Book News Vol. 7 No. 41

BOOK NEWS

Remembrance

A specially commissioned short story by Alistair MacLeod was published by the Vancouver Writers Fest in honour of its 25th anniversary.

This beautifully designed, limited edition chapbook is available for purchase at $25 each (incl. tax), plus postage and packing. Click here (http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/2012festival/remembrance) to order online or call 604-681-6330 x109.

AWARDS & LISTS

Andreas Schroeder's Duped! True Stories of the World's Best Swindlers, and Janet Wilson's Shannen and the Dream for a School are two nonfiction books for young readers that have been nominated for the Ontario Library Association's 2013 Silver Birch Award. Awards will be presented in early 2013.
http://www.accessola.org/OLAWEB/Forest_of_Reading/Awards_Nominees/Silver_Birch_Non_Fiction_Nominees.aspx

Nahlah Ayed, Robert Fowler, Taras Grescoe, and Candace Savage are among the ten authors on the longlist for the B.C. National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction. The finalists for the award will be announced Dec. 4 and the winner will be revealed in Vancouver in early 2013.
http://www.vancouversun.com/mobile/entertainment/books/National+Award+Canadian+Fiction+long+list+announced/7506101/story.html

Tamas Dobozy’s Siege 13, a collection of linked short stories about the Second World War siege of Budapest, has won the $25,000 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. The $20,000 Matt Cohen Award was awarded to Jean Little in celebration of a writing life; the $20,000 Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature went to Paul Yee; Nino Ricci was awarded the $25,000 Writers’ Trust Engel/Findley Award for a writer in mid-career. The $10,000 Journey Prize for a short story was awarded to Alex Pugsley for Crisis on Earth X.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/11/07/writers-trust-fiction.html

YOUNG READERS

Young readers are invited to sample a special extra chapter from The Wolf Princess, Cathryn Constable's modern fairytale adventure about a girl who, getting lost on a trip to Russia, discovers she's not who she thought she was.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/interactive/2012/oct/29/wolf-cub-cathryn-constable-extract

Horselover3000 says of Jacqueline Wilson's Emerald Star, the third in the Hetty Feather trilogy: "It made me laugh, it made me think. A sad story with a very happy ending. Just read the book!"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/oct/30/review-emerald-star-jacqueline-wilson

There are always people willing to believe the unbelievable. Andreas Schroeder's Duped! includes eight true stories of forgery, identity fraud, how American citizens became convinced that Martians were invading the country; and an elaborate scam that fooled the world's media and top scientists for nearly a decade. Ages 9 to 11.
http://www.parentscanada.com/family-life/book-review-duped-true-stories-of-the-worlds-best-swindlers

NEWS & FEATURES

A first edition of Anne of Green Gables sold at auction in New York Monday for $10,000 US. The auction house says the winning bid for the 1908 edition of the L.M. Montgomery classic was placed by "a purchaser on the US West Coast." http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/11/06/pei-anne-first-edition-auction-584.html

Alexander Nazaryan insists that writers should learn math. "Writers that have ventured into math—Lewis Carroll, Thomas Pynchon, David Foster Wallace—have all been among our most inventive in both the sentences they construct and the stories they create, writes Nazaryan.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/11/writers-should-learn-math.html#ixzz2BIt01gZt

Grant Snyder's sketchbook offers such Literary Consolation prizes as The Thick Book Award, First Novel Encouragement Stickers, The Self-proclaimed Genius Grant, The Lovecraft Prize for Zombie Fiction, and more.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/02/books/review/04snider.html?nl=books&emc=edit_bk_20121102

Yachts and Things, a small piece of Truman Capote's unfinished novel Answered Prayers was found among Capote's papers in the Manuscripts and Archives Division of the New York Public Library, and is published in the December issue of Vanity Fair; available online in mid-November.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/new-piece-added-to-puzzle-of-truman-capotes-answered-prayers/

Ian Rankin's wife has confirmed that at times, novelists are more interested in their creations than the people living with them, writes Philip Hensher. For almost every novelist, the relationship between them and their creation is, temporarily, more important than the relationship with real people.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/authorinterviews/9648526/Writers-who-leave-their-wives-lost-for-words.html

The secret of Penguin's enduring paperback covers is all in the rigorous geometry, a wise choice of illustrators–and that wonky hand-drawn bird, writes Oliver Wainwright. Browse a gallery of classic Penguin covers here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/oct/30/penguin-book-covers-in-pictures

Pundits predict the axe will fall on Penguin Classics and Modern Classics lists, since they are available as free ebooks, writes Arminta Wallace. There's little romance in a free ebook, the digital equivalent of dusty and unloved. The originals, on the other hand, are dusty, tatty – and much loved, says Wallace.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/1102/1224326028433.html

Colonial Hong Kong, a doomed love affair and the echoes of revolution in China were the explosive mixture that made the reputation of the author Han Suyin, who has died aged 95. Her 1952 book A Many-Splendoured Thing shocked Hong Kong. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/04/han-suyin

Fresh from launching legal action against Sony, the estate of William Faulkner is now suing over the use of the author's quote "we must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it" in a full-page ad from defence contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/02/william-faulkner-estate-sues-defence-contractor

Canada and Australia have both launched women-only literary prizes. Australia's Stella prize is named after Stella Miles Franklin, whose bequest founded the country's Miles Franklin award. The Rosalind prize follows the discontinuation, in 2008, of Canada's Marian Engel award for female writers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/nov/02/canada-australia-women-literary-prizes

The Geist Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest, the writing contest whose name is almost as long as the entries, is back! The 9th annual contest is now underway. More details here:
http://www.geist.com/articles/postcard-contest

BOOKS & WRITERS

Alice Munro is acclaimed as one of the finest short-story writers in the world. The Eye is an exclusive short story from Dear Life, her new collection. It's available here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/02/the-eye-alice-munro-short-story

Peter Mountford discovered that his book, A Young Man's Guide to Late Capitalism had a Russian pirate translator. Then he realized that no Russian publisher had acquired the rights. Mountford's debut novel, A Young Man's Guide to Late Capitalism, won the 2012 Washington State Book Award.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/11/steal-my-book/309105/

Ian Rankin's favourite cop, DI John Rebus, is back. In line with actual police procedure, retired in 2006 after 18 cases, Rebus has returned to work as a civilian consultant on cold case inquiries, in Standing in Another Man's Grave.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/01/standing-mans-grave-ian-rankin-review

Carol Ann Duffy was given a copy of Sylvia Plath's Collected Poems for her 25th birthday. Editing a new selection, she has experienced afresh the electrifying excitement she felt on that first encounter.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/02/sylvia-plath-poems-chosen-carol-ann-duffy

Thomas Keneally and Sarah Wise tell hospital stories in the Guardian Books podcast: Thomas Keneally, on how he found a novel in a stash of nurses' journals, Sarah Wise on the ghosts of Victorian mental health and Brooke Magnanti on the Wellcome prize for medicine in literature.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2012/nov/02/hospital-keneally-wise-magnanti-podcast

In Flight Behaviour, Barbara Kingsolver sets her story on a sheep farm in the depressed Bible Belt, recruiting traditional images of Heaven, Hell and sacrificial lambs to convey the impact of climate change on a community. The tale is urgent and masterly, writes Liz Jensen.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/02/flight-behaviour-barbara-kingsolver-review

A 1984 plane crash connected four very different lives: Larry Shaben, an Alberta cabinet minister, an RCMP officer, an unshackled prisoner (who saved men's lives), and the pilot. Carol Shaben, daughter of Larry, has written a gripping account in Into the Abyss, writes Tracy Sherlock.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Vancouver+author+Carol+Shaben+tackles+father+tale/7491042/story.html

Literary satire is something of an outlier in CanLit, which makes Sussex Drive, the most recent book by award-winner Linda Svendsen—a witty send-up of Stephen Harper's ruthless rise to power. A welcome pleasure, writes Deborah Campbell. An excerpt—chapter 6—is here:
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2012/10/03/Sussex-Drive-Coup/

Carol Rumens's Poem of the Week is The Year of the Tree by Katherine Gallagher. Nature and mythology combine in this playful account of lugging an oak tree through the London Underground. The poem can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/05/poem-of-the-week-katherine-gallagher

P.K. Page pushed boundaries, influencing young writers, pianists and filmmakers like Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Eve and Atom Egoyan, Marilyn Bowering and Patricia Young. Sandra Djwa's Journey With No Maps is the story of P.K. Page and her impact on the people around her.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Canadian+poet+Page+pioneer+generation/7490096/story.html

COMMUNITY EVENTS

VANCOUVER BOOK CLUB
Discussion with Billie Livingston about her recent novel One Good Hustle, one of the 10 finalists for the B.C./Yukon Canada Reads 2013 selection. Thursday, November 8 at 7:00pm, free. the Prophouse Cafe, 1636 Venables. More information at 604-733-5665.

KATE BRAID
BC poet and author launches her new memoir Journeywoman: Swinging a Hammer in a Man's World. Friday, November 9 at 7:00pm. Canadian Memorial Centre for Peace, 1825 16th Ave. W., Vancouver. More information at 604-885-9194.

2012 ALCUIN BOOK AUCTION
The Alcuin Society will hold an auction of new books submitted to the Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada in March, 2012, as well as books which won awards in 2011. Saturday, November 10 at 11:00am. Cost: $18 and includes a light lunch. University Golf Club, 5185 University Blvd., Vancouver. For reservations, email awards@alcuinsociety.com.

DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Readings of works by Robin Blaser, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Hayden, Glyn Hughes and Roy Kiyooka. Sunday, November 11 at 3:00pm. Admission by donation. Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street. More information at deadpoetslive.com.

JEEGAREH MA
Author Rahela Nayebzadah reads from her new book. Tuesday, November 13 at 6:30pm, free. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway, Burnaby. More information at www.bpl.bc.ca.

GARRY THOMAS MORSE
Writer Garry Thomas Morse reads from his new book of fiction Minor Episodes/Major Ruckus, concerning surrealist and speculative genres. Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at www.vpl.ca.

CARRIE MAC
Reading by the award-winning author of teen novels ‘The Opposite of Tidy', 'The Beckoners', 'The Gryphon Project', the Triskelia trilogy, and others. Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00pm, free. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert St. More information at 604-297-4803.

Upcoming

JACQUELINE PEARCE
Meet the author of The Truth About Rats (and Dogs), Dog House Blues, The Reunion and The Trickster. Monday, November 19 at 1:30pm. Newton Library, SPL, 13795 70 Ave., Surrey. More information at 604-598-7408.

PLAY CHTHONICS
Readings by Garry Thomas Morse and Brad Cran. Wednesday, November 21 at 5:00pm. Piano lounge, Green College, UBC.

ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Dani Couture (Algoma) and Julie Wilson (Seen Reading). Thursday, November 22 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore at Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Plaza level. More information at www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca.

MARGARET ATWOOD: WRITING THE FUTURE
The Canadian author explores whether or not one can write about the future, why prophecy is dodgy, and the meaning of the zombie apocalypse. Thursday, November 22 at 8:00pm. Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Road. More information at www.terry.ubc.ca.

JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL
28th annual Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival. Featuring Maya Arad, Stan Coren, Deborah Hodge, Sayed Kashua and many other. November 24-29, 2012. For complete details, visit jccgv.ca.

A READING
Authors John Francis Hughes and George Bowering read from their recent non-fiction collections Nobody Rides for Free: a Drifter in the Americas and The Diamond Alphabet: Baseball in Shorts. Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00pm, free. Meeting room, level 3, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at www.vpl.ca.

CARMEN AGUIRRE
Reading by the author of Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter. Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00pm. North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th Street W., North Vancouver.