Book News Vol. 9 No. 11

BOOK NEWS

INCITE

Join us on May 21 for the final event of the Spring 2014 season of Incite, featuring readings by Lynn Coady (Hellgoing), Eufemia Fantetti (A Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of Love), and Nancy Lee (The Age). Details on this event can be found here, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.

ABOUT TOWN

The Vancouver edition of Spur, a national festival of politics, art and ideas (May 22-25) features events at SFU Woodwards. Here are three events with a literary focus:

Books and Brunch
The Confabulist author Steven Galloway reads and discusses his latest novel with lawyer, author, and incoming SFU Chancellor Anne Giardini.

Books and Brunch
Join Shani Mootoo for brunch as she reads from and discusses her newest novel, Moving Forward Sideways Like a Crab.

In Conversation: Signal&Noise.com
Join Paul Holdengraber, writer, curator, and literary programmer at the New York Public Library, and Evgeny Morozov, author of The Net Delusion and To Save Everything, as they discuss how new technologies are changing the way we think.

http://spurfestival.ca/vancouver/events/

SPECIAL EVENT

A Dram Come True
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. New this year: Heighten your experience at an exclusive VIP reception before the main event-a private tasting tour of some of the special malts, guided by whisky experts.

Friday, May 30, 2014
7:30–9:30pm
Tickets: $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.

A Dram Come True is a fundraiser for the Vancouver Writers Fest.

AWARDS & LISTS

Nathaniel Mackey has won the $100,000 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. The award recognizes a lifetime of achievement that includes decades of published poetry and prose. "The poetry of Nathaniel Mackey continues an American bardic line that unfolds from Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass'...Mackey's words always go where music goes: a brilliant and major accomplishment."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/05/07/nathaniel-mackey-wins-100000-ruth-lilly-poetry-prize/

Seven mid-career Canadian artists have received $15,000 each from the Canada Council for the Arts. Known as the Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Prizes, they are awarded to people in seven different artistic disciplines. The winner this year in the Writing and Publishing category is Robert Anthony Wright.
http://canadacouncil.ca/en/council/news-room/news/2014/victor-martyn-lynch-staunton

Eufemia Fanetti, appearing at Incite on May 21, is one of five finalists for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. The Award recognizes the best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian author.
http://www.writersunion.ca/news/short-list-announced-2013-danuta-gleed-literary-award

YOUNG READERS

What are the best LGBT books for children, teenagers and young adults? Here are some recommendations for the "most brilliant books which challenge homophobia and discrimination against people's sexuality."
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/may/12/best-lgbt-books-children-teenagers-yas

NEWS & FEATURES

Farley Mowat's death last week has brought about many eulogies. He "was a trickster, a ferocious imp with a silver pen, an ardent environmentalist who opened up the idea of the North to curious southerners...and a passionate polemicist who blurred the lines between fiction and facts to dramatize his cause."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/scarred-by-war-acclaimed-author-farley-mowat-spent-his-life-trying-to-save-animals-nature-and-first-nations/article18548467/

Who's your literary heroine? "Move over Lizzie Bennet–let's hear it for the unsung heroine!"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/10/mansfield-park-unsung-literary-heroines

A new society in New York is changing what it means to be in a book club. Welcome to the 'Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society', which loves "good books and sunny days and enjoying both as nearly in the altogether as the law allows."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/may/08/topless-pulp-fiction-appreciation-society-book-club

Scott Griffin is one of the biggest names in Canadian literary philanthropy. He's the founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize, as well as 'Poetry in Voice', a recitation competition for Canadian high school students. This year, the competition will be held in Vancouver. The Globe and Mail interviews Griffin, here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/scott-griffin-brings-poetry-back-into-the-mainstream-of-cultural-life/article18578055/

The New York Public Library has abandoned its disputed plan to turn part of its research flagship on Fifth Avenue into a circulating library. The nearby Mid-Manhattan Library will be refurbished instead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/arts/design/public-library-abandons-plan-to-revamp-42nd-street-building.html

While libraries may succeed in being preserved, bookstores are still facing very tough times. Here's an elegiac account of the "Lost Booksellers of New York."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/opinion/sunday/lost-booksellers-of-new-york.html

"If Vladimir Putin gets his way–and he tends to–any book published in Russia that contains "foul language" will soon have to be sold in a sealed package and marked with a warning." The Guardian explores swearing in literature, and also opens up the conversation, here:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/may/08/swearing-in-literature-share-examples-of-bad-language-in-good-books

BOOKS & WRITERS

Local writers Claudia Casper and Anne Giardini recently travelled to Reykjavik for the inaugural Iceland Writers Retreat, a series of workshops and panels led by a team of international writers including Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks, New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean and Scotiabank Giller prize winner Joseph Boyden. The retreat was the theme of travel and journeys. Casper and Giardini blogged about their travel experience in the land of fire and ice.
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/blog/tavia/claudia-casper-first-impressions-iceland
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/blog/tavia/anne-giardini-rotten-shark-and-writing-iceland

In last week's Book News, we featured Will Self's article on the death of the novel. Here's Russell Smith's response: The novel-is-dead article is dead. (This time for real.)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-novel-is-dead-article-is-dead-this-time-for-real/article18566439/

Allen Crawford's much anticipated illustrated and land lettered book version of Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' has finally been released. Created over the course of a year, Crawford tried "to treat the poem as almost a landscape, in the sense that I'm exploring this unknown territory and I'm taking field notes from the mind of Whitman."
http://beautifuldecay.com/2014/05/08/walt-whitman/

This past week's New York Times Sunday Book Review features a myriad of articles about Indian writing. Among the reviewed is Bombay Stories, by Saadat Hasan Manto. Most of the stories collected here were written after the author's move to Pakistan post-partition, "out of an aching longing for the city he had just left."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/bombay-stories-by-saadat-hasan-manto.html

Should I go to grad school? Can writing really be taught? These are questions that many young writers ask themselves, and now there's an anthology to address the issue. Here's an excerpt from a New Yorker interview with Sheila Heti.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2014/05/should-i-go-to-grad-school-an-interview-with-sheila-heti.html

If the current Russian political situation has piqued your interest in stories featuring characters with names like Captain Popov and Boris Ivanovich Muratov, then you might enjoy this week's New York Times fiction piece: The Fugitive, by Lyudmila Ulitskaya.
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2014/05/12/140512fi_fiction_ulitskaya

What does it mean to be "well read"? John Sutherland's book, How to be Well Read, addresses that very issue. It is a "guide to 500 great novels and handful of literary curiosities!"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/11/how-be-be-well-read-john-sutherland-literary-list

People who like Céline Dion are people, too! Or so claims Carl Wilson in "Let's Talk About Love", a book-length critical essay which discusses why you should be "more tolerant of other people's musical preferences, more attuned to why they like what they like (and why you might not), more sympathetic to differences of opinion, and less grouchy about matters of taste."
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2014/05/people-who-like-celine-dion-are-people-too.html

What are you favourite John Updike short stories? His biographer chooses ten, "the best of the great American author's short fiction, 'the chief glory' of his prolific work", here:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/07/top-10-john-updike-short-stories

Roxane Gay's debut novel, An Untamed State, is told like a fairy tale, with a "complex and fragile moral arrived at through great pain and high cost." Taking place in Haiti, it is the story of an American-born heiress to a Haitian construction magnate, who is kidnapped for thirteen days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/an-untamed-state-by-roxane-gay.html

Speaking of fairy tales, the title of Michael Cunningham's new novel, The Snow Queen, is "lifted straight from Hans Christian Andersen". Though the tale is grounded in reality, Cunningham "also plunders the fairy tale for a sharp little snow crystal that blows into Barrett's brother's eye that morning, blearing his vision" (the book begins with morning snow blowing into a bedroom window.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/the-snow-queen-by-michael-cunningham.html

If you're planning on getting some sleep anytime soon, you might not want to read Anthony Doerr's new novel, All the Light We Cannot See. "Told mostly in the present tense, in short and usually pointed chapters, the story moves briskly and efficiently toward its climactic encounter during the Allied bombing of St.-Malo, France, a couple of months after D-Day."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-by-anthony-doerr.html

Eva Stachniak's new book, The Empress of the Night, is about "power, betrayal and love in the court of Catherine the Great." She discusses her new book, her favourite sentences in literature, the best advice she's ever received, and more, here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/author-eva-stachniaks-advice-for-writing-write-books-you-would-love-to-read/article18586979/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MOTHER TONGUE
Two of Canada's finest poets, Lorna Crozier and Erín Moure, lend their work to choreographer and director Conrad Alexandrowicz, whose Wild Excursions Performance presents two works of physical theatre for actors, dancers and musicians. May 14-18, 2014. Tickets: $20 plus service charges. Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street. More information at wildexcursions.ca.

POETRY AND THE MYSTICAL MUSE
Poets Susan McCaslin and Lee Johnson reading from their new volumes of poetry, The Disarmed Heart and Poetria Nova, Thurs. May 15, 7-9 pm, the Wired Monk Cafe, 2610 W. 4th Ave., sponsored by the Thomas Merton Society of Canada. http://www.merton.ca/.

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.

CANADIAN WRITING CONFERENCE
The CCWWP (Canadian Creative Writers & Writing Programs) presents readings from three fantastic writers on the UBC Campus as part of their biennial Canadian Writing Conference. Readings and conversations with: Joseph Boyden, Amy Bloom and Lisa Moore. May 15-17, 2014. Frederic Wood Theatre, 6354 Crescent Rd., UBC. Tickets (free) can be reserved at: http://www.eventbrite.ca/o/canadian-creative-writers-amp-writing-programs-6505823193.

TREASURES OF LIGHT & DARKNESS
Author reveals her book first book of poetry, Treasures of Light & Darkness. Copies of the book will be availale for purchase for $20. Saturday, May 17 at 10:00am, free. Tommy Douglas branch, Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway, Burnaby. More information at bpl.bc.ca.

125 POETRY READINGS
Stop #95 in Kevin Spenst's Small Books, Big Country, a chapbook tour of Canada. Saturday, May 17 at 2:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

A COLLABORATION OF POETRY AND THE VISUAL ARTS IN FORT LANGLEY
Poets Susan McCaslin and Lee Johnson reading from their new works in collaboration with visual artists Susan J. Falk and Kristin Krimmel, Sat. May 17, 7-9 pm, The Fort Gallery, 9048 Glover road, Fort Langley, BC., free, refreshments. http://www.fortgallery.ca/artists-events.html

Upcoming

ANN ERIKSSON
Author reads from her new novel High Clear Bell of Morning. Also featuring Garry Geddes reading from his new book of selected poems, What Does a House Want?. Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00pm, free. Capilano Branch, North Vancouver Library, 3045 Highland Blvd., North Vancouver. More information at 604-987-4471.

SPOKEN INK
Bowen Island poet Jude Neale is the featured author. Tuesday, May 20 at 8:00pm. La Fontana Caffe, 101-3701 East Hastings, Burnaby.

LUNCH POEMS AT SFU
Readings by Phinder Dulai and Kim Minkus. Wednesday, May 21 at 12:00 noon. Teck Gallery, Main floor, SFU Vancouver Harbour Center, 515 W. Hastings. More information at sfu.ca/publicsquare/lunchpoems.

FAUJI BANTA SINGH
Hear riveting stories from the heart of the Vancouver Sikh experience as author Sadhu Binning reads from his new book. Thursday, May 22 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at vpl.ca.

MEET THE AUTHOR: GEORGE BOWERING
George Bowering discuses his memoir Pinboy. Thursday, May 22 at 7:00pm. 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.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Linda King and Sue Cormier with open mic. Thursday, May 22, 7–9:30pm, at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Sign up for open mic at 7pm. More information at
www.pandorascollective.com.

SURREY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
Three days of professional local, national and international performing and visual artists. May 22-24, 2014. Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park. More information at www.surrey.ca/childrensfestival.

D.B. CAREW
Local author signs his debut novel The Killer Trail. Friday, May 23 at 4:00pm. Black Bond Books, Haney PLace Mall, Maple Ridge. More information at blackbondbooks.com.

HEARTBREAKING WORKS OF STAGGERING. AND GENIUS
Join authors Trevor Clark, C.P. Boyko, Andrea Routley and Brett Josef Grubisic as they share from new works that explore the strange geographies of the human condition. Saturday, May 24 at 1:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia Street. More information at 604-331-3603.

MOIRA YOUNG
Author introduces her latest book, Raging Star, the much-anticipated, thrilling conclusion to the Dust Lands trilogy. Saturday, May 24 at 2:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby. More information at 604-431-0463.

POETIC JUSTICE
Reading by poets Russell Thornton, Susan McCaslin, and Lee Johnson. Sunday, May 25 at 3:00pm. Renaissance Bookstore, 43 Sixth Street, New Westminster. More information at poeticjustice.ca.

PLACES BEYOND
An evening of poetry, music and dance featuring poets Jude Neale and Daniela Elza, musicians Jared Burrows (Guitar), Clyde Reed (Bass) and Chris Corrigan (Celtic Flute) and dance by Su-Lin Tseng. Sunday, May 25th, 7pm, Presentation House Gallery, 333 Chesterfield Ave., North Vancouver. Tickets $20.

GOLD MAD
A gripping historical thriller told by former geologist and gold prospector Michael Maser. Wednesday, May 28 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall West, West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

SHORT SUITES READING SERIES
Sample new and forthcoming work from Brett Josef Grubisic, Janine Alyson Young, Grant Buday, Chelsea Rooney, and hosted by Dina Del Bucchia. Wednesday, May 28 at 8:00pm, free. Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at anvilpress.com.