Book News Vol. 9 No. 5

BOOK NEWS

INCITE

Join us on April 16 for readings by Kim Fu (For Today I Am a Boy), Brian Payton (The Wind Is Not a River), and Audrey Thomas (Local Customs). Details on this and other upcoming Incite events here, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A Dram Come True
Our wildly popular scotch tasting fundraiser returns on May 30 and tickets are now on sale. Join us at the legendary Hycroft-a magnificent Edwardian mansion in the heart of Shaughnessy-and enjoy the superb, complex flavours of a variety of rare and distinguished single malts, while supporting the Festival. We've added a VIP reception this year for scotch fans or anyone who is interested learning more about uisce beatha-the water of life.

Friday, May 30, 2014
7:30–9:30pm
Earlybird tickets $110; after April 15: $120
VIP Tasting 6:30–7:30pm; Tickets: $75 (limited quantities, only available with a main event ticket)

Hycroft
1489 McRae Avenue, Vancouver

Click here for details and to purchase tickets, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/dram-come-true.

Miriam Toews and Steven Galloway
Tickets are going fast for our April 24 event with Miriam Toews and Steven Galloway. They'll read from and talk about their new books: Miriam Toews' All My Puny Sorrows is her most passionate novel yet, the riveting story of two sisters, and a love that illuminates life. Steven Galloway's The Confabulist is a brilliant novel about fame and ambition, reality and illusion, and the ways that love, grief and imagination can alter what we perceive and believe. Click here for event details and to find out more about our special offer for bookclubs: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/gallowaytoews.

AWARDS & LISTS

The CBC's 'Combat des Livres' is going full steam ahead this week. The finalists for the French-language version of Canada Reads are Rohinton Mistry (A Fine Balance), Kim Thuy (Ru), Marie-Claire Blaire (La belle bête) and Francois Gravel (Adieu, Betty Crocker).
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/03/rohinton-mistrys-a-fine-balance-on-combat-des-livres.html

Francophones and Francophiles may also be interested to hear that the finalists for Radio-Canada's Prix des lecteurs have been named. The prize celebrates French-Canadian literature, and will be decided at the end of April.
http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/arts_et_spectacles/2014/03/20/004-les-finalistes-de-prix-deslecteurs-radio-canada-2014-sont-connus.shtml

Linda France has won the UK's National Poetry Competition for her poem 'Bernard and Cerinthe'. The poem "imagines an erotic encounter between a buttoned-up man and a seductive flower."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/29/linda-france-national-poetry-competition-maggie-sawkins-ted-hughes-award

Vancouver's own E.R. Brown has been nominated for an Edgar Award for his book Almost Criminal. Named after Edgar Allen Poe, the 205-year-old mystery awards will be presented on May 1.
http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/awards/dundurn-author-e-r-brown-nominated-for-an-edgar-award/

The Children's Book Bank, a Toronto literary organization, has won the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award for their "very simple system of book recycling, which in addition to getting books into the hands of children, effectively uses the skills of retired librarians and teachers." Operating in a high-density, low-income Toronto neighbourhood, they provide free books to children.
http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/awards/torontos-childrens-book-bank-wins-ibby-asahi-reading-promotion-award/

Karen Fowler novel wins PEN/Faulkner prize for fiction for her novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.
http://seattletimes.com/html/books/2023279469_apxbookspenfaulknerprize.html

YOUNG READERS

A group of Mi'kmaq educators in Nova Scotia have translated seven of Robert Munsch's books into Mi'kmaq. They intend to distribute the books to First Nations students throughout the province. "We want them to see their language everywhere and feel that just because something is written in English does not mean they can't read it in Mi'kmaq."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/robert-munsch-books-to-be-translated-for-mi-kmaq-students-1.2588511

NEWS & FEATURES

New York is often described as one of the literary centres of the world, "the home of the publishing industry and a place that lures and nurtures authors and avid readers." But rising rents are putting bookstore owners out of business. How will the city cope?
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/mar/29/samuel-beckett-story-published-echos-bones

We all know about the use of papyrus and animal hides in early book-binding. But what about human flesh? Harvard University has discovered that three books in its collection are "bound in human hide."
https://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/harvard-discovers-old-library-books-bound-in-human-skin_b84050

Six hundred-year-old graffiti has been discovered on a church wall in Lidgate, England. In all likelihood, it was scrawled by the hand of one of the most prolific, and now forgotten, authors of the middle ages: John Lydgate.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/29/john-lydgate-graffiti-chaucer-monk-literary-talent

Should we really just write what we know? Is this "Helpful Advice or Idle Cliché?" Zoë Heller and Mohsin Hamid discuss, here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/books/review/write-what-you-know-helpful-advice-or-idle-cliche.html

One of the UK's most famous booksellers has claimed that e-books are going into decline. But is this really the case? In all likelihood, both paper and digital books have "a place in our hybrid future."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/mar/31/paper-vs-digital-reading-debate-ebooks-tim-waterstone

More thoughts on Britain's ban on prisoners receiving books.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/26/prisoners-book-ban-catch-22-reading-vicious-earn-less

BOOKS & WRITERS

Owain Nicholson recently won the Banff Centre's Bliss Carman Poetry Award. In this interview, he discusses his work as a writer, his inspirations, and who would win "if poetry and fiction got in a fight."
http://www.banffcentre.org/blog/2014/03/19/ezra-pound-vs-baudelaire-who-wins/

Sebastian Barry's new book, The Temporary Gentleman, is a novel of dissolution. Nothing is straightforward for its narrator, who is coming to grips with his past. "The true unreliability of everything written down utterly fascinates me," says Barry. "Even the person who has set down the so-called facts will still get it essentially wrong.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/10726341/The-Temporary-Gentleman-by-Sebastian-Barry-review.html

In 1983, a journalist named William Ecenbarger went to John Updike's family home to interview the author about the relationship between his fiction and the geography of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Little did he know that the exercise was just as useful for the author as it was for the man interviewing him.
http://www.vulture.com/2014/03/john-updike-life-in-fiction-adam-begley.html

In Siri Hustvedt's new novel, The Blazing World, the author tackles the gender bias of the art world. Presented as a "posthumous sampler" of her heroine's diaries, criticism and correspondence, The Blazing World "is a portrait of a creative titan whose career and reputation have seemingly been blighted by the art establishment's ingrained sexism."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/books/review/the-blazing-world-by-siri-hustvedt.html

In the 1970s, poets Rachel Hadas and James Merrill engaged in a steady literary correspondence while both living in Greece. In was in one of these letters, a postcard actually, that Merrill gave Hadas the most important advice of her writing life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/books/review/the-voyage-by-murray-bail.html

What books are currently on Emma Donoghue's night stand? Who is her favourite novelist of all time? What are her literary guilty pleasures? Find out the answers to these questions and more, here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/books/review/emma-donoghue-by-the-book.html

How does one write a believable happy ending? "As author Ted Thompson learned from John Cheever, a redemptive resolution doesn't erase the darkness of a story, but instead finds the light within it."
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/how-to-write-a-believable-happy-ending/359542/

Ben Tarnoff's new book, The Bohemians, examines how Mark Twain and three friends tried to develop a literature separate from the East Coast. They called themselves "the Bohemians", a San Francisco-based quartet with the goal to reinvent American literature. Tarnoff is interviewed here:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2014/03/28/when_mark_twain_took_his_act_to_san_francisco.html

Are you tired of our narcissistic "selfie" obsessed culture? A new book by James Hall, The Self-Portrait: A Cultural History Review, is an illuminating look into a history that runs contradictory to our age of "addictive self-portraiture". "A digital camera's gaze is skin-deep, and can hardly compete with the almost surgical penetration of a painted self-portrait."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/30/self-portrait-review-james-hall-tracey-emin

COMMUNITY EVENTS

BC BOOK PRIZES SOIREE 2014
Mix and mingle with the nominees, BC's vibrant literary community, and support the BC Book Prizes On Tour program. Thursday, April 3 at 6:00pm, free. Joe's Apartment, 919 Granville St., Vancouver. More information at www.bcbookprizes.ca.

SWOON
A literary evening of love, sex and chocolate featuring poet Garth Martens, Joelle Barron, Nicole Boyce, Rachel Sawatzky and others. Friday, April 4 at 7:00pm. Cocoa Nymph, 3739 10th Ave. W. More information at swoonreadingseries.wordpress.com.

FLORIDA ANN TOWN
Local author launches her new novel, On The Rim. Saturday, April 5 at 2:00pm. Terry Fox Library, 2470 Mary Hill Road, Port Coquitlam. More information at 604-927-7999.

CHINESE CANADIAN AUTHORS' BOOK LAUNCH
This book launch features four new works in Chinese: William Haoquan Chan's Maplescapes: Selected Works of Chinese Canadian Prose, Shou-fang Hu-Moore's Who Is Calling My Name? Liang Zhaoyuan's Decoding Cao Xueqin's Crytograms, Tommy Tao and Ming Sun Poon's Book of Three Arts, and Wang Wenqin's Slow Heart Beat. Saturday, April 5 at 2:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

VERSES VANCOUVER
4th annual festival celebrating the transformative power of words. Featuring Billeh Nickerson, Daniel Zomparelli, Evelyn Lau, Janice Lee and many more. April 5-12, 2014. For complete details, visit versesfestival.ca.

GILLIAN WIGMORE
Author launches her debut novella, Grayling. Saturday, April 5 at 5:00pm, free. Railway Club, 579 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver. More information at mothertonguepublishing.com.

UNHOLY RITES
Mystery authors Kay Stewart and Chris Bullock present an illustrated talk about Unholy Rites, their latest novel. Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00pm, free. West Point Grey branch, 4480 10th Ave. W., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

DAVID MASON
Author of The Pope's Bookbinder in conversation with Paul Whitney. Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30pm, free. Room 1315, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings. For more information and to reserve your seat, call 778-782-4668 or email library@sfu.ca.

GENDER FAILURE
Ivan Coyote and Rae Spoon's show and book launch. Wednesday, April 9 at 8:00pm. The Rio Theatre, Vancouver, BC. More information at t.co/sRrG1UA9uF.

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. More information at www.IcelandWritersRetreat.com.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features poets Jane Munro and Jan Conn plus open mic. Wednesday, April 9, 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.

DIALOGUES IN CRITICAL INDIGENOUS STUDIES
Audra Simpson, Glen Coulthard and Chris Andersen will present on their upcoming books at the UBC Longhouse. Thursday, April 10 at 9:30am. First Nations Longhouse, 1985 West Mall, UBC. More information at www.ligi.ubc.ca.

NORTH SHORE WRITERS FESTIVAL
15th annual literary weekend. Featuring Vincent Lam, Douglas Gibson, Jen Sookfong Lee, Sandra Gulland and others. April 11 and 12, 2014. North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th St. W., North Vancouver. More information at northshorewritersfestival.com.

CHRISTOPHER LEVENSON
The Vancouver poet and co-organizer of the Dead Poets Reading Series will launch his eleventh book, Night Vision, at 3 p.m. on Saturday 12th April in the Alice MacKay Room of the Central Library, 350, West Georgia Street. As well as reading from the new book he will be interviewed about his poetry by local short fiction writer Ken Klonsky. More information at vpl.ca.

DARD HUNTER: THE GRAPHIC WORKS
Lawrence Kreisman will give a talk on Hunter's evolution as an artist, and on what identifies and distinguishes his work from others. Monday, April 14 at 7:00pm, free. Emily Carr Auditorium, Granville Island. More information at blog.alcuinsociety.com.

THURSDAYS WRITING COLLECTIVE
SFU writer-in-residence Madeleine Thien and members of the Thursdays Writing Collective reading from their work. Tuesday April 15 at 12:30 pm, Bennett Library Special Collections/Rare Books (Room 7100), Bennett Library, SFU Burnaby. Free, refreshments. For more info, phone 778-782-6676.

EVENT NON-FICTION CONTEST
Writers are invited to submit manuscripts exploring the creative non-fiction form. $1500 in prizes available, plus publication. Contest Judge Deborah Campbell. Maximum entry length is 5000 words. $34.95 entry fee. Deadline April 15, 2014. Entrants will receive a one-year subscription to EVENT (or extension). Complete contest guidelines can be found at www.eventmagazine.ca/contest-2014/.

Upcoming

LUNCH POEMS AT SFU
Reading by Susan McCaslin. Wednesday, April 16 at 12:00 noon, free. SFU Harbour Centre's Teck Gallery, 515 W. Hastings St. More information at sfu.ca/publicsquare/lunchpoems.

text bites & textual vishyuns: a reeding & dialog with bill bissett
Reading by renowned Canadian poet bill bissett, followed by a discussion of his work by publisher Karl Siegler, author Carl Peters and artist/writer/educator Jerry Zaslove. Organized in conjunction with the exhibition textual vishyuns: image and text in the work of bill bissett at The Reach Art Gallery and Museum in Abbotsford, on April 17–June 30. Friday, April 18 at 8:00pm. The Western Front, 303 8th Ave. E., Vancouver.

AUTHORS IN OUR MIDST
Author of American Exodus: Climate Change and the Coming Flight for Survival, Giles Slade, discusses the environmental impact of climate change. Tuesday, April 22 ar 7:00pm. Brighouse branch, Richmond Public Library, 100-7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond. More information at yourlibrary.ca.

CATHY ACE
Author signs her new book The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb. Saturday, April 26 at 3:00pm. Triple Tree Nurseryland, 20503 Lougheed Highway. More information at blackbondbooks.com.

2014 LITFEST NEW WEST
April 26, 2014. A day of free workshops at LitFest New West. To see the list of workshops and to register go to: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/litfest/program/workshops/.

DIANE TUCKER BOOK LAUNCH
Join Diane Tucker for the Vancouver launch of her fourth book, Bonsai Love, a collection of poems about the sensual delicacy of love. Sunday, April 27 at 7:00pm, free. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main St. Will also feature a musical performance by Vancouver-based sing/songwriter Rodney DeCroo. For more information, visit
www.harbourpublishing.com.

TALES FROM FUN CITY
Authors Aaron Chapman and Lani Russwurm share tales from Vancouver's lively cultural history. Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye rooms, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

FLYING DUCHESSES
Patricia McCuaig's biography of her father's adventures flying a Grumman Goose in Canada from 1964/65 for England's Duke of Westminster. Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall West, West Vancouver Memorial Library. For more information, call 604-925-7403.

JANIE CHANG
Reading and discussion by the author of Three Souls. Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00pm. White Rock Library, 15342 Buena Vista, White Rock. More information at 604-541-2201.

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. More information at www.skagitriverpoetry.org.

THE PEN AND THE PALETTES
A three day weekend for the cultural and culinary arts enthusiast on Haida Gwaii. Includes the launch of Rachel McMillen's new novel Dark Moon Walking. June 27-30, 2014. More information at haidahouse.com or by email at info@haidahouse.com.