Book News Vol. 8 No. 47

BOOK NEWS

INCITE

The Incite reading series starts January 29 with an evening of non-fiction: Charles Montgomery (Happy City), and Arno Kopecky (The Oil Man and the Sea). Details on these and other upcoming Incite events here, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Olivia Chow
MP Olivia Chow lays bare her life's most painful moments and talks about life after Jack Layton in her candid new memoir, My Journey. Join us for an evening with one of Canada's most compelling political forces. Ms. Chow will be interviewed by Kathryn Gretsinger. Click here for event details and to find out more about our special offer for bookclubs: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/oliviachow.

Roddy Doyle
CBC and the Vancouver Writers Fest are excited to present Roddy Doyle on Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30pm. The Booker Prize winner's latest novel revisits the characters from his contemporary classic The Commitments, with the same raunchy humour and provocative social commentary. Come join in the conversation with North by Northwest's Sheryl MacKay. Doors open at 5:30pm, taping starts promptly at 6:30, at the CBC Broadcast Centre, 700 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. No reserved seating-first come, first seated. Information at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/roddydoyle.

FEATURED EVENT

Chor Leoni Men's Choir has graced the stage at the Vancouver Writers Fest on two occasions, most recently with author Jack Hodgins. Hodgins and Chor Leoni team up once again to present Cadillac Cathedral, featuring a rollicking original story read by Jack, accompanied by new and favourite works by the renowned pride of singing lions. Jan 31 (Vancouver), Feb 1 (Victoria), Feb 2(Nanaimo). Info at http://bit.ly/CLcadillac.

AWARDS & LISTS

The shortlist for the $25,000 Taylor Prize has been announced. Writers Fest author J.B. McKinnon made the cut for his book The Once and Future World: Nature As It Was, As It Is, As It Could Be. The Taylor Prize, named for essayist and author Charles Taylor, celebrates Canadian non-fiction.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/five-vie-for-25000-on-taylor-short-list/article16340919/

The winners of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association's 2014 Book Awards have also been announced. The grassroots awards have helped launch the careers of many Northwest luminaries including Ursula K. Le Guin, Chuck Palahniuk and Sherman Alexie. Cortes Island local Ruth Ozeki was one of the selected few on this year's list.
http://www.pnba.org/2014BookAwards.html

YOUNG READERS

This week Harper Collins announced the winner of its Illustrate "Alligator Pie" Competition. The contest called for Canadian artists of any level or experience to submit their "visual interpretation" of the iconic poem. Sandy Nichols from Calgary, Alberta, was the winner.
http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/winner_alligator_pie_illustration_contest_signs_with_harpercollins_canada

NEWS & FEATURES

Have you been to your local neighbourhood book exchange yet? These pint-sized libraries have been popping up all over Vancouver, providing meeting spots for neighbours to share their love of books. Check out the Georgia Straight's book exchange map, here:
http://www.straight.com/blogra/570356/mapping-vancouvers-neighborhood-book-exchanges

Can men write good heroines? "If we say men can't write heroines, aren't we saying men can't understand women? And if men don't at least attempt the radical empathy of putting themselves in our shoes, and trying to understand what it is like to be a woman, then how are we ever going to get equality?"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/18/can-men-write-good-heroines

Change is afoot at the Oxford English Dictionary. "For the first time in 20 years, the venerable dictionary has a new chief editor, Michael Proffitt, who assumes the responsibility of retaining the vaunted traditions while ensuring relevance in an era of Googled definitions and text talk."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/books/oeds-new-chief-editor-speaks-of-its-future.html

A previously unknown poem by the late Al Purdy has been discovered in the wall of his A-frame cabin in Ontario. Called 'This Known Place', the poem describes crossing the prairies on a trip back home after moving to British Columbia.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/team-renovating-poet-al-purdys-cabin-find-poem-hidden-in-the-wall/article16390656/

Just over a decade ago, Shelley Jackson created a work of "living literature" by telling a story told entirely through tattoos. Now, she has a new project set out to highlight the impermanence of art: a story, weather permitting, inscribed entirely in snow.
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-shelley-jacksons-winters-tale-20140114,0,7942473.story#axzz2quNm5oSh

What do New York editors really want? Here's Ploughshares Literary Magazine's "round-down" of tips for yet-to-be-published writers.
http://blog.pshares.org/index.php/the-ploughshares-round-down-what-nyc-editors-say-theyre-looking-for/

How can social media help book sales? A Facebook appeal may have saved the Saltaire Bookshop in Shipley, England, and proved that the internet may not be the deathknell of independent retailers, after all.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/16/bookshop-facebook-appeal-takings-fall-saltaire

"It's a truth universally acknowledged that, although women read more than men, and books by female authors are published in roughly the same numbers, they are more easily overlooked." A new twitter campaign has set out to change this fact.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2014/jan/20/read-women-2014-change-sexist-reading-habits

Along with women writers, it's easy to make the case that authors of non-English-language books also face a lot of prejudice when it comes to the reading public. Xiaolu Guo and Jhumpa Lahiri both spoke on the subject at the recent Jaipur literature festival. So did Jonathan Franzen, who, despite being in the line of attack, said that he is concerned about the "homogenisation of global culture".
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/20/writers-attack-overrated-american-literature-jaipur-festival

Speaking of disappearing culture, here's an interview with Mamoun Eltlib on the vanishing reading culture of Sudan. Despite being one of the country's best-known writers, he "has been phased out of reading lists in his own country over concerns that his content is explicit. In fact, there is amnesia of a lot of writers, as Eltlib says most libraries have been shuttered and remaining bookshops barely hang on."
http://logger.believermag.com/post/73629101189/its-just-disappeared-the-whole-culture-of-reading

BOOKS & WRITERS

According to Hanif Kureishi "every 10 years you become someone else". His new novel, The Last Words, follows his own life of reinvention. "Of course, any writer has to invent a style that contains them," he remarks, "and find a new way of putting together these things about yourself that are puzzling."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/19/hanif-kureishi-interview-last-word

The best crime writers are often intricately connected to the law, from attorneys like Scott Turow to The Wire's David Simon, who worked as a police reporter for the Baltimore Sun. Alaric Hunt, on the other hand, is connected to the law in an entirely different way: he's a convicted murder.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/magazine/the-murderer-and-the-manuscript.html

For E.L. Doctorow, there are dangers to being a writer. Number one is that it affects your reading. In the words of the author of Andrew's Brain and Ragtime, "As you practice your craft, you lose your innocence as a reader."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/books/review/e-l-doctorow-by-the-book.html

Cuban writer Leonard Padura has entered the Latin American modernist canon in a very unusual way: by writing a Russian novel. The Man Who Loved Dogs tells the story of Leon Trostsky's murder, and even more specifically, the man who killed him.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/books/the-man-who-loved-dogs-centers-on-trotsky.html

For Canadian author Mary Lawson, on the other hand, it's her own home that provides her with literary inspiration. Like Padura, she now lives in another country (the U.K.), though she maintains that Northern Ontario will also remain her muse.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Northern+Ontario+acts+muse/9408944/story.html

COMMUNITY EVENTS

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features poets Mariner Janes & Raoul Fernandes plus open mic. Thursday, January 23, 7-9:30pm, at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Sign up for open mic at 7 pm. More information at www.pandorascollective.com.

ANNABEL LYON
Author discuses her novel The Sweet Girl. Thursday, January 23 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.

SEA SALT
Meet the authors of Sea Salt: Recipes from the West Coast Gallery, a sailing themed cookbook with two cooking seminars featuring Lorna Malone, Alison Malone Eathorne, and Hilary Malone. Part of the Vancouver Boat Show (January 24-26) at BC Place, 777 Pacific Blvd. For dates and times and complete information, visit www.harbourpublishing.com/event/673.

BURNS MARATHON 2014
Come help the SFU Centre for Scottish Studies make history as they set another world record for "The Longest Continual Recitation of Burns Poetry and Song." Be a part of the day by giving a recitation or come to cheer on the participants. Saturday, January 25 at 9:00am. Teck Gallery, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings. For more info: http://www.scottish.sfu.ca/sfus_robert_burns_marathon or contact Tricia Barker, tbarker@sfu.ca.

POETIC JUSTICE
Features Alan Hill, Jonina Kirton, and Garry Ward, with host Sho Wiley. Sunday, January 26 at 3:00pm. The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street, New Westminster. More information at poeticjustice.ca.

SHY: AN ANTHOLOGY
Contributors Sylvia Stopforth, Dhana Musil and Elaine Woo will read. Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00pm, free. McGill Branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street. More information and registration at 604-299-8955.

WORDSTORM READING SERIES
WordStorm will feature Daniela Elza, Mary Ann Moore and Jan De Grass on Tuesday, January 28th, 7pm, at Demeter's Coffee Vault, 499 Wallace Street, Nanaimo. More information atwordstorm.ca.

JENNIFER ZILM
Launch of the author's new chapbook The Whole and Broken Yellows. Tuesday, January 28 at 8:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver.

ANNIE PAQUETTE
Author talks about her new memoir, Left, Right, Then Center. Wednesday, January 29 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall West, West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. For more information, phone 604-925-7403.

THE ON EDGE READINGS SERIES
Features Gillian Jerome & Daniela Elza, 7pm, Thursday, January 30th, South Building Room 406, Emily Carr University, 1399 Johnston St., Granville Island. Free and open to the public.

SFU NOONHOUR READING SERIES
Poet Jeff Derksen reads from his new book The Vestiges. Thursday January 30th at 12:30pm, free. Bennett Library Special Collections/Rare Books (Room 7100), Bennett Library, SFU Burnaby. For more info, phone 778-782-6676.

BOOK LAUNCH
Marilynn Tebbit reads from her first novel, Pool Party. Friday, January 31 at 7:00pm. 6888 Royal Oak, Burnaby. More information at http://marilynntebbit.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/book-launch/.

Upcoming

POETIC JUSTICE
Features Kyle Hawke, Eileen Kernaghan, and Calvin Wharton, with host Candice James. Sunday, February 2 at 3:00pm. The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street, New Westminster. More information at poeticjustice.ca.

GRAFFITI HACK BOOK LAUNCH PARTY
Launch of Elen Ghulam's new book, Graffiti Hack: A Novel. Saturday, February 8 at 7:00pm. The Landing, 375 Water Street, Vancouver. More information at ihath.com.

WORDSTHAW
Second annual symposium featuring 38 poets, novelists, short story writers and journalists. Landsdowne Lecture will feature Vancouver poet, novelist and librettist Daphne Marlatt. February 20-22, 2014. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. More information at malahatreview.ca.

AUTHORS UNBOUND
An evening of readings of both brand new and established local authors in a variety of genres from poetry to short stories to novels. Monday, February 17 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at vpl.ca.

ALMOST CRIMINAL
Vancouver writer E.R. Brown reads from his first novel, Almost Criminal, a BC-based crime thriller. Wednesday, February 26 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall West, West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. For more information, phone 604-925-7403.

REWILDING VANCOUVER
Author J.B. MacKinnon discusses his latest book The Once and Future World. Thursday, February 27 at 6:30pm. Cecil Green Park House, 6251 Cecil Green Park Road, UBC. More information at greencollege.ubc.ca.

RED GIRL RAT BOY
Vancouver author Cynthia Flood reads from her latest book. Thursday, February 27 at 7:00pm, free. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby. More information and registration at 604-299-8955 or bpl.bc.ca.

VEENA GOKHALE
Reading by Montreal-based author. Special guest poet and writer Rahat Kurd. Friday, February 28 at 12:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

SERENDIPITY: CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IN A DIGITAL AGE
From practical advice on using literature-based apps with children to learning how authors and illustrators are using social media and electronic publishing, Serendipity 2014 is for educators, librarians, researchers and literature lovers looking to the future of books for young people. Our presenters include Paul Zelinsky, Arthur Slade, John Schumacher, Travis Jonker, Tim Federle, and Hadley Dyer. Saturday, March 8, 2014. For registration and information, go to www.vclr.ca.

F.G. BRESSANI LITERARY PRIZE
IL CENTRO Italian Cultural Centre is thrilled to announce the publication of the Rules & Regulations for the 2014 Edition of the F.G. Bressani Literary Prize. The literary prize honours and promotes the work of Canadian writers of Italian origin or Italian descent. Deadline: April 2, 2014. Complete details can be found here: http://italianculturalcentre.ca/blog/bressani-literary-prize/.

ICELAND WRITERS RETREAT
The Iceland Writers Retreat invites published and aspiring book writers (fiction and non-fiction) to participate in a series of workshops and panels led by a team of international writers from April 9-13, 2014 including Joseph Boyden. Between intimate workshops and lectures tour the spectacular Golden Circle, sit in the cozy cafés of Reykjavik, soak in hot geothermal pools, listen to new Icelandic music, and learn about the country's rich literary tradition. More information at www.IcelandWritersRetreat.com.

SKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL
A celebration of poetry featuring readings, workshops, and storytelling. Access to internationally famous poets through intimate venues and workshop sessions. May 15-18, 2014. Various venues throughout La Conner, WA. Tickets on sale in January. More information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.