherine doesn't believe in love—just social advancement. She does marry the king and is executed when she is 21. Ages 12 and up.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/la-ca-katherine-longshore-20120520,0,6791752.story
Meg Rosoff's There is No Dog is a tart, satirical work of unrelenting humour and creative energy. There is No Dog looks at the world and surmises that it's the creation of a self-absorbed, sex-obsessed, adolescent boy God. Original and highly entertaining. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1089506--non-fantasy-book-choices-for-gifts-for-kid-lits
Pamela Porter's I'll Be Watching is a story in poetry tracking the inner and outer lives of the miscellaneously flawed inhabitants of their tiny town of Argue, Saskatchewan in the early 1940's. Ages 12 and up.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1089506--non-fantasy-book-choices-for-gifts-for-kid-lits
NEWS & FEATURES
As the children's classic The Phantom Tollbooth turns 50, Daniel Hahn interviews the author, Norton Juster.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-curious-world-of-norton-juster-7768624.html
Neil Gaimon, who never attended college, recently delivered the commencement address at the University of the Arts' graduation ceremony, where he also was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in fine arts. "Leave the world more interesting for your being here," he said.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-19/news/31778731_1_neil-gaiman-anansi-boys-comic-book
A toast to John Cheever, the master of the short story, who would have turned 100 on May 27.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/a-toast-john-cheever-100th-birthday-article-1.1075778
The mobile services company Orange has announced that it will not be renewing its sponsorship of the prize for women's fiction. After this year's award is presented, Orange will withdraw its support of the prize in order to focus on film industry sponsorship.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/22/orange-withdraws-sponsorship-prize-fiction
Marjorie Perloff writes about how prizes are ruining poetry.
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR37.3/marjorie_perloff_poetry_lyric_reinvention.php
Anne Boleyn: witch, bitch, temptress, feminist, Hilary Mantel talks about Henry VIII's second wife, one of the most controversial women in English history. Much of what we think we know about Anne melts away on close inspection.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/11/hilary-mantel-on-anne-boleyn
A recent article raises the question: should David Sedaris' s pieces be fact-checked? Is his work true? Is it fiction? Nonfiction? Does it matter? Opinions from readers are included in the article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-sedariss-exaggerations-in-memoirs-npr-nonfiction-program-raise-questions/2012/05/13/gIQAm9QONU_story_1.html
A book discussion in Jakarta, featuring Canadian writer Irshad Manji, was broken up by the Jakarta Police, with several people injured. Protesters claimed their opposition to Manji, who is openly lesbian, was due to her viewpoint that Islam should accept homosexuality.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/17/homophobic-indonesians-still-large-sociologist.html
Thousands of protesters joined a march organized by Russian writers in Moscow, May13. "We see by the number of people that literature still has authority in our society," said poet Lev Rubinstein, one of the organizers. "No one will forget it," he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/world/europe/russian-writers-demonstrate-the-might-of-a-march.html
A treasure trove of pre-revolutionary books and magazines has been discovered in the archives of the Russian State Polytechnical Museum Library in Moscow, hidden behind false walls.
http://mhpbooks.com/russian-library-discovers-hidden-treasure/
We've been taught that Gutenberg invented the printing press, changing the course of civilization forever. It is, however, an undisputed historical fact that Johannes Gutenberg did not invent the printing press. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before Gutenberg's Bible.
http://io9.com/5910249/printed-books-existed-nearly-600-years-before-gutenbergs-bible
Amazon reviews are as likely to give an accurate summary of a book's quality as those of professional newspapers, according to a study from Harvard Business School. Amazon reviewers tend to look favourably on debut authors, while professionals prefer prizewinners.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/16/amazon-consumer-reviews-media-experts?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
So, do we need professional reviewers? asks Lionel Shriver who is, herself, a professional reviewer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/battle-book-reviews
Margaret Atwood will mentor British novelist Naomi Alderman as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Launched in 2002, the Arts Initiative was developed because Rolex wanted to extend its arts philanthropy.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1180409--meet-margaret-atwood-s-protege
Authors Isabel Allende, Junot Díaz, Jonathan Kozol, Rudolfo Anaya, bell hooks, Sandra Cisneros, James Baldwin, and Howard Zinn, have been banned from Arizona schools, as well as Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. And a teacher was fired for assigning an upper-level class an essay on censorship.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/anti-intellectualism-us-book-banning
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
Mark Kingwell's essay on the mystery of mysteries is equally timely.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-mystery-of-mysteries-what-really-keeps-us-reading/article2436927/
Margaret Cannon's latest list of recommended thrillers and mysteries is here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/new-in-crime-fiction-the-latest-thrillers-and-mysteries/article2436916/
12 masters of suspense name their favourites here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/clued-in-12-mystery-masters-name-their-favourites/article2436950/
BOOKS & WRITERS
Nahlah Ayed's A Thousand Farewells: A Reporter's Journey from Refugee Camp to the Arab Spring is part memoir and part history lesson, writes Enza Micheletti. Ayed brings insight to the "modern Arab identity," as she recounts the stories of ordinary Arabs she meets along the way.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Nahlah+Ayed+destined+cover+Middle+East/6638468/story.html
Peter Carey's novel, The Chemistry of Tears draws compelling parallels between a Victorian-era automaton of a defecating duck and the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a tour-de-force performance, writes Emily Donaldson. Carey is the finest writer Australia has produced, says Donaldson.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179439--the-chemistry-of-tears-by-peter-carey-review
Lynn Crosbie's Life is About Losing Everything chronicles her slouching toward middle age. She does not go gently. The seven years she documents were clearly harrowing ones for Crosbie but slowly, she is putting everything back together, writes Laura Penny.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/life-is-about-losing-everything-by-lynn-crosbie/article2437002/
Eight people are stuck together for a week in Mark Haddon's The Red House, a closely observed domestic drama that gives the impression of being a random slice-of-life, says Carol Birch. But every character is coming to terms with something.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/09/red-house-mark-haddon-review
In Just Send Me Word, Orlando Figes tells the true story of two young Moscow scientists, whose love for each other endured the Gulag, Stalin's attempts to "reforge" them, and Hitler's 1941 invasion. Their correspondence is preserved in a Moscow archive.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/just-send-word-orlando-figes-review
Pamela Porter writes novels in verse for young adults, which have acquired many awards. No Ordinary Place, her latest book of poetry for older adults, reflects her life in the natural world on her family's acreage outside Sidney, on Vancouver Island.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Pamela+Porter+finds+confidence+natural+world/6644446/story.html
Alison Flood writes that Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl's dark, disturbing story of a wife's sudden disappearance is a contender for thriller of the year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/gillian-flynn-gone-girl-review
The Marlowe Papers, the first novel of poet Ros Barber, brings to life the premise that playwright Christopher Marlowe was not killed in a Deptford tavern in 1593, but survived in exile and became the secret author of William Shakespeare's works.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/ros-barber-marlowe-papers-review
Two decades after Nobel Laureate Jose Saramago shocked the religious world with his novel The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, he has done it again with Cain, a satire of the Old Testament, and part of Saramago's long argument with religion.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/book/fiction/9780099552246/cain?commentpage=1#comment-16137197
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are some of the neurodegenerative terrors that haunt boomers as they age. In Fatal Flaws, Jay Ingram, whose métier is simplifying science for Canadians, examines new research into these illnesses and the molecule called a prion.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179393--fatal-flaws-by-jay-ingram-column
Award-winning author Brian Brett writes in The Tyee on his duty to ‘confront the world'.
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2012/05/19/Writer-Fight/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=210512
COMMUNITY EVENTS
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. Now until May 31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Jamella Hagen (Kerosene), Clea Roberts (Here Is Where We Disembark), and Claire Tacon (In the Field). Thursday, May 24 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
TORN APART
Susan Aihoshi will read from her new book Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi , about a young girl whose life changes when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 64th Ave. W. More information at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
ARSON BOOK LAUNCH
Jellyfish Publishing presents poetry by Michael Twist and original music from Megan Twist. Saturday, May 26 at 7:30pm. Arbutus Coffee, 2200 Arbutus. More information at michaeltwist.com.
NATIONAL BOOK COLLECTING CONTEST 2011-12
The W.A. Deacon Literary Foundation and Alcuin Society will be presenting the cash prize to this year's first place winner of the National Book-Collecting Contest for young Canadians under 30 years of age. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm. Room 2260, SFU downtown, 515 W. Hastings. More information at www.deaconfoundation.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
EPISTOLOPHILIA
Please join Montreal writer Julija Sukys for a reading and discussion of her new book Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Simaite. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
REEL READS MOVIE NIGHT
Screening of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the 2011 movie based on the John Le Carre spy novel. Thursday, May 31 at 6:30pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at www.vpl.ca.
BEN NUTTALL-SMITH
Local author reads from his novels Secrets Kept—Secrets Told and Blood, Feathers, and Holy Men. Thursday, May 31 at 7:30pm. Pelican Rouge Coffee House, 15142 North Bluff Rd., White Rock. More information at www.semiahmooarts.com.
Upcoming
DAVID STARR
Reading by the author of From Bombs to Books: the remarkable stories of refugee children and their families at an exceptional Canadian school. Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30pm. Free but please register by phoning 604-522-3971. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
KUCKI LOW
Author will talk about her memoir recalling her life as South Africa's first female airline pilot, This is Kucki Your Pilot Speaking. Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm. Free but please register in advance by phoning 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Phil Hall (Killdeer) and Aaron Bushkowsky (Curtains for Roy). Thursday, June 14 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
CHRISTINA JOHNSON-DEAN
Launch of the fifth book in the series The Unheralded Artists of BC, The Life and Art of Ina D.D. Uhthoff. Saturday, June 16 at 8:00pm, free. Martin Batchelor Gallery, 712 Cormorant St., Victoria. More information at www.mothertonguepublishing.com.
VISIBLE VERSE FESTIVAL 2012
VVF seeks videopoems that wed words and images, the voice seen as well as heard. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2012. For more information, contact Artistic Director Heather Haley at hshaley@emspace.com.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
Listen to the fifth installment in our series of audio archives from past Festival events. This week you'll hear "We're Not the Centre of the Universe" from the 2011 Festival, featuring 2007 Griffin Prize for Poetry winner Don McKay. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Richard Ford
In advance of his on-stage interview with Hal Wake on Monday, Richard Ford talks with Greg Quill about his novel, Canada.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1181186--richard-ford-talks-about-his-novel-canada
Ford named the story idea 23 years ago, long before he'd formulated it as a novel. "Canada" was an attractive word, says Ford, always possessingits own pleasing sonority. Writers often choose what they write because of the words they get to use, says Ford.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/richard-ford-why-i-called-my-new-novel-canada/article2437364/
Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
7:30pm Friday June 1st
A beautiful June evening, a wonderful Shaughnessy heritage home, a fabulous selection of scotches... Well, we can't guarantee the weather, but we can assure you of an excellent array of rare and cask strength bottles and experts at six tasting bars to guide you. So dust off your kilt and get out your sporran, this is an event that a true connoisseur won't want to miss! Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Riel Nason, a New Brunswick-based writer, is a regional winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize for her debut novel, The Town That Drowned.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/22/commonwealth-prize.html
Inspired by his experiences during the Holocaust, Blooms of Darkness, a novel by the 80-year-old Israeli author Aharon Appelfeld has won the Independent foreign fiction prize.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/15/aharon-applefeld-independent-foreign-fiction-prize
The Canadian Booksellers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Canadian author Margaret Atwood June 3, 2012, in recognition of Ms. Atwood's outstanding and longstanding contribution to the book industry.
http://www.cbabook.org/files/LibrisAwards/News%20release%20Margaret%20Atwood%20Award.pdf
Nine winners of Atlantic Book Awards 2012, representing a wide range of literary categories, were announced last week. Go here for the full list of winners.
http://www.atlanticbookawards.ca
Twelve authors and illustrators were named popular-vote winners of the 2012 Forest of Reading awards over the course of the two-day Festival of Trees children's literature festival. The awards for fiction, non-fiction, and French-language books were based on votes from 250,000 participating student readers. Go here for the full list of winners.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179975--forest-of-reading-awards-highlight-children-s-literature-festival
YOUNG READERS
Taka-chan and I: A Dog's Journey to Japan by Runcible, as told to Betty Jean Lifton, is a dreamlike tale of a dog who digs his way to Japan, where he encounters a young girl who joins him in an adventurous quest to defeat the Black Dragon. Beautifully illustrated. For all ages.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Books+that+take+near+backyard+Japan/6638885/story.html
Katherine Longshore's Gilt tells the fictionalized story, in the 16th Century, of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, from the perspective of a friend, Kitty. Catherine doesn't believe in love—just social advancement. She does marry the king and is executed when she is 21. Ages 12 and up.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/la-ca-katherine-longshore-20120520,0,6791752.story
Meg Rosoff's There is No Dog is a tart, satirical work of unrelenting humour and creative energy. There is No Dog looks at the world and surmises that it's the creation of a self-absorbed, sex-obsessed, adolescent boy God. Original and highly entertaining. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1089506--non-fantasy-book-choices-for-gifts-for-kid-lits
Pamela Porter's I'll Be Watching is a story in poetry tracking the inner and outer lives of the miscellaneously flawed inhabitants of their tiny town of Argue, Saskatchewan in the early 1940's. Ages 12 and up.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1089506--non-fantasy-book-choices-for-gifts-for-kid-lits
NEWS & FEATURES
As the children's classic The Phantom Tollbooth turns 50, Daniel Hahn interviews the author, Norton Juster.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-curious-world-of-norton-juster-7768624.html
Neil Gaimon, who never attended college, recently delivered the commencement address at the University of the Arts' graduation ceremony, where he also was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in fine arts. "Leave the world more interesting for your being here," he said.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-19/news/31778731_1_neil-gaiman-anansi-boys-comic-book
A toast to John Cheever, the master of the short story, who would have turned 100 on May 27.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/a-toast-john-cheever-100th-birthday-article-1.1075778
The mobile services company Orange has announced that it will not be renewing its sponsorship of the prize for women's fiction. After this year's award is presented, Orange will withdraw its support of the prize in order to focus on film industry sponsorship.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/22/orange-withdraws-sponsorship-prize-fiction
Marjorie Perloff writes about how prizes are ruining poetry.
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR37.3/marjorie_perloff_poetry_lyric_reinvention.php
Anne Boleyn: witch, bitch, temptress, feminist, Hilary Mantel talks about Henry VIII's second wife, one of the most controversial women in English history. Much of what we think we know about Anne melts away on close inspection.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/11/hilary-mantel-on-anne-boleyn
A recent article raises the question: should David Sedaris' s pieces be fact-checked? Is his work true? Is it fiction? Nonfiction? Does it matter? Opinions from readers are included in the article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-sedariss-exaggerations-in-memoirs-npr-nonfiction-program-raise-questions/2012/05/13/gIQAm9QONU_story_1.html
A book discussion in Jakarta, featuring Canadian writer Irshad Manji, was broken up by the Jakarta Police, with several people injured. Protesters claimed their opposition to Manji, who is openly lesbian, was due to her viewpoint that Islam should accept homosexuality.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/17/homophobic-indonesians-still-large-sociologist.html
Thousands of protesters joined a march organized by Russian writers in Moscow, May13. "We see by the number of people that literature still has authority in our society," said poet Lev Rubinstein, one of the organizers. "No one will forget it," he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/world/europe/russian-writers-demonstrate-the-might-of-a-march.html
A treasure trove of pre-revolutionary books and magazines has been discovered in the archives of the Russian State Polytechnical Museum Library in Moscow, hidden behind false walls.
http://mhpbooks.com/russian-library-discovers-hidden-treasure/
We've been taught that Gutenberg invented the printing press, changing the course of civilization forever. It is, however, an undisputed historical fact that Johannes Gutenberg did not invent the printing press. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before Gutenberg's Bible.
http://io9.com/5910249/printed-books-existed-nearly-600-years-before-gutenbergs-bible
Amazon reviews are as likely to give an accurate summary of a book's quality as those of professional newspapers, according to a study from Harvard Business School. Amazon reviewers tend to look favourably on debut authors, while professionals prefer prizewinners.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/16/amazon-consumer-reviews-media-experts?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
So, do we need professional reviewers? asks Lionel Shriver who is, herself, a professional reviewer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/battle-book-reviews
Margaret Atwood will mentor British novelist Naomi Alderman as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Launched in 2002, the Arts Initiative was developed because Rolex wanted to extend its arts philanthropy.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1180409--meet-margaret-atwood-s-protege
Authors Isabel Allende, Junot Díaz, Jonathan Kozol, Rudolfo Anaya, bell hooks, Sandra Cisneros, James Baldwin, and Howard Zinn, have been banned from Arizona schools, as well as Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. And a teacher was fired for assigning an upper-level class an essay on censorship.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/anti-intellectualism-us-book-banning
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
Mark Kingwell's essay on the mystery of mysteries is equally timely.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-mystery-of-mysteries-what-really-keeps-us-reading/article2436927/
Margaret Cannon's latest list of recommended thrillers and mysteries is here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/new-in-crime-fiction-the-latest-thrillers-and-mysteries/article2436916/
12 masters of suspense name their favourites here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/clued-in-12-mystery-masters-name-their-favourites/article2436950/
BOOKS & WRITERS
Nahlah Ayed's A Thousand Farewells: A Reporter's Journey from Refugee Camp to the Arab Spring is part memoir and part history lesson, writes Enza Micheletti. Ayed brings insight to the "modern Arab identity," as she recounts the stories of ordinary Arabs she meets along the way.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Nahlah+Ayed+destined+cover+Middle+East/6638468/story.html
Peter Carey's novel, The Chemistry of Tears draws compelling parallels between a Victorian-era automaton of a defecating duck and the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a tour-de-force performance, writes Emily Donaldson. Carey is the finest writer Australia has produced, says Donaldson.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179439--the-chemistry-of-tears-by-peter-carey-review
Lynn Crosbie's Life is About Losing Everything chronicles her slouching toward middle age. She does not go gently. The seven years she documents were clearly harrowing ones for Crosbie but slowly, she is putting everything back together, writes Laura Penny.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/life-is-about-losing-everything-by-lynn-crosbie/article2437002/
Eight people are stuck together for a week in Mark Haddon's The Red House, a closely observed domestic drama that gives the impression of being a random slice-of-life, says Carol Birch. But every character is coming to terms with something.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/09/red-house-mark-haddon-review
In Just Send Me Word, Orlando Figes tells the true story of two young Moscow scientists, whose love for each other endured the Gulag, Stalin's attempts to "reforge" them, and Hitler's 1941 invasion. Their correspondence is preserved in a Moscow archive.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/just-send-word-orlando-figes-review
Pamela Porter writes novels in verse for young adults, which have acquired many awards. No Ordinary Place, her latest book of poetry for older adults, reflects her life in the natural world on her family's acreage outside Sidney, on Vancouver Island.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Pamela+Porter+finds+confidence+natural+world/6644446/story.html
Alison Flood writes that Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl's dark, disturbing story of a wife's sudden disappearance is a contender for thriller of the year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/gillian-flynn-gone-girl-review
The Marlowe Papers, the first novel of poet Ros Barber, brings to life the premise that playwright Christopher Marlowe was not killed in a Deptford tavern in 1593, but survived in exile and became the secret author of William Shakespeare's works.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/20/ros-barber-marlowe-papers-review
Two decades after Nobel Laureate Jose Saramago shocked the religious world with his novel The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, he has done it again with Cain, a satire of the Old Testament, and part of Saramago's long argument with religion.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/book/fiction/9780099552246/cain?commentpage=1#comment-16137197
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are some of the neurodegenerative terrors that haunt boomers as they age. In Fatal Flaws, Jay Ingram, whose métier is simplifying science for Canadians, examines new research into these illnesses and the molecule called a prion.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1179393--fatal-flaws-by-jay-ingram-column
Award-winning author Brian Brett writes in The Tyee on his duty to ‘confront the world'.
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2012/05/19/Writer-Fight/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=210512
COMMUNITY EVENTS
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. Now until May 31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Jamella Hagen (Kerosene), Clea Roberts (Here Is Where We Disembark), and Claire Tacon (In the Field). Thursday, May 24 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
TORN APART
Susan Aihoshi will read from her new book Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi , about a young girl whose life changes when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 64th Ave. W. More information at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
ARSON BOOK LAUNCH
Jellyfish Publishing presents poetry by Michael Twist and original music from Megan Twist. Saturday, May 26 at 7:30pm. Arbutus Coffee, 2200 Arbutus. More information at michaeltwist.com.
NATIONAL BOOK COLLECTING CONTEST 2011-12
The W.A. Deacon Literary Foundation and Alcuin Society will be presenting the cash prize to this year's first place winner of the National Book-Collecting Contest for young Canadians under 30 years of age. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm. Room 2260, SFU downtown, 515 W. Hastings. More information at www.deaconfoundation.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
EPISTOLOPHILIA
Please join Montreal writer Julija Sukys for a reading and discussion of her new book Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Simaite. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
REEL READS MOVIE NIGHT
Screening of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the 2011 movie based on the John Le Carre spy novel. Thursday, May 31 at 6:30pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at www.vpl.ca.
BEN NUTTALL-SMITH
Local author reads from his novels Secrets Kept—Secrets Told and Blood, Feathers, and Holy Men. Thursday, May 31 at 7:30pm. Pelican Rouge Coffee House, 15142 North Bluff Rd., White Rock. More information at www.semiahmooarts.com.
Upcoming
DAVID STARR
Reading by the author of From Bombs to Books: the remarkable stories of refugee children and their families at an exceptional Canadian school. Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30pm. Free but please register by phoning 604-522-3971. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
KUCKI LOW
Author will talk about her memoir recalling her life as South Africa's first female airline pilot, This is Kucki Your Pilot Speaking. Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm. Free but please register in advance by phoning 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Phil Hall (Killdeer) and Aaron Bushkowsky (Curtains for Roy). Thursday, June 14 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
CHRISTINA JOHNSON-DEAN
Launch of the fifth book in the series The Unheralded Artists of BC, The Life and Art of Ina D.D. Uhthoff. Saturday, June 16 at 8:00pm, free. Martin Batchelor Gallery, 712 Cormorant St., Victoria. More information at www.mothertonguepublishing.com.
VISIBLE VERSE FESTIVAL 2012
VVF seeks videopoems that wed words and images, the voice seen as well as heard. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2012. For more information, contact Artistic Director Heather Haley at hshaley@emspace.com.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Book News Vol. 7 No. 17
BOOK NEWS
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
Listen to the fourth installment in our series of audio archives from past Festival events. This week you'll hear "Conversations with Bill" from the 2011 Festival, featuring Kate Beaton and Helen Oyeyemi. Whether drawing or writing, these young, bright storytellers explore their influences with the insatiably curious Bill Richardson. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
Join us on May 23 for the final spring event of the Incite series. Noah Richler will read from his book What We Talk About When We Talk About War and Trevor and Debbie Greene will present March Forth, their inspiring true story of a Canadian soldier’s journey through love, hope and survival. This is your last chance to enjoy the Incite series this season, so register today, http://incitevpl2012.eventbrite.com.
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford will be interviewed on stage by Hal Wake on May 28. He will talk about his latest novel, Canada, a visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Norwich has been named as England's first City of Literature by the United Nation's organisation, UNESCO. "Writers have known for centuries that Norwich is a dreamy city", says Ian McEwen.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-18016481
David Gilmour, David Bezmozgis, Ken Babstock, Tony Burgess, Kirsten den Hartog and Phil Hall are shortlisted for the Trillium Prize, an Ontario award for fiction or poetry. Helen Guri, Jacob McArthur Mooney and Nick Thran are shortlisted for a separate $10,000 Trillium Award offered for poetry in English. Five French-language books and three French poets are also finalists for Trillium Awards.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/09/trillium-book-award.html
Johanna Skibsrud is one of five authors shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award for best debut collection, named in honour of late short fiction writer, Danuta Gleed. The other four shortlisted authors are: Andrew J. Borkowski, Daniel Griffin, Jessica Westhead and Ian Williams.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Giller+winner+Skibsrud+among+finalists+Danuta+Gleed+prize/6592645/story.html
2012 Independent Book Awards have been won by Robert W. Mackay's Soldier of the Horse, Gordon Cope's Secret Combinations (the Silver Award in the Suspense/Thriller category), and Angie Abdou's The Canterbury Trail (in the Canada-West: Best Regional Fiction category).
http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1536
Four books are on the shortlist for the Ondaatje prize, for the "book of the highest literary merit evoking the spirit of a place". They include: Rahul Bhattacharya's The Sly Company of People Who Care, Olivia Laing's To the River, Teju Cole's Open City and Edgelands by Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/may/10/books-sense-place-ondaatje
Julie Otsuka has won the $15,000 first prize at the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for The Buddha in the Attic, her slim prose poem about Japanese picture brides coming to America after WWI.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/julie-otsuka-wins-penfaulkner-prize-for-the-buddha-in-the-attic/2012/05/06/gIQAJT0h5T_blog.html
The BC Book Prizes have been awarded. Go here for the full list of winners:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/esi-edugyans-half-blood-blues-wins-fiction-award-at-bc-book-prizes/article2431291/
YOUNG READERS
Almost 10 years ago, award-winning animator and illustrator Mo Willems wrote Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which became an instant classic: fans will welcome the return of Pigeon, in a new volume titled The Duckling Gets a Cookie? Ages 2 and up.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Pigeon+feathers+ruffled/6605863/story.html
Tillie McGillie's Fantastical Chair by Vivian French is about a little girl called Tillie who is in a wheelchair. This is unusual because there aren't many stories about children in wheelchairs. It's a very funny story about a magical Gran who waves her spotty hankie and strange things happen. Ages 7 and under.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/12/review-tillie-mcgillies-fantastical-chair-vivian-french
Prince Charming doesn't know how to use a sword. And most princesses are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Do they live happily ever after? Christopher Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom asks why old fairy tales were written as they were. Ages 8 and up.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/la-ca-christopher-healy-20120513,0,7312583.story
Lots of adult readers know Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Here, The Great Cake Mystery is solved by the No. 1 Girls' Detective Agency. Precious must solve her very first case in a country that readers may know nothing about. Ages 7 and up.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/the-no-1-girls-detective-agency/2012/04/26/gIQAUqkrjT_story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
The Capilano Review celebrates its 40th anniversary on May 17.
http://www.allianceforarts.com/files/enet/pdf/12/05/literary.pdf
Happy Birthday, A Clockwork Orange! Anthony Burgess's diabolical tale of juvenile ultraviolence is 50. Five decades on, the novel holds a lofty position as one of pop culture's most influential and enduring pieces of literature, writes Ben Myers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/may/14/happy-birthday-a-clockwork-orange?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
This year, the Pulitzer Prize committee declined to award a prize for fiction. So The New York Times asked eight experts to do it instead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/the-great-pulitzer-do-over.html
Mexico's most celebrated novelist Carlos Fuentes died Tuesday, at 83.
http://arts.nationalpost.com/category/arts/afterword/
Farley Mowat is 91. He can't not write. He's still angry, writes Greg Quill. Douglas & McIntyre is reissuing 13 gems of his vast catalogue of 44 books, beginning this month with A Whale for the Killing (1972) and And No Birds Sang (1979).
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1176847--farley-mowat-s-legacy-our-supreme-storyteller
What's behind the boom in dystopian literature for young readers? asks Laura Miller. "It somehow fits the paranoid spirit that adults are the ones who write and publish them, assign them in classes, and decide which ones win prizes," she writes.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/06/14/100614crat_atlarge_miller?currentPage=all
Jeanette Winterson has been appointed professor of creative writing at Manchester University, in the city of her birth. Winterson, 53, is best known for her 1985 debut novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/12/jeanette-winterson-professor-manchester-university
On May 25, fans of Douglas Adams will honor the author's memory with the annual Towel Day, a nod to Adams's delirious novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/books/review/inside-the-list.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=edit_bk_20120511
Ontario composer Abigail Richardson has composed music for the iconic Roch Carrier story The Hockey Sweater. The work made its official debut in a pair of concerts Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/with-help-of-roch-carrier-composer-sets-the-hockey-sweater-to-music/article2429409/
The bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens shouldn't pass by without an example of his verse, writes Carol Rumens. The novelist's poetic output was small. The Fine Old English Gentleman: New Version pours scorn on his era's complacent Conservatives.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/14/charles-dickens-gentlemen-poem-week
Nadine Gordimer writes in The New York Review of Books about the new threat in South Africa of updated versions of the suppression of freedom of expression that gagged South Africans under apartheid.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/may/24/south-africa-new-threat-freedom/
Joanne Kaufman writes that publishers are losing patience with multi-year, multi-volume biographies.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304723304577368220130272922.html
Author Barry Eisler, having signing with Amazon as his book publisher, ventured to Bainbridge Island to explain his views to a community that loves its library and its local bookstore. Jim Thomsen describes the conference discussion.
http://crosscut.com/2012/05/09/amazon/108372/books-whats-good-amazon-good-writers-readers/
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
John F. Hulcoop describes Leslie Hall Pinder's Bring Me One of Everything as 'big': big-hearted, socially important, ambitious in its scope. The novel gathers together aboriginal landscapes of Haida Gwaii, ethnography, anthropology, history, art music and personal relationships. Un-putdownable, says Hulcoop.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/hearted+novel+extraordinarily+rich+book/6608235/story.html
In Time to Start Thinking, Edward Luce quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes's: "An ounce of history is worth a pound of logic." What emerges from Luce's evocative analysis and reportage is the denial of history by the current crop of American leaders, writes John Gray.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/11/time-start-thinking-edward-luce-review
Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother? might be the truest Mother's Day card ever sent, writes Ian McGillis, adding that reviewing a book like Are You My Mother? demands a whole new vocabulary.
http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/05/12/alison-bechdels-are-you-my-mother-might-be-the-truest-mothers-day-card-ever-sent/
Cunning foxes have long prowled through the pages of fairytales. In Mr. Fox, Helen Oyeyemi harks back to these fictional foxes while creating her own fantastical creatures, blurring boundaries through magic realism, writes Anita Sethi.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/13/mr-fox-helen-oyeyemi-review
Skagboys, a hefty, 548-page prequel to Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, is an uneasy hybrid, but it has a firmer grasp of the social forces that keep the gang at the bottom of the food chain, writes Peter Murphy. Skagways was published in April.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0512/1224315929170.html
US National Book Award Jesmyn Ward's novel Agate, which won the 2011 National Book Award, is based on her, and her family's, experience of Katrina. She speaks of the experience at the Sydney Writers Festival.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/books/katrina-survivor-struck-by-racial-divide/story-e6frg8nf-1226356719812
Vancouver author Owen Laukkanen is leading a wave of Canadian crime writers being published around the world, says Jack Batten. In Laukkanen's The Professionals, the bodies start falling even when killing is the last thing on the minds of the nominal bad guys.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1177435--owen-laukkanen-leads-the-great-canadian-crime-wave
In Monkey Ranch, Julie Bruck's stories-in-poetry are deceptively chatty, using plain language that doesn't shy from pop-culture references to evoke little scenes. A success by any measure, says George Murray.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/monkey-ranch-by-julie-bruck/article2433199/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. Now until May 31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
YOUTH INSPIRE ETHIOPIA BOOK LAUNCH
Launch of the youth organization's book that explores Ethiopian communities through the eyes of Ethiopian youth. Proceeds from the book go back to the involved centers or schools to support youth community and leadership programs. Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm, free. Robert Lee YMCA, 955 Burrard. More information at humanities_healing@hotmail.com.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche, Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
CHEN LIZRA
Author discusses her travel guidebook My Seductive Cuba. Saturday, May 19 at 2:00pm, free. Chapters Robson, 788 Robson Street, Vancouver. More information at 604-682-4066.
UPROOTED AGAIN
Book launch features author Tatsuo Kage, UVIC prof John Price, retired SFU prof Roy Miki, and former president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians Grace Eiko Thomson. Saturday, May 19 at 3:00pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 100-6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby. More information at www.nikkeiplace.org.
JANET MARIE ROGERS
Part of the Pen-In-Hand Poetry/Prose Reading Series, the featured reader is Victoria's Poet Laureate, Janet Marie Rogers. Monday, May 21 at 7:15pm. Cost: $3. Serious Coffee, Cook Street Village, 230 Cook Street, Victoria.
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Jamella Hagen (Kerosene), Clea Roberts (Here Is Where We Disembark), and Claire Tacon (In the Field). Thursday, May 24 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
TORN APART
Susan Aihoshi will read from her new book Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi , about a young girl whose life changes when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 64th Ave. W. More information at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
Upcoming
NATIONAL BOOK COLLECTING CONTEST 2011-12
The W.A. Deacon Literary Foundation and Alcuin Society will be presenting the cash prize to this year's first place winner of the National Book-Collecting Contest for young Canadians under 30 years of age. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm. Room 2260, SFU downtown, 515 W. Hastings. More information at www.deaconfoundation.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
EPISTOLOPHILIA
Please join Montreal writer Julija Sukys for a reading and discussion of her new book Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Simaite. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
DAVID STARR
Reading by the author of From Bombs to Books: the remarkable stories of refugee children and their families at an exceptional Canadian school. Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30pm. Free but please register by phoning 604-522-3971. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
KUCKI LOW
Author will talk about her memoir recalling her life as South Africa's first female airline pilot, This is Kucki Your Pilot Speaking. Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm. Free but please register in advance by phoning 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
Listen to the fourth installment in our series of audio archives from past Festival events. This week you'll hear "Conversations with Bill" from the 2011 Festival, featuring Kate Beaton and Helen Oyeyemi. Whether drawing or writing, these young, bright storytellers explore their influences with the insatiably curious Bill Richardson. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
Join us on May 23 for the final spring event of the Incite series. Noah Richler will read from his book What We Talk About When We Talk About War and Trevor and Debbie Greene will present March Forth, their inspiring true story of a Canadian soldier’s journey through love, hope and survival. This is your last chance to enjoy the Incite series this season, so register today, http://incitevpl2012.eventbrite.com.
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford will be interviewed on stage by Hal Wake on May 28. He will talk about his latest novel, Canada, a visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Norwich has been named as England's first City of Literature by the United Nation's organisation, UNESCO. "Writers have known for centuries that Norwich is a dreamy city", says Ian McEwen.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-18016481
David Gilmour, David Bezmozgis, Ken Babstock, Tony Burgess, Kirsten den Hartog and Phil Hall are shortlisted for the Trillium Prize, an Ontario award for fiction or poetry. Helen Guri, Jacob McArthur Mooney and Nick Thran are shortlisted for a separate $10,000 Trillium Award offered for poetry in English. Five French-language books and three French poets are also finalists for Trillium Awards.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/09/trillium-book-award.html
Johanna Skibsrud is one of five authors shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award for best debut collection, named in honour of late short fiction writer, Danuta Gleed. The other four shortlisted authors are: Andrew J. Borkowski, Daniel Griffin, Jessica Westhead and Ian Williams.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Giller+winner+Skibsrud+among+finalists+Danuta+Gleed+prize/6592645/story.html
2012 Independent Book Awards have been won by Robert W. Mackay's Soldier of the Horse, Gordon Cope's Secret Combinations (the Silver Award in the Suspense/Thriller category), and Angie Abdou's The Canterbury Trail (in the Canada-West: Best Regional Fiction category).
http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1536
Four books are on the shortlist for the Ondaatje prize, for the "book of the highest literary merit evoking the spirit of a place". They include: Rahul Bhattacharya's The Sly Company of People Who Care, Olivia Laing's To the River, Teju Cole's Open City and Edgelands by Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/may/10/books-sense-place-ondaatje
Julie Otsuka has won the $15,000 first prize at the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for The Buddha in the Attic, her slim prose poem about Japanese picture brides coming to America after WWI.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/julie-otsuka-wins-penfaulkner-prize-for-the-buddha-in-the-attic/2012/05/06/gIQAJT0h5T_blog.html
The BC Book Prizes have been awarded. Go here for the full list of winners:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/esi-edugyans-half-blood-blues-wins-fiction-award-at-bc-book-prizes/article2431291/
YOUNG READERS
Almost 10 years ago, award-winning animator and illustrator Mo Willems wrote Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which became an instant classic: fans will welcome the return of Pigeon, in a new volume titled The Duckling Gets a Cookie? Ages 2 and up.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Pigeon+feathers+ruffled/6605863/story.html
Tillie McGillie's Fantastical Chair by Vivian French is about a little girl called Tillie who is in a wheelchair. This is unusual because there aren't many stories about children in wheelchairs. It's a very funny story about a magical Gran who waves her spotty hankie and strange things happen. Ages 7 and under.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/12/review-tillie-mcgillies-fantastical-chair-vivian-french
Prince Charming doesn't know how to use a sword. And most princesses are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Do they live happily ever after? Christopher Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom asks why old fairy tales were written as they were. Ages 8 and up.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/la-ca-christopher-healy-20120513,0,7312583.story
Lots of adult readers know Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Here, The Great Cake Mystery is solved by the No. 1 Girls' Detective Agency. Precious must solve her very first case in a country that readers may know nothing about. Ages 7 and up.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/the-no-1-girls-detective-agency/2012/04/26/gIQAUqkrjT_story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
The Capilano Review celebrates its 40th anniversary on May 17.
http://www.allianceforarts.com/files/enet/pdf/12/05/literary.pdf
Happy Birthday, A Clockwork Orange! Anthony Burgess's diabolical tale of juvenile ultraviolence is 50. Five decades on, the novel holds a lofty position as one of pop culture's most influential and enduring pieces of literature, writes Ben Myers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/may/14/happy-birthday-a-clockwork-orange?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
This year, the Pulitzer Prize committee declined to award a prize for fiction. So The New York Times asked eight experts to do it instead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/the-great-pulitzer-do-over.html
Mexico's most celebrated novelist Carlos Fuentes died Tuesday, at 83.
http://arts.nationalpost.com/category/arts/afterword/
Farley Mowat is 91. He can't not write. He's still angry, writes Greg Quill. Douglas & McIntyre is reissuing 13 gems of his vast catalogue of 44 books, beginning this month with A Whale for the Killing (1972) and And No Birds Sang (1979).
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1176847--farley-mowat-s-legacy-our-supreme-storyteller
What's behind the boom in dystopian literature for young readers? asks Laura Miller. "It somehow fits the paranoid spirit that adults are the ones who write and publish them, assign them in classes, and decide which ones win prizes," she writes.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/06/14/100614crat_atlarge_miller?currentPage=all
Jeanette Winterson has been appointed professor of creative writing at Manchester University, in the city of her birth. Winterson, 53, is best known for her 1985 debut novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/12/jeanette-winterson-professor-manchester-university
On May 25, fans of Douglas Adams will honor the author's memory with the annual Towel Day, a nod to Adams's delirious novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/books/review/inside-the-list.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=edit_bk_20120511
Ontario composer Abigail Richardson has composed music for the iconic Roch Carrier story The Hockey Sweater. The work made its official debut in a pair of concerts Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/with-help-of-roch-carrier-composer-sets-the-hockey-sweater-to-music/article2429409/
The bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens shouldn't pass by without an example of his verse, writes Carol Rumens. The novelist's poetic output was small. The Fine Old English Gentleman: New Version pours scorn on his era's complacent Conservatives.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/14/charles-dickens-gentlemen-poem-week
Nadine Gordimer writes in The New York Review of Books about the new threat in South Africa of updated versions of the suppression of freedom of expression that gagged South Africans under apartheid.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/may/24/south-africa-new-threat-freedom/
Joanne Kaufman writes that publishers are losing patience with multi-year, multi-volume biographies.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304723304577368220130272922.html
Author Barry Eisler, having signing with Amazon as his book publisher, ventured to Bainbridge Island to explain his views to a community that loves its library and its local bookstore. Jim Thomsen describes the conference discussion.
http://crosscut.com/2012/05/09/amazon/108372/books-whats-good-amazon-good-writers-readers/
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
John F. Hulcoop describes Leslie Hall Pinder's Bring Me One of Everything as 'big': big-hearted, socially important, ambitious in its scope. The novel gathers together aboriginal landscapes of Haida Gwaii, ethnography, anthropology, history, art music and personal relationships. Un-putdownable, says Hulcoop.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/hearted+novel+extraordinarily+rich+book/6608235/story.html
In Time to Start Thinking, Edward Luce quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes's: "An ounce of history is worth a pound of logic." What emerges from Luce's evocative analysis and reportage is the denial of history by the current crop of American leaders, writes John Gray.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/11/time-start-thinking-edward-luce-review
Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother? might be the truest Mother's Day card ever sent, writes Ian McGillis, adding that reviewing a book like Are You My Mother? demands a whole new vocabulary.
http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/05/12/alison-bechdels-are-you-my-mother-might-be-the-truest-mothers-day-card-ever-sent/
Cunning foxes have long prowled through the pages of fairytales. In Mr. Fox, Helen Oyeyemi harks back to these fictional foxes while creating her own fantastical creatures, blurring boundaries through magic realism, writes Anita Sethi.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/13/mr-fox-helen-oyeyemi-review
Skagboys, a hefty, 548-page prequel to Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, is an uneasy hybrid, but it has a firmer grasp of the social forces that keep the gang at the bottom of the food chain, writes Peter Murphy. Skagways was published in April.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0512/1224315929170.html
US National Book Award Jesmyn Ward's novel Agate, which won the 2011 National Book Award, is based on her, and her family's, experience of Katrina. She speaks of the experience at the Sydney Writers Festival.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/books/katrina-survivor-struck-by-racial-divide/story-e6frg8nf-1226356719812
Vancouver author Owen Laukkanen is leading a wave of Canadian crime writers being published around the world, says Jack Batten. In Laukkanen's The Professionals, the bodies start falling even when killing is the last thing on the minds of the nominal bad guys.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1177435--owen-laukkanen-leads-the-great-canadian-crime-wave
In Monkey Ranch, Julie Bruck's stories-in-poetry are deceptively chatty, using plain language that doesn't shy from pop-culture references to evoke little scenes. A success by any measure, says George Murray.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/monkey-ranch-by-julie-bruck/article2433199/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. Now until May 31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
YOUTH INSPIRE ETHIOPIA BOOK LAUNCH
Launch of the youth organization's book that explores Ethiopian communities through the eyes of Ethiopian youth. Proceeds from the book go back to the involved centers or schools to support youth community and leadership programs. Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm, free. Robert Lee YMCA, 955 Burrard. More information at humanities_healing@hotmail.com.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche, Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
CHEN LIZRA
Author discusses her travel guidebook My Seductive Cuba. Saturday, May 19 at 2:00pm, free. Chapters Robson, 788 Robson Street, Vancouver. More information at 604-682-4066.
UPROOTED AGAIN
Book launch features author Tatsuo Kage, UVIC prof John Price, retired SFU prof Roy Miki, and former president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians Grace Eiko Thomson. Saturday, May 19 at 3:00pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 100-6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby. More information at www.nikkeiplace.org.
JANET MARIE ROGERS
Part of the Pen-In-Hand Poetry/Prose Reading Series, the featured reader is Victoria's Poet Laureate, Janet Marie Rogers. Monday, May 21 at 7:15pm. Cost: $3. Serious Coffee, Cook Street Village, 230 Cook Street, Victoria.
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Jamella Hagen (Kerosene), Clea Roberts (Here Is Where We Disembark), and Claire Tacon (In the Field). Thursday, May 24 at 7:00pm, free. BC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
TORN APART
Susan Aihoshi will read from her new book Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi , about a young girl whose life changes when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Admission by donation. Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 64th Ave. W. More information at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
Upcoming
NATIONAL BOOK COLLECTING CONTEST 2011-12
The W.A. Deacon Literary Foundation and Alcuin Society will be presenting the cash prize to this year's first place winner of the National Book-Collecting Contest for young Canadians under 30 years of age. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm. Room 2260, SFU downtown, 515 W. Hastings. More information at www.deaconfoundation.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
EPISTOLOPHILIA
Please join Montreal writer Julija Sukys for a reading and discussion of her new book Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Simaite. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
DAVID STARR
Reading by the author of From Bombs to Books: the remarkable stories of refugee children and their families at an exceptional Canadian school. Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30pm. Free but please register by phoning 604-522-3971. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
KUCKI LOW
Author will talk about her memoir recalling her life as South Africa's first female airline pilot, This is Kucki Your Pilot Speaking. Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm. Free but please register in advance by phoning 604-299-8955. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Book News Vol. 7 No. 16
BOOK NEWS
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
This week is the third in a series of 25 audio archives from past Festival events. Wild West, from 2011 features Marina Endicott, Pauline Holdstock, Guy Vanderhaeghe, and Rudy Wiebe. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
At the next Incite on Tuesday, May 15, former CBC executive Richard Stursberg will be interviewed on stage by Marsha Lederman about his new memoir, Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets and Successes Inside the CBC. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incitemay15.
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford comes to Vancouver on May 28 with his latest novel, Canada. A visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Veteran novelist but first-time SF author Jane Rogers has won this year's Arthur C. Clarke award for The Testament of Jessie Lamb, describing a world crippled by biological terrorism.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/03/jane-rogers-arthur-c-clarke-2012?newsfeed=true
Julie Otsuka has won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for The Buddha in the Attic, her slim prose poem about Japanese picture brides coming to America after World War I.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/julie-otsuka-wins-penfaulkner-prize-for-the-buddha-in-the-attic/2012/05/06/gIQAJT0h5T_blog.html
Vancouver writer Jen Neale has been named winner of the $5,000 Writers' Trust Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers for her short-story Elk-Headed Man.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1172121--vancouver-s-jen-neale-takes-bronwen-wallace-prize-for-emerging-writers
The Doug Wright Awards for Canadian cartooning were celebrated last weekend, with honours to: Kate Beaton for Hark! A Vagrant; Ethan Rilly, for Pope Hats #2; and The Pigskin Peters Award to Toronto's Michael Comeau for Hellberta. Montreal-based veteran political cartoonist Terry Mosher, widely known by the pen name Aislin, was inducted to the Giants of the North - Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/06/comic-doug-wright-winners.html
YOUNG READERS
In celebration of the TD Canadian Children's Book Week May 5 through 12, here are some additional reviews of children's books.
Read the whole of Michael Morpurgo's short story, Letter for Carlos, about a soldier writing home to his young son. Morpurgo explains that the letter for Carlos is told from the point of view of an Argentinian soldier during the Falklands war. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/02/michael-morpurgo-letter-for-carlos
Alan Wolf's The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic is not to be confused with Hugh MacLennan's novel. It's an astounding collection of poetry (most of it free verse) that breathes new life into a story that is known far and wide, writes Bernie Goedhardt. Ages 10 to 110.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Kids+poetic+tribute+Titanic/6530558/story.html#ixzz1tx9WhW1k
What would happen if you lived on a small island with your parents and you came home to discover that they had been kidnapped? If you're Madeleine, you hire fedora-wearing bunny detectives, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny and translated from "The Rabbit" by Polly Horvath. Ages 8-12.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/book-review-mr-and-mrs-bunny--detectives-extraordinaire/2012/04/05/gIQAo2J0xS_story.html
Rachel Vail's Piggy Bunny features Liam, who was just like all the other piglets, except for one thing...Liam wanted to be the Easter Bunny. Ages 4-7.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-books-piggy-bunny-by-rachel-vail,0,215417.story
Kyo Maclear's Virginia Wolf wakes up feeling wolfish and wants to be left alone, finally crawling back into bed to hide under the covers. Her sister Vanessa takes paint brush in hand to transform their bedroom into "Bloomsberry": the perfect place of Virginia's imagination. Ages 5 to 8.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Dealing+with+dark+mood/6566234/story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
Maurice Sendak, the children's book author and illustrator who saw the sometimes-dark side of childhood in books like Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen, died early Tuesday. He was 83.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/maurice-sendak-author-of-where-the-wild-things-are-dead-at-83/article2426001/
A 2011 Globe and Mail interview with Sendak is here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-globes-interview-with-author-sendak-portrait-of-a-cranky-old-man/article2177811/
Slate includes a series of Sendak illustrations we may have forgotten about.
http://www.slate.com/slideshows/arts/maurice-sendak-illustrations-from-rosies-door-to-brundibar.html
Peter Ladner has written about face-to-face storytelling as an important component of the resurgence of Vancouver's creative class.
http://crosscut.com/2012/05/01/vancouver/8222/rise-Vancouvers-creative-class/?page=single
Neil Gaiman, the author of Coraline, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, read C.S. Lewis as a child and thought, "When I am a writer, I shall do parenthetical asides. And footnotes."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/books/review/neil-gaiman-shares-his-reading-habits.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=edit_bk_20120504
"One of the humbling things about having written more than one novel is the sense that every time you begin, that new empty page does not know who you are," John Irving says, in an interview with The Star's Greg Quill.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1172273--john-irving-interview
Bring up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall, will be published this week. Read the beginning here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/08/bring-bodies-hilary-mantel-wolf-hall
Hilary Mantel describes how she puts words in the mouths of her Tudor characters. Accept that you will never be authentic, she advises.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303459004577363870847167262.html
Oh, those Tudors! We can't get enough of them, writes Margaret Atwood, admitting to a weakness for the Tudors, and Hilary Mantel's Booker-winning Wolf Hall. Now comes Bring Up the Bodies, which picks up the body parts where Wolf Hall left off.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-review
Two fragile, handwritten draft pages of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, discovered about two months ago, have been put on public display in Paris ahead of their sale at a forthcoming auction.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/03/little-prince-pages-found-auction.html
Lamenting the state of the book review has been the literary world's favourite pastime ever since Edgar Allan Poe reviewed for Graham's Magazine in the 1840s. Why do lovers of literature take such joy in criticizing the critics?
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/book-reviews-a-tortured-history/256301/
The Atlantic has published an article about the "tortured history" of book reviews, agreeing that some of the problems come from the murky provenance of reviewers themselves, with authors vs. critics feuds, and face-slaps, spitting contests, and pie fights.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/the-greatest-author-vs-critic-feuds-of-all-time/256531/
Tehran's international book fair, held annually in May, attracts half a million visitors per day and more than 2,000 publishing houses. Titles include Farsi translations of works by JG Ballard, Dostoevsky and Haruki Murakami.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/02/tehran-international-book-fair-crackdown
The Guardian's Alison Flood reports that twenty of the 53 winners of Australia's Miles Franklin award are no longer in print. "The nation's literary heritage is gathering dust," declares the Age. "The shabby treatment of these Australian treasures must end."
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/a-loss-for-words-winning-books-hit-the-dust-20120428-1xs13.html#ixzz1tVatn1WR
Egyptian authors and others are calling on their government to issue permits for them to enter Gaza and participate in the Palestine festival of literature. PalFest is a travelling festival established in 2008, and has never been successful in reaching Gaza.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/02/egyptian-writers-plea-gaza-permits-palfest
Marjorie Perloff argues, in the Boston Review, that prizes are ruining poetry.
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR37.3/marjorie_perloff_poetry_lyric_reinvention.php
Tim Bowling's The Tinsmith begins with the American Civil War and ends with the key characters' relocation to the canneries in the Fraser River area which, at that time was indeed the wild west, writes Steven Brown.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Civil+comes+Fraser+Valley+thanks+Bowling/6567038/story.html
Amazon isn't destroying publishing, it's reshaping it. Google, Apple and Amazon are vying to become literature's new gatekeepers but good publishing is about more than market share, writes Nick Harkaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/amazon-publishing-destroying?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
It has always seemed appropriate that John Irving is the only great contemporary novelist to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, writes Tim Adams. In In One Person, an aspiring novelist comes out fighting as he comes to terms with his sexuality.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/john-irving-one-person-review
How many people have a chance to change something major in their lives without having to suffer the consequences? is the question asked of Emma Tupper in Catherine McKenzie's Forgotten—a clever, satisfying diversion of a book, writes Athena McKenzie.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/forgotten-by-catherine-mckenzie/article2419057/
Simon Mawer's The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is a thrilling tale of a beautiful spy parachuted into occupied France. Mawer writes about fear and about bravery better than any contemporary novelist I know, says Rachel Cooke.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/simon-mawer-girl-fell-sky-review
The story within Terry Tempest Williams's When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice involves a dying woman who bequeaths to her daughter all her journals. When the daughter looks at the journals, she finds that every one is blank.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/when-women-were-birds-fifty-four-variations-on-voice-by-terry-tempest-williams/article2420523/
Alison Bechdel's new graphic memoir, Are You My Mother?, which focuses on her sometimes-tense relationship with her mother, isn't so much a sequel to Fun Home as a logical outgrowth of the earlier book, writes Jeet Heer.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/alison-bechdel-tightens-the-family-circle/article2422567/
Noah Richler raises important questions in What We Talk About When We Talk About War, writes Paul Gessell. Gessell quotes historian Margaret MacMillan: "this is a fine polemic about important issues. You don't have to agree with everything Richler says but you must take him seriously."
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Noah+Richler+raises+some+important+questions+book+What+Talk+About/6566417/story.html
Many forebears of American literature mostly lived in Concord, Mass., writes Carolyn See. And April Bernard is the latest to be beguiled by them. In the novel, Miss Fuller, Bernard captures them in all their quirky, inspiring and difficult ways.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-world-miss-fuller-by-april-bernard/2012/05/04/gIQAf2O61T_story.html
Though mostly known for Around the World in 80 Days and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne turned out almost as many other potboilers The Blockade Runners, an American civil war adventure, is one such, says Philip Womack.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/06/blockade-runners-jules-verne-review
Mark Haddon, the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time takes us on a family holiday to Wales. And nothing much happens, in a thoroughly delicious way, writes Kate Kellaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/06/mark-haddon-red-house-review
Guy Delisle can find humour in even the most complicated places. Jonathan Kuehlein interviews Delisle about his book Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City, as he tiptoes back and forth from the light to the heavy side of one of the most complex cities on the planet.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1174371--guy-delisle-interview
What makes us distinctively Canadian is our long constitutional connection to the British Crown, writes John Fraser in The Secret of the Crown. When it comes to what he perceives as lèse-majesté, Fraser forgets nothing and forgives nothing.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-secret-of-the-crown-by-john-fraser/article2425472/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Hear the stories and experiences of your community, from the historical to the hilarious. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free. Denman Cinemas, 1779 Comox. More information at www.vancouver.ca/westendplan/.
EAT & GREET
Celebrate the launch of a new cookbook that explores the sights, sounds, and food to be found at Vancouver's public markets. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free. Blue Parrot Organic Coffee House, 1689 Johnston Street, Granville Island. More information at www.arsenalpulp.com.
DANIEL KALLA
Meet bestselling medical thriller author with his novel, The Far Side of the Sky: a novel of love and death in Shanghai. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free but register at 604-598-7426. Meeting room 120, City Centre Library, 10350 University Drive. More information at www.surreylibraries.ca.
TWS READING SERIES
Another great evening of poetry and story telling is planned featuring guest author is Claudia Cornwall, author of At the World's Edge: Curt Lang's Vancouver, 1937-1998. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm. Take 5 Cafe, 429 Granville St. at West Hastings.
BC BOOK PRIZES: POETRY FINALISTS READING
Finalists for the 2012 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize read from their nominated work. The evening will be hosted by Evelyn Lau, Vancouver's Poet Laureate. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St.
STORYTELLING NIGHT
Come hear the stories and experiences of your community, as recounted by local storytellers. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm. WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac. More information at www.vancouver.ca/grandviewplan/.
PAMELA PORTER AND BERYL YOUNG
Book launch of award-winning Pamela Porter's new collection of poetry, No Ordinary Place. She is joined by Beryl Young who will be reading from
Charlie: A Home Child's Life in Canada. Sunday, May 13 at 2:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). More information at www.ronsdalepress.com.
DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Featuring readings by Lilija Valis, Kate Braid, Chris Gilpin, George McWhirter and Evelyn Lau. Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm. Entry by donation. Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street, Vancouver. Details and registration here, www.deadpoetslive.com.
BOHEMIAN CARESS
A new multidisciplinary performance series of poets, spoken-word performers joined by a band improvising with their work, and a live painter putting the energy onto canvas. Sunday, May 13 at 7:30pm. Montmartre Cafe, 4362 Main Street.
ISHA JUDD
Reading by the author of Love Has Wings. Monday, May 14 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
LUNCH POEMS @SFU
Lunchtime readings every month featuring well-known and up-and-coming poets. May 16 features Sandy Shreve and guest poet Rob Taylor. Presented by Simon Fraser University. Wednesday, May 16, 12-1pm, SFU Harbour Centre's Teck Gallery (515 W Hastings St.). Free admission, no registration required. Information at: www.facebook.com/LunchPoemsAtSFU.
DAVID RUSSELL
Reading by the author of Deadly Lessons, his first novel that was nominated for the Crime Writers of Canada award. Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
YOUTH INSPIRE ETHIOPIA BOOK LAUNCH
Launch of the youth organization's book that explores Ethiopian communities through the eyes of Ethiopian youth. Proceeds from the book go back to the involved centers or schools to support youth community and leadership programs. Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm, free. Robert Lee YMCA, 955 Burrard. More information at humanities_healing@hotmail.com.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche', Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
Upcoming
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Phil Hall (Killdeer) and Aaron Bushkowsky (Curtains for Roy). Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
This week is the third in a series of 25 audio archives from past Festival events. Wild West, from 2011 features Marina Endicott, Pauline Holdstock, Guy Vanderhaeghe, and Rudy Wiebe. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
At the next Incite on Tuesday, May 15, former CBC executive Richard Stursberg will be interviewed on stage by Marsha Lederman about his new memoir, Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets and Successes Inside the CBC. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incitemay15.
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford comes to Vancouver on May 28 with his latest novel, Canada. A visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
Veteran novelist but first-time SF author Jane Rogers has won this year's Arthur C. Clarke award for The Testament of Jessie Lamb, describing a world crippled by biological terrorism.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/03/jane-rogers-arthur-c-clarke-2012?newsfeed=true
Julie Otsuka has won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for The Buddha in the Attic, her slim prose poem about Japanese picture brides coming to America after World War I.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/julie-otsuka-wins-penfaulkner-prize-for-the-buddha-in-the-attic/2012/05/06/gIQAJT0h5T_blog.html
Vancouver writer Jen Neale has been named winner of the $5,000 Writers' Trust Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers for her short-story Elk-Headed Man.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1172121--vancouver-s-jen-neale-takes-bronwen-wallace-prize-for-emerging-writers
The Doug Wright Awards for Canadian cartooning were celebrated last weekend, with honours to: Kate Beaton for Hark! A Vagrant; Ethan Rilly, for Pope Hats #2; and The Pigskin Peters Award to Toronto's Michael Comeau for Hellberta. Montreal-based veteran political cartoonist Terry Mosher, widely known by the pen name Aislin, was inducted to the Giants of the North - Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/06/comic-doug-wright-winners.html
YOUNG READERS
In celebration of the TD Canadian Children's Book Week May 5 through 12, here are some additional reviews of children's books.
Read the whole of Michael Morpurgo's short story, Letter for Carlos, about a soldier writing home to his young son. Morpurgo explains that the letter for Carlos is told from the point of view of an Argentinian soldier during the Falklands war. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/02/michael-morpurgo-letter-for-carlos
Alan Wolf's The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic is not to be confused with Hugh MacLennan's novel. It's an astounding collection of poetry (most of it free verse) that breathes new life into a story that is known far and wide, writes Bernie Goedhardt. Ages 10 to 110.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Kids+poetic+tribute+Titanic/6530558/story.html#ixzz1tx9WhW1k
What would happen if you lived on a small island with your parents and you came home to discover that they had been kidnapped? If you're Madeleine, you hire fedora-wearing bunny detectives, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny and translated from "The Rabbit" by Polly Horvath. Ages 8-12.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/book-review-mr-and-mrs-bunny--detectives-extraordinaire/2012/04/05/gIQAo2J0xS_story.html
Rachel Vail's Piggy Bunny features Liam, who was just like all the other piglets, except for one thing...Liam wanted to be the Easter Bunny. Ages 4-7.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-books-piggy-bunny-by-rachel-vail,0,215417.story
Kyo Maclear's Virginia Wolf wakes up feeling wolfish and wants to be left alone, finally crawling back into bed to hide under the covers. Her sister Vanessa takes paint brush in hand to transform their bedroom into "Bloomsberry": the perfect place of Virginia's imagination. Ages 5 to 8.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Dealing+with+dark+mood/6566234/story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
Maurice Sendak, the children's book author and illustrator who saw the sometimes-dark side of childhood in books like Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen, died early Tuesday. He was 83.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/maurice-sendak-author-of-where-the-wild-things-are-dead-at-83/article2426001/
A 2011 Globe and Mail interview with Sendak is here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-globes-interview-with-author-sendak-portrait-of-a-cranky-old-man/article2177811/
Slate includes a series of Sendak illustrations we may have forgotten about.
http://www.slate.com/slideshows/arts/maurice-sendak-illustrations-from-rosies-door-to-brundibar.html
Peter Ladner has written about face-to-face storytelling as an important component of the resurgence of Vancouver's creative class.
http://crosscut.com/2012/05/01/vancouver/8222/rise-Vancouvers-creative-class/?page=single
Neil Gaiman, the author of Coraline, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, read C.S. Lewis as a child and thought, "When I am a writer, I shall do parenthetical asides. And footnotes."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/books/review/neil-gaiman-shares-his-reading-habits.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=edit_bk_20120504
"One of the humbling things about having written more than one novel is the sense that every time you begin, that new empty page does not know who you are," John Irving says, in an interview with The Star's Greg Quill.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1172273--john-irving-interview
Bring up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall, will be published this week. Read the beginning here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/08/bring-bodies-hilary-mantel-wolf-hall
Hilary Mantel describes how she puts words in the mouths of her Tudor characters. Accept that you will never be authentic, she advises.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303459004577363870847167262.html
Oh, those Tudors! We can't get enough of them, writes Margaret Atwood, admitting to a weakness for the Tudors, and Hilary Mantel's Booker-winning Wolf Hall. Now comes Bring Up the Bodies, which picks up the body parts where Wolf Hall left off.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-review
Two fragile, handwritten draft pages of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, discovered about two months ago, have been put on public display in Paris ahead of their sale at a forthcoming auction.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/03/little-prince-pages-found-auction.html
Lamenting the state of the book review has been the literary world's favourite pastime ever since Edgar Allan Poe reviewed for Graham's Magazine in the 1840s. Why do lovers of literature take such joy in criticizing the critics?
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/book-reviews-a-tortured-history/256301/
The Atlantic has published an article about the "tortured history" of book reviews, agreeing that some of the problems come from the murky provenance of reviewers themselves, with authors vs. critics feuds, and face-slaps, spitting contests, and pie fights.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/the-greatest-author-vs-critic-feuds-of-all-time/256531/
Tehran's international book fair, held annually in May, attracts half a million visitors per day and more than 2,000 publishing houses. Titles include Farsi translations of works by JG Ballard, Dostoevsky and Haruki Murakami.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/02/tehran-international-book-fair-crackdown
The Guardian's Alison Flood reports that twenty of the 53 winners of Australia's Miles Franklin award are no longer in print. "The nation's literary heritage is gathering dust," declares the Age. "The shabby treatment of these Australian treasures must end."
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/a-loss-for-words-winning-books-hit-the-dust-20120428-1xs13.html#ixzz1tVatn1WR
Egyptian authors and others are calling on their government to issue permits for them to enter Gaza and participate in the Palestine festival of literature. PalFest is a travelling festival established in 2008, and has never been successful in reaching Gaza.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/02/egyptian-writers-plea-gaza-permits-palfest
Marjorie Perloff argues, in the Boston Review, that prizes are ruining poetry.
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR37.3/marjorie_perloff_poetry_lyric_reinvention.php
Tim Bowling's The Tinsmith begins with the American Civil War and ends with the key characters' relocation to the canneries in the Fraser River area which, at that time was indeed the wild west, writes Steven Brown.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Civil+comes+Fraser+Valley+thanks+Bowling/6567038/story.html
Amazon isn't destroying publishing, it's reshaping it. Google, Apple and Amazon are vying to become literature's new gatekeepers but good publishing is about more than market share, writes Nick Harkaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/amazon-publishing-destroying?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
With May being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
It has always seemed appropriate that John Irving is the only great contemporary novelist to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, writes Tim Adams. In In One Person, an aspiring novelist comes out fighting as he comes to terms with his sexuality.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/john-irving-one-person-review
How many people have a chance to change something major in their lives without having to suffer the consequences? is the question asked of Emma Tupper in Catherine McKenzie's Forgotten—a clever, satisfying diversion of a book, writes Athena McKenzie.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/forgotten-by-catherine-mckenzie/article2419057/
Simon Mawer's The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is a thrilling tale of a beautiful spy parachuted into occupied France. Mawer writes about fear and about bravery better than any contemporary novelist I know, says Rachel Cooke.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/simon-mawer-girl-fell-sky-review
The story within Terry Tempest Williams's When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice involves a dying woman who bequeaths to her daughter all her journals. When the daughter looks at the journals, she finds that every one is blank.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/when-women-were-birds-fifty-four-variations-on-voice-by-terry-tempest-williams/article2420523/
Alison Bechdel's new graphic memoir, Are You My Mother?, which focuses on her sometimes-tense relationship with her mother, isn't so much a sequel to Fun Home as a logical outgrowth of the earlier book, writes Jeet Heer.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/alison-bechdel-tightens-the-family-circle/article2422567/
Noah Richler raises important questions in What We Talk About When We Talk About War, writes Paul Gessell. Gessell quotes historian Margaret MacMillan: "this is a fine polemic about important issues. You don't have to agree with everything Richler says but you must take him seriously."
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Noah+Richler+raises+some+important+questions+book+What+Talk+About/6566417/story.html
Many forebears of American literature mostly lived in Concord, Mass., writes Carolyn See. And April Bernard is the latest to be beguiled by them. In the novel, Miss Fuller, Bernard captures them in all their quirky, inspiring and difficult ways.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-world-miss-fuller-by-april-bernard/2012/05/04/gIQAf2O61T_story.html
Though mostly known for Around the World in 80 Days and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne turned out almost as many other potboilers The Blockade Runners, an American civil war adventure, is one such, says Philip Womack.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/06/blockade-runners-jules-verne-review
Mark Haddon, the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time takes us on a family holiday to Wales. And nothing much happens, in a thoroughly delicious way, writes Kate Kellaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/06/mark-haddon-red-house-review
Guy Delisle can find humour in even the most complicated places. Jonathan Kuehlein interviews Delisle about his book Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City, as he tiptoes back and forth from the light to the heavy side of one of the most complex cities on the planet.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1174371--guy-delisle-interview
What makes us distinctively Canadian is our long constitutional connection to the British Crown, writes John Fraser in The Secret of the Crown. When it comes to what he perceives as lèse-majesté, Fraser forgets nothing and forgives nothing.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-secret-of-the-crown-by-john-fraser/article2425472/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Hear the stories and experiences of your community, from the historical to the hilarious. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free. Denman Cinemas, 1779 Comox. More information at www.vancouver.ca/westendplan/.
EAT & GREET
Celebrate the launch of a new cookbook that explores the sights, sounds, and food to be found at Vancouver's public markets. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free. Blue Parrot Organic Coffee House, 1689 Johnston Street, Granville Island. More information at www.arsenalpulp.com.
DANIEL KALLA
Meet bestselling medical thriller author with his novel, The Far Side of the Sky: a novel of love and death in Shanghai. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free but register at 604-598-7426. Meeting room 120, City Centre Library, 10350 University Drive. More information at www.surreylibraries.ca.
TWS READING SERIES
Another great evening of poetry and story telling is planned featuring guest author is Claudia Cornwall, author of At the World's Edge: Curt Lang's Vancouver, 1937-1998. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm. Take 5 Cafe, 429 Granville St. at West Hastings.
BC BOOK PRIZES: POETRY FINALISTS READING
Finalists for the 2012 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize read from their nominated work. The evening will be hosted by Evelyn Lau, Vancouver's Poet Laureate. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St.
STORYTELLING NIGHT
Come hear the stories and experiences of your community, as recounted by local storytellers. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm. WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac. More information at www.vancouver.ca/grandviewplan/.
PAMELA PORTER AND BERYL YOUNG
Book launch of award-winning Pamela Porter's new collection of poetry, No Ordinary Place. She is joined by Beryl Young who will be reading from
Charlie: A Home Child's Life in Canada. Sunday, May 13 at 2:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). More information at www.ronsdalepress.com.
DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Featuring readings by Lilija Valis, Kate Braid, Chris Gilpin, George McWhirter and Evelyn Lau. Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm. Entry by donation. Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street, Vancouver. Details and registration here, www.deadpoetslive.com.
BOHEMIAN CARESS
A new multidisciplinary performance series of poets, spoken-word performers joined by a band improvising with their work, and a live painter putting the energy onto canvas. Sunday, May 13 at 7:30pm. Montmartre Cafe, 4362 Main Street.
ISHA JUDD
Reading by the author of Love Has Wings. Monday, May 14 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
LUNCH POEMS @SFU
Lunchtime readings every month featuring well-known and up-and-coming poets. May 16 features Sandy Shreve and guest poet Rob Taylor. Presented by Simon Fraser University. Wednesday, May 16, 12-1pm, SFU Harbour Centre's Teck Gallery (515 W Hastings St.). Free admission, no registration required. Information at: www.facebook.com/LunchPoemsAtSFU.
DAVID RUSSELL
Reading by the author of Deadly Lessons, his first novel that was nominated for the Crime Writers of Canada award. Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
YOUTH INSPIRE ETHIOPIA BOOK LAUNCH
Launch of the youth organization's book that explores Ethiopian communities through the eyes of Ethiopian youth. Proceeds from the book go back to the involved centers or schools to support youth community and leadership programs. Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm, free. Robert Lee YMCA, 955 Burrard. More information at humanities_healing@hotmail.com.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche', Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
Upcoming
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
SARAH LEAVITT
Sarah Leavitt discusses her graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me. Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. $20 (includes refreshments). To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Fan appreciation night and the debut of the 2012 Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team. Monday, May 28 at 8:00pm. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
AN EVENING OF ART AND POETRY
Featuring Ahava Shira, Avie Estrin, Taslim Jaffer, Daniela Elza, Bonnie Nish, Ms. Spelt and David Shewel, who will read their poetry inspired by the art exhibit, Celebrating Jerusalem. Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm. Gallery Room, Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave. More information at blnish@pandorascollective.com.
PIERRE COUPAY
Local poet and artist shares poetry, slides and discusses poetry and painting. Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm, free. Dr. G. Paul Singh Study Hall, North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver. More information at 604-998-3450.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Phil Hall (Killdeer) and Aaron Bushkowsky (Curtains for Roy). Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Book News Vol. 7 No. 15
BOOK NEWS
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
This week is the second in a series of 25 audio archives from past Festival events. School Days, from 2011 features Elizabeth Hay, Alexander Maksik, and Suzette Mayr. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
At the next Incite on May 9, CBC personality Linden MacIntyre takes to the stage with Vincent Lam, the award-winning author of Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures. Both Scotiabank Giller Prize-winners will be reading from their latest books, Why Men Lie and The Headmaster's Wager. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite-may9. Also appearing at Incite in the next few weeks are Richard Stursberg, Marsha Lederman, Noah Richler, and Trevor and Debbie Green.
Vincent Lam's transfixing new novel, The Headmaster's Wager, is a story of many twists and turns, full of people who aren't what they appear to be.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1168563--vincent-lam-s-new-book-takes-us-on-a-tour-of-asia-that-is-blood-curdling
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford comes to Vancouver on May 28 with his latest novel, Canada. A visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
In addition to the J.W. Dafoe Book Prize, Richard J. Gwyn has won the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing for his Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times. Four other Cohen prize finalists received $2,500 each from the Writers' Trust.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/richard-gwyns-biography-of-john-a-macdonald-wins-cohen-prize/article2413996/
Patrick deWitt's offbeat Western tale The Sisters Brothers has won the 2012 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The Sisters Brothers won both the Writers Trust Prize for fiction and the Governor General's Literary Award in 2011.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/26/leacock-medal-dewitt.html
The 14th annual $50,000 Donner Prize, for the best public policy book by a Canadian, has been awarded to Democratizing the Constitution: Reforming Responsible Government by Peter Aucoin, Mark D. Jarvis and Lori Turnbull.
http://www.donnerbookprize.com/s/press/index.html
Judges for the Caine prize, referred to as the 'African Booker', waded through 'a lot of uninspired prose' to short list five stories that 'enlarge our concept of Africa' and offer an alternative view of the continent.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/01/african-booker-caine-prize-shortlist
Toni Morrison is one of 13 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In honoring Ms. Morrison, the White House revisited her Nobel citation, which called her an author "who gives life to an essential aspect of American reality."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/26/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients
David Bezmozgis is the winner of this year's First Novel Award from Amazon.ca for his multigenerational book The Free World, about three generations of Russian Jews who seek new lives in the West. Amazon's First Novel Award recognizes outstanding achievement by first-time Canadian novelists.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/27/bezmozgis-amazon-first-novel-award.html
Winners of the 2012 Manitoba Book Awards were announced last weekend, including Esmé Claire Keith, Jennifer Still and J.R. Léveillé (the only author to take away two awards).
http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/books/2012/04/28/manitoba-book-of-the-year-awards/
YOUNG READERS
Caddy's World by Hilary McKay appears to be the last in the Casson Family series, but really it is the first one. "This is an enjoyable read with an exciting plot", writes The Snork Maiden. Ages 8 to 12.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/apr/27/caddys-world-hilary-mckay-review
James Dawson, author of the supernatural thriller Hollow Pike, is the first man shortlisted for a prize (Queen of Teen) which celebrates the 'feistiest, frothiest and most fantastic' writers in teen fiction. The 10 nominated authors for this year's prize were voted for by thousands of teenagers. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/james-dawson-queen-of-teen
Dawson's top 10 favourite school survival stories can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/02/james-dawson-top-10
Marie-Louise Gay and David Homel drew inspiration from trips they'd made with their two young sons (now grown) to create Travels With My Family, and its sequel, On the Road Again: More Travels With My Family. Summer in the City, third in the series, sees Charlie (the narrator) in Grade 6 and approaching a summer stay-cation. Ages 7 to 10.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Montreal+summer/6486418/story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
Ian Rankin received a series of elaborate drawings etched into the pages of old parchment on his 51st birthday Saturday, the latest in a series of unexplained sculptures to appear across the libraries and cultural locations in Edinburgh.
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/whodunnit-rankin-in-the-dark-over-drawings-1-2263824
Robert McCrum has identified the ten best first lines in fiction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2012/apr/29/ten-best-first-lines-fiction
Six major British science fiction authors are calling for closer collaboration between the arts and the sciences, hoping for a body that will match scientists with creative projects needing advice. Credible science fiction needs arts and sciences collaboration, say the authors.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/24/science-fiction-arts-collaboration
"I'm content to regard the internet as the best and brightest machine ever made by man, but nonetheless a machine with a tin ear and a wooden tongue. The more data we collect, the less likely we are to know what it means," writes Lewis Lapham.
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2012/04/lewis-lapham-internet-language
Oxford University academics have identified Thomas Middleton as the most likely co-author with William Shakespeare's of All's Well That Ends Well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17828729
Tor, the world's biggest science fiction publisher has shaken publishing with the news that its entire list of ebooks is to be made digital rights management-free. DRM is the way publishers currently protect their ebooks from piracy; it limits the sharing of titles between electronic devices.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/tor-rips-rulebook-digital-rights-management
The New Yorker addresses the problem or, some would say, the curse of the diaeresis.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/04/the-curse-of-the-diaeresis.html
Carol Ann Duffy has invited leading poets to recall the 60 years of the Queen's reign, each recalling a year in verse. Participating poets includie Wendy Cope, Andrew Motion, Tishani Doshi and Carol Ann. Their poems are here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/sixty-years-in-poems
In an interview with Laura Miller, Margaret Atwood discusses Jennifer Balchwal's documentary Payback, a dramatisation of Atwood's book of essays, Payback, Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth.
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/26/margaret_atwood_talks_revenge/
Thinking about a life in writing, Jackie Kay says: 'I think the short story suits people who feel displaced or misplaced or who don't fit in, people who feel their very bones are lonely'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/life-writing-jackie-kay
Can we ever know Susan Sontag? Her son David Reiff has edited her journals and notebooks, which will become three volumes of her work, beginning with her teenage years.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/04/can-we-ever-know-sontag.html
A profile of Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins quotes Collins' saying "I don't write about adolescents. I write about war for adolescents."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/suzanne-collins-hunger-games-profile
Amazon aren't destroying publishing, they're reshaping it. Google, Apple and Amazon are vying to become literature's new gatekeepers but good publishing is about more than market share, writes Nick Harkaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/amazon-publishing-destroying?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
With May's being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
Ivan E. Coyote's One in Every Crowd: Stories is her first collection for queer youth. Stories tells tales of ‘those who are boys with girls inside and girls with boys inside', how we're different and how we're the same, says Mary Ann Moore.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Ivan+Coyote+defence+lesbian+transgender+teens/6530277/story.html
Stephen Finucan writes that Etgar Keret's short story collection Suddenly, A Knock at the Door is like reading thirty-five brilliant explosions. One of the hallmarks of Keret's short stories is their shortness. Another is that they express a universality of experience.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1164527--suddenly-a-knock-on-the-door-by-etgar-keret-review
Dial M for Murdoch by Tom Watson and Martin Hickman is a tale of stupidity, fear, lying, and corruption in high places. A quote from Carl Bernstein pinpoints the parallels with Watergate's bugging the White House office and News International's own chief executive officer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/25/dial-m-for-murdoch-review
Cynthia Ozick reveals the highs and lows of writing Foreign Bodies, which has been shortlisted for the Orange prize 2012.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/24/cynthia-ozick-foreign-bodies
As Octavio Paz sees it, the fragment is the form that best reflects the ever-changing realities of our modern lives. And M.A.C. Farrant's The Strange Truth About Us: A Novel of Absence is a full-bodied incarnation of the fragment as literary form, writes Diane Schoemperlen.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-strange-truth-about-us-by-mac-farrant/article2415847/
Radio Belly, Buffy Cram's book of short stories, is full of kooky tales that reel a reader in and don't let go. Cram tackles issues, but combines them with magical thinking. The resulting stories are simultaneously far out, and very real.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Buffy+Cram+quirky+past+influences+characters/6530273/story.html
Elaine Showalter welcomes a new slice of life from Anne Tyler in The Beginner's Goodbye. "Anything is manageable if it's divided into small enough increments, was the theory; even life's most complicated lessons."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/20/beginners-goodbye-anne-tyler-review
Adria Vasil's Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth-Friendly Guide to Living Healthy and Looking Good, is part Consumer Reports, part political manifesto when it comes to enviro-friendly body products, writes Gideon Forman. The book identifies brands deemed safer for people and the planet.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/ecoholic-body-by-adria-vasil/article2417923/
In his new essay collection Farther Away, Jonathan Franzen reflects with betrayal, anger and sorrow on the suicide of his best friend David Foster Wallace.
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/29/farther_away_franzen_on_wallac/singleton/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
TWO WOMEN POETS
Showcase of work by Diana Hayes (This is the Moon's Work) and Daniela Elza (The Weight of Dew). Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3716.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Stephanie Bolster (A Page from the Wonders of Life on Earth) and Theresa Kishkan (Mnemonic: A Book of Trees). Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
RICK RIORDAN
Author presents his latest book, The Serpent's Shadow. Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $25 (includes book). Hellenic Centre, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver. For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit www.kidsbooks.ca.
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. May 4-31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
VANCOUVER ISLAND CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
Meet Canadian children's authors and illustrators for a fun-filled and entertaining day with writers such as Michael Kusugak, Julie Flett and Paul Yee. Saturday, May 5, 2012 in Nanaimo, BC. Cost: $10 per child or $25 per family; ticket sales start March 26. Details here: www.bookfest.ca.
OUR FRIEND JOE: THE JOE FORTES STORY
Book launch of the new biography of Vancouver legend Joe Fortes with Lisa Anne Smith. Saturday, May 5 at 1:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). For more information, visit www.ronsdalepress.com.
TRENTON LEE STEWART
Author of the popular Mysterious Benedict Society series presents his newest book in the series, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. Saturday, May 5 at 2:00pm. Tickets: $21 (includes book). West Point Grey United Church Sanctuary, 4595 8th Ave. W. Details and ticket purchase here, www.kidsbooks.ca.
FRANCES WELWOOD
Reading by the author of Passing Through Missing Pages, a chronicle of the life of Annie Foster Hanley. Monday, May 7 at 7:00pm, free but registration required. White Rock library, 15342 Buena Vista, White Rock. More information at 604-541-2201.
A ROOM IN THE CITY
Reading by the documentary photographer and writer Gabor Gasztonyi from his new book. Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00pm, free but please register by phoning 604-937-4155. Board room, Poirier branch, Coquitlam Public Library, 575 Poirier Street.
C.E. GATCHALIAN
Reading by the author of Falling in Time. Thursday, May 10 at 2:00pm, free. Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Point Grey Campus, 1961 East Mall. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
DANIEL KALLA
Meet bestselling medical thriller author with his novel, The Far Side of the Sky: a novel of love and death in Shanghai. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free but register at 604-598-7426. Meeting room 120, City Centre Library, 10350 University Drive. More information at www.surreylibraries.ca.
BC BOOK PRIZES: POETRY FINALISTS READING
Finalists for the 2012 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize read from their nominated work. The evening will be hosted by Evelyn Lau, Vancouver's Poet Laureate. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St.
PAMELA PORTER
Book launch of award-winning Pamela Porter’s new collection of poetry, No Ordinary Place. Sunday, May 13 at 2:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). More information at www.ronsdalepress.com.
DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Featuring readings by Lilija Valis, Kate Braid, Chris Gilpin, George McWhirter and Evelyn Lau. Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm. Entry by donation. Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street, Vancouver. Details and registration here, www.deadpoetslive.com.
ISHA JUDD
Reading by the author of Love Has Wings. Monday, May 14 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
Upcoming
DAVID RUSSELL
Reading by the author of Deadly Lessons, his first novel that was nominated for the Crime Writers of Canada award. Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche', Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
Mother's Day
Give the gift of great writing and ideas! Purchase an annual membership for your mom for just $35 and she'll receive discounts on books and Festival events, and a personal invitation to attend our Members' Reception. We'll also package her new membership in an attractive gift envelope! To purchase, call the office at 604-681-6330 x109.
Membership
If being a member of the VIWF didn't already have enough benefits, we've added an extra incentive! Every two weeks new and renewing members will have a chance to win a book by a Festival or Incite author, or tickets to our special event with Richard Ford on May 28. At the end of August we'll have a grand prize draw for a deluxe pack of Festival tickets - two tickets to any event of your choice for each day of the Festival! This week's winner Dave Reid, received a signed copy of Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. On May 2 we will draw the winner of Linden MacIntyre's latest novel, Why Men Lie. Sign up now here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/secure/secure_membership.php.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
This week is the second in a series of 25 audio archives from past Festival events. School Days, from 2011 features Elizabeth Hay, Alexander Maksik, and Suzette Mayr. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/multimedia/audio-archives.
UPCOMING VIWF EVENTS
Incite
At the next Incite on May 9, CBC personality Linden MacIntyre takes to the stage with Vincent Lam, the award-winning author of Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures. Both Scotiabank Giller Prize-winners will be reading from their latest books, Why Men Lie and The Headmaster's Wager. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite-may9. Also appearing at Incite in the next few weeks are Richard Stursberg, Marsha Lederman, Noah Richler, and Trevor and Debbie Green.
Vincent Lam's transfixing new novel, The Headmaster's Wager, is a story of many twists and turns, full of people who aren't what they appear to be.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1168563--vincent-lam-s-new-book-takes-us-on-a-tour-of-asia-that-is-blood-curdling
Richard Ford
Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Richard Ford comes to Vancouver on May 28 with his latest novel, Canada. A visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/richardford.
A Dram Come True
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents the tenth annual single malt scotch whisky sampling. Enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/content/dram-come-true.
AWARDS & LISTS
In addition to the J.W. Dafoe Book Prize, Richard J. Gwyn has won the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing for his Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times. Four other Cohen prize finalists received $2,500 each from the Writers' Trust.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/richard-gwyns-biography-of-john-a-macdonald-wins-cohen-prize/article2413996/
Patrick deWitt's offbeat Western tale The Sisters Brothers has won the 2012 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The Sisters Brothers won both the Writers Trust Prize for fiction and the Governor General's Literary Award in 2011.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/26/leacock-medal-dewitt.html
The 14th annual $50,000 Donner Prize, for the best public policy book by a Canadian, has been awarded to Democratizing the Constitution: Reforming Responsible Government by Peter Aucoin, Mark D. Jarvis and Lori Turnbull.
http://www.donnerbookprize.com/s/press/index.html
Judges for the Caine prize, referred to as the 'African Booker', waded through 'a lot of uninspired prose' to short list five stories that 'enlarge our concept of Africa' and offer an alternative view of the continent.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/01/african-booker-caine-prize-shortlist
Toni Morrison is one of 13 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In honoring Ms. Morrison, the White House revisited her Nobel citation, which called her an author "who gives life to an essential aspect of American reality."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/26/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients
David Bezmozgis is the winner of this year's First Novel Award from Amazon.ca for his multigenerational book The Free World, about three generations of Russian Jews who seek new lives in the West. Amazon's First Novel Award recognizes outstanding achievement by first-time Canadian novelists.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/27/bezmozgis-amazon-first-novel-award.html
Winners of the 2012 Manitoba Book Awards were announced last weekend, including Esmé Claire Keith, Jennifer Still and J.R. Léveillé (the only author to take away two awards).
http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/books/2012/04/28/manitoba-book-of-the-year-awards/
YOUNG READERS
Caddy's World by Hilary McKay appears to be the last in the Casson Family series, but really it is the first one. "This is an enjoyable read with an exciting plot", writes The Snork Maiden. Ages 8 to 12.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/apr/27/caddys-world-hilary-mckay-review
James Dawson, author of the supernatural thriller Hollow Pike, is the first man shortlisted for a prize (Queen of Teen) which celebrates the 'feistiest, frothiest and most fantastic' writers in teen fiction. The 10 nominated authors for this year's prize were voted for by thousands of teenagers. Ages 13 and up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/james-dawson-queen-of-teen
Dawson's top 10 favourite school survival stories can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/02/james-dawson-top-10
Marie-Louise Gay and David Homel drew inspiration from trips they'd made with their two young sons (now grown) to create Travels With My Family, and its sequel, On the Road Again: More Travels With My Family. Summer in the City, third in the series, sees Charlie (the narrator) in Grade 6 and approaching a summer stay-cation. Ages 7 to 10.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Kids+Montreal+summer/6486418/story.html
NEWS & FEATURES
Ian Rankin received a series of elaborate drawings etched into the pages of old parchment on his 51st birthday Saturday, the latest in a series of unexplained sculptures to appear across the libraries and cultural locations in Edinburgh.
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/whodunnit-rankin-in-the-dark-over-drawings-1-2263824
Robert McCrum has identified the ten best first lines in fiction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2012/apr/29/ten-best-first-lines-fiction
Six major British science fiction authors are calling for closer collaboration between the arts and the sciences, hoping for a body that will match scientists with creative projects needing advice. Credible science fiction needs arts and sciences collaboration, say the authors.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/24/science-fiction-arts-collaboration
"I'm content to regard the internet as the best and brightest machine ever made by man, but nonetheless a machine with a tin ear and a wooden tongue. The more data we collect, the less likely we are to know what it means," writes Lewis Lapham.
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2012/04/lewis-lapham-internet-language
Oxford University academics have identified Thomas Middleton as the most likely co-author with William Shakespeare's of All's Well That Ends Well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17828729
Tor, the world's biggest science fiction publisher has shaken publishing with the news that its entire list of ebooks is to be made digital rights management-free. DRM is the way publishers currently protect their ebooks from piracy; it limits the sharing of titles between electronic devices.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/tor-rips-rulebook-digital-rights-management
The New Yorker addresses the problem or, some would say, the curse of the diaeresis.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/04/the-curse-of-the-diaeresis.html
Carol Ann Duffy has invited leading poets to recall the 60 years of the Queen's reign, each recalling a year in verse. Participating poets includie Wendy Cope, Andrew Motion, Tishani Doshi and Carol Ann. Their poems are here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/sixty-years-in-poems
In an interview with Laura Miller, Margaret Atwood discusses Jennifer Balchwal's documentary Payback, a dramatisation of Atwood's book of essays, Payback, Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth.
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/26/margaret_atwood_talks_revenge/
Thinking about a life in writing, Jackie Kay says: 'I think the short story suits people who feel displaced or misplaced or who don't fit in, people who feel their very bones are lonely'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/life-writing-jackie-kay
Can we ever know Susan Sontag? Her son David Reiff has edited her journals and notebooks, which will become three volumes of her work, beginning with her teenage years.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/04/can-we-ever-know-sontag.html
A profile of Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins quotes Collins' saying "I don't write about adolescents. I write about war for adolescents."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/27/suzanne-collins-hunger-games-profile
Amazon aren't destroying publishing, they're reshaping it. Google, Apple and Amazon are vying to become literature's new gatekeepers but good publishing is about more than market share, writes Nick Harkaway.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/26/amazon-publishing-destroying?CMP=EMCNEWEML1355
With May's being mystery month, Canada Writes! will publish six new short stories by some of Canada's top mystery novelists: William Deverell, Gail Bowen, Peter Robinson, Mary Jane Maffini, Therese Greenwood and Doug Moles. More information, including about Louise Penny's master class, is here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/
BOOKS & WRITERS
Ivan E. Coyote's One in Every Crowd: Stories is her first collection for queer youth. Stories tells tales of ‘those who are boys with girls inside and girls with boys inside', how we're different and how we're the same, says Mary Ann Moore.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Ivan+Coyote+defence+lesbian+transgender+teens/6530277/story.html
Stephen Finucan writes that Etgar Keret's short story collection Suddenly, A Knock at the Door is like reading thirty-five brilliant explosions. One of the hallmarks of Keret's short stories is their shortness. Another is that they express a universality of experience.
http://www.thestar.com/news/books/article/1164527--suddenly-a-knock-on-the-door-by-etgar-keret-review
Dial M for Murdoch by Tom Watson and Martin Hickman is a tale of stupidity, fear, lying, and corruption in high places. A quote from Carl Bernstein pinpoints the parallels with Watergate's bugging the White House office and News International's own chief executive officer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/25/dial-m-for-murdoch-review
Cynthia Ozick reveals the highs and lows of writing Foreign Bodies, which has been shortlisted for the Orange prize 2012.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/24/cynthia-ozick-foreign-bodies
As Octavio Paz sees it, the fragment is the form that best reflects the ever-changing realities of our modern lives. And M.A.C. Farrant's The Strange Truth About Us: A Novel of Absence is a full-bodied incarnation of the fragment as literary form, writes Diane Schoemperlen.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/the-strange-truth-about-us-by-mac-farrant/article2415847/
Radio Belly, Buffy Cram's book of short stories, is full of kooky tales that reel a reader in and don't let go. Cram tackles issues, but combines them with magical thinking. The resulting stories are simultaneously far out, and very real.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Buffy+Cram+quirky+past+influences+characters/6530273/story.html
Elaine Showalter welcomes a new slice of life from Anne Tyler in The Beginner's Goodbye. "Anything is manageable if it's divided into small enough increments, was the theory; even life's most complicated lessons."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/20/beginners-goodbye-anne-tyler-review
Adria Vasil's Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth-Friendly Guide to Living Healthy and Looking Good, is part Consumer Reports, part political manifesto when it comes to enviro-friendly body products, writes Gideon Forman. The book identifies brands deemed safer for people and the planet.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/ecoholic-body-by-adria-vasil/article2417923/
In his new essay collection Farther Away, Jonathan Franzen reflects with betrayal, anger and sorrow on the suicide of his best friend David Foster Wallace.
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/29/farther_away_franzen_on_wallac/singleton/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
TWO WOMEN POETS
Showcase of work by Diana Hayes (This is the Moon's Work) and Daniela Elza (The Weight of Dew). Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3716.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Stephanie Bolster (A Page from the Wonders of Life on Earth) and Theresa Kishkan (Mnemonic: A Book of Trees). Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
RICK RIORDAN
Author presents his latest book, The Serpent's Shadow. Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $25 (includes book). Hellenic Centre, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver. For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit www.kidsbooks.ca.
BOOKTOPIA
Annual festival of children's literature intended to promote literacy, celebrate language arts and cultivate creative thought in West Vancouver. May 4-31, 2012. Complete details at www.booktopia.ca.
VANCOUVER ISLAND CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
Meet Canadian children's authors and illustrators for a fun-filled and entertaining day with writers such as Michael Kusugak, Julie Flett and Paul Yee. Saturday, May 5, 2012 in Nanaimo, BC. Cost: $10 per child or $25 per family; ticket sales start March 26. Details here: www.bookfest.ca.
OUR FRIEND JOE: THE JOE FORTES STORY
Book launch of the new biography of Vancouver legend Joe Fortes with Lisa Anne Smith. Saturday, May 5 at 1:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). For more information, visit www.ronsdalepress.com.
TRENTON LEE STEWART
Author of the popular Mysterious Benedict Society series presents his newest book in the series, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. Saturday, May 5 at 2:00pm. Tickets: $21 (includes book). West Point Grey United Church Sanctuary, 4595 8th Ave. W. Details and ticket purchase here, www.kidsbooks.ca.
FRANCES WELWOOD
Reading by the author of Passing Through Missing Pages, a chronicle of the life of Annie Foster Hanley. Monday, May 7 at 7:00pm, free but registration required. White Rock library, 15342 Buena Vista, White Rock. More information at 604-541-2201.
A ROOM IN THE CITY
Reading by the documentary photographer and writer Gabor Gasztonyi from his new book. Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00pm, free but please register by phoning 604-937-4155. Board room, Poirier branch, Coquitlam Public Library, 575 Poirier Street.
C.E. GATCHALIAN
Reading by the author of Falling in Time. Thursday, May 10 at 2:00pm, free. Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Point Grey Campus, 1961 East Mall. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
DANIEL KALLA
Meet bestselling medical thriller author with his novel, The Far Side of the Sky: a novel of love and death in Shanghai. Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm, free but register at 604-598-7426. Meeting room 120, City Centre Library, 10350 University Drive. More information at www.surreylibraries.ca.
BC BOOK PRIZES: POETRY FINALISTS READING
Finalists for the 2012 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize read from their nominated work. The evening will be hosted by Evelyn Lau, Vancouver's Poet Laureate. Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St.
PAMELA PORTER
Book launch of award-winning Pamela Porter’s new collection of poetry, No Ordinary Place. Sunday, May 13 at 2:00pm, free. Refreshments provided. Old Hastings Mill Store Museum, 1575 Alma Street (at Point Grey Road). More information at www.ronsdalepress.com.
DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Featuring readings by Lilija Valis, Kate Braid, Chris Gilpin, George McWhirter and Evelyn Lau. Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm. Entry by donation. Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street, Vancouver. Details and registration here, www.deadpoetslive.com.
ISHA JUDD
Reading by the author of Love Has Wings. Monday, May 14 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
Upcoming
DAVID RUSSELL
Reading by the author of Deadly Lessons, his first novel that was nominated for the Crime Writers of Canada award. Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Catherine Owen (Catalysts) and Waubgeshig Rice (Midnight Sweatlodge). Thursday, May 17 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore/Library at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.
SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
Three days of poetry, song and storytelling featuring Carolyn Forche', Tony Hoagland and many others. May 17-20, 2012. La Conner, WA. Complete information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.
JOHN IRVING
The author will talk about his new novel In One Person on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts. Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. Ticket price of $30 includes a copy of the new novel available for pick up at the event. More information at 604.990.7810 or http://www2.capilanou.ca/news-events/nscucentre.html.
LYNNE BOWEN
Author reads from her book Whoever Gives Us Bread, that tells the stories of BC's Italian immigrants. Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
JEFF RUBIN
Canadian economist and author reads from his new book The End of Growth. Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24. Admission includes one free copy of the book. North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver. More information at www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.
DIONNE BRAND
26th annual Margaret Laurence Lecture featuring Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm. Alice MacKay room, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.writerstrust.com.
THAT SUMMER IN FRANKLIN
Linda Hutsell-Manning talks about her writing career and reads from her novel. Monday, May 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street.
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