Book News Vol. 9 No. 26

BOOK NEWS

Vancouver Writers Fest Tickets on sale September 8

The buzz is mounting-tickets go on sale soon for the 2014 Vancouver Writers Fest. Get your tickets for events with acclaimed writers from Canada and around the world including Norwegian literary sensation Karl Ove Knausgaard, Icelandic novelist and Bjork collaborator Sjon, antipodeans Tim Winton, Anne Kennedy and Christos Tsiolkas, UK authors Rebecca Mead, Kate Pullinger, Tom Rachman, Sarah Waters, Louise Welsh, Esther Freud and Eimear
McBride, Canadians Michael Cummey, Cory Doctorow, Miriam Toews, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Justin Trudeau, Steven Galloway, Ian Weir, Aislinn Hunter and Richard Wagamese and many more. Pick up the Festival program guide at
bookstores in the Lower Mainland, or check the Festival website for full details, http:/www.writersfest.bc.ca.

Special event tickets are on sale now, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events.


Volunteer

Volunteer registration is now open for our 2014 festival, a full six days of 86 amazing events running 21-26 October! Up to 350 volunteers will be needed...the greater your availability-and the greater your flexibility about what you will do as a volunteer-the greater the likelihood we can fit you in! For more info, visit the volunteer pages of our website, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/volunteer.


AWARDS & LISTS

The longlist for the 2014 CBC Poetry Prize has been announced. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, as well as publication in enRoute magazine and a writing residency at The Banff Centre.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/2014/08/2014-cbc-poetry-prize-longlist-announced.html

Anthony De Sa, Charlotte Gray and Shyam Selvadurai are among the finalists for the Toronto Book Awards. The awards recognize "books of literary or artistic merit that are evocative of Toronto."
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/08/22/anthony-de-sa-charlotte-gray-among-finalists-for-toronto-book-awards/

YOUNG READERS

"Self-awareness is such a buzzkill!" That's the underlying motto of these three children's books, which all feature dancers who prefer to practice alone (and eventually learn to share their talents with others): Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance by Birgitta Sif, Rupert Can Dance by Jules Feiffer, and Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/books/review/frances-dean-who-loved-to-dance-and-dance-and-more.html

NEWS & FEATURES

Does where you live affect how and what you write? "J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" might have read a little differently had he been a resident of Osaka instead of Oxfordshire."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/books/review/does-where-you-live-make-a-difference-in-how-and-what-you-write.html

Where you live is one thing, but how about where you eat? Here are the top ten restaurants and bars in modern literature, according to Michael Gibney, author of the upcoming book 24 Hours in the Kitchen.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/20/top-10-restaurants-bars-literature-michael-gibney

British readers are "lost in translations" as sales of foreign literature have been booming across the country. Works by Scandinavian authors like Festival author Karl Ove Knausgaard, Jo Nesbø and Stieg Larsson are driving domestic demand for translated books.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/24/british-readers-translations-foreign-literature-sales-boom-stieg-larsson-jo-nesbo

Technology just got a little stranger! "Welcome to the technological frontier of 2014: Dueling typewriter apps for the iPad."
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-tale-of-the-dueling-typewriter-apps-20140826-story.html

Or, if you prefer, why not have a chat with your friendly local statue? London's statues are "finding their voice," thanks to leading writers and smartphone technology that will now allow the effigies to chat with passers-by.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/aug/17/london-statues-find-their-voice

Back on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, the authors of The Great Glass Sea and In The Course of Human Events have set out on a literary road trip. "What does the Great American Road trip look like in 2014?" Find out in part one on their tour diary, here:
http://www.salon.com/2014/08/22/two_guys_two_books_five_days_in_search_of_america_%E2%80%94_and_readers/

Doris Lessing has made one last gift to the world. 3,000 books from the late author's collection have been donated to a public library in Zimbabwe.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/26/doris-lessing-book-collection-zimbabwe-library

BOOKS & WRITERS

Autumn is on its way. That means the end of beach reading, and the arrival of new fall titles! The Huffington Post's "Best Books For Fall 2014" includes new books by Festival authors David Mitchell, William Gibson, Colm Tóibín and Sarah Waters.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/25/best-books-2014-fall_n_5692644.html

What's your lifetime dream? For Haruki Murakami, it would be "to be sitting at the bottom of a well." He discusses his writing, domestic life, heroes and dreams here:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/24/haruki-murakami-my-lifetime-dream-is-to-be-sitting-at-the-bottom-of-a-well

Tony Black's The Last Tiger is one of several books on the "Not the Booker Prize" shortlist. It is also the story of "a young immigrant to Australia who encounters the predatory creatures that were once the country's largest and most efficient killers."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/25/not-the-booker-prize-shortlist-the-last-tiger-tony-black

Who was Edgar Allen Poe? Upon his death, the New York Tribune wrote that he was "a dreamer, dwelling in ideal realms, in heaven or hell, peopled with creations and accidents of his brain." In Paul Collins' Edgar Allan Poe: The Fever Called Living, the author tries to find a clearer picture.
http://lareviewofbooks.org/interview/poes-paradoxes

Timothy Taylor recently appeared at Sam Sullivan's Public Salon, where he read his story Roots and Rootlessness. If you weren't able to hear him in person, here's a video of the event:
http://vancouverisawesome.com/2014/08/26/timothy-taylor-roots-and-rootlessness/

Rachel Cusk knows controversy. In 2012, the world reacted with hostility to her account of marital breakdown. In this interview, the author of Outline (her new novel) discusses how she finally rediscovered her voice after "creative death."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/24/rachel-cusk-interview-aftermath-outline

Daniel Kehlmann's new novel, F, is "deeply philosophical and very, very funny." "Germans and humor," says the author, "it's a complex problem! Detecting humor is not our strong side." He's interviewed by Jonathan Franzen, here:
http://www.salon.com/2014/08/26/jonathan_franzen_interviews_daniel_kehlmann_germans_and_humor_its_a_complex_problem_detecting_humor_is_not_our_strong_side/

Lev and Austin Grossman are a unique pair of writers. And what makes them unique is exactly the same thing that makes them identical...they're twins! "What in Lev and Austin Grossman's upbringing led them both to make a life in writing?"
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/08/lev-and-austin-grossman-interview/375822/

Michael Crummey's new novel, Sweetland, is "all of a piece, its apparent simplicity of style, like that of its protagonist and his setting, concealing a primordial power." The novel is the tale of a man and the island he refuses to leave.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/michael-crummeys-sweetland-is-slow-circular-suitable-to-a-mans-contemplation-of-extinction/article20172450/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS
Author Sam Wiebe launches his latest book Last of the Independents. Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00pm. Shebeen Whiskey House, 212 Carrall Street, Vancouver.

SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL
Fantasy author reads from his swashbuckling adventure novel Traitor's Blade and gives a talk on the use of swordplay in fantasy and historical literature. Thursday, September 4 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

The TWS READING SERIES
The Writer's Studio September readers will be Ingrid Rose, Angela Kenyon, D.N. Simmers, Diana Joy, Sheila Galati, Jude Neale, and Dhana Musil. Our feature author will be poet Daniela Elza. Hosts: Ivan Antoniw and Romney Grant.Thursday, September 4 at 8:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver.

DOUBLE ENTENDRE
An evening of fiction and poetry with Ann Eriksson reading from her new novel, High Clear Bell of Morning, and Gary Geddes reading selected poems from, What Does a House Want? Monday, September 8 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

ELLEN IN PIECES
Launch of Caroline Adderson's new book. Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at blackbondbooks.com.

RONSDALE'S FALL POETRY
An evening of poetry with three award-winning B.C. poets: Garry Gottfriedson, Pamela Porter and Henry Rappaport—all with new collections to showcase. Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia. More information at vpl.ca.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Cynthia Flood and Elise Partridge plus open mic. Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00pm. Suggested donation at the door: $5. The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at pandorascollective.com.

Upcoming

DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Five poets/readers/poetry-lovers/writers with extensive public reading experience read poems from one of their favourite dead poet's work. Sunday, September 14 at 3:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

SPOKEN INK READING SERIES
Diane Tucker reads from her new poetry collection, Bonsai Love. Tuesday, September 16 at 7:30pm, free. la Fontana Caffe, 101-3701 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. More information at burnabywritersnews.blogspot.ca.

ALICIA PRIEST
Local Victoria-based author launches her new book A Rock Fell on the Moon, Dad and the Great Yukon Silver Ore Heist. Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30pm. Bard & Banker Pub, 1022 Government Street, Victoria. More information by calling Munro's Books, 250-382-2464.

BIRTH OF A RARE BOOK
Christopher Levenson, poet and author, will present with Peter Braun, Master Printer of New Leaf Editions, and Sigrid Albert, graphic artist, a discussion about the genesis of producing a rare book of poetry and etchings. Sunday, September 21 at 3:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

VANCOUVER IS ASHES
Vancouver Is Ashes is the first detailed exploration of a landmark, yet seldom revisited event in Vancouver's history. Lisa Anne Smith uses eye-witness accounts to investigate events of that pivotal day. Monday, September 22 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

WORD VANCOUVER
Festival promoting books and authors with free exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities for a wide range of ages and interests. September 24-28, 2014. Complete details at wordvancouver.ca.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Pandora's Collective in conjunction with Word Vancouver features Rita Wong, Jami Macarty, Lilija Valis & Kevin Spenst plus open mic. Thursday, September 25 at 7:00pm. Suggested donation at the door: $5. The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at pandorascollective.com.

THANKS A LOT EXPRESS-OH!
North Shore Writers' Association invite community & cultural co-creators: writers, dancers, musicians and artists, to join in this fun activity of giving thanks in this 2-hour workshop to expand upon and play with word prompts. Saturday, September 27 at 10:00am, free. North Vancouver City Library, 120 14th St. W., North Vancouver. More information at culturedays.ca.

BOOK SOME TIME FOR CRIME
an afternoon on the edge of your seat with four local mystery authors, Sam Wiebe, E.R. Brown, Robin Spano and Owen Laukkanen. Listen as they share their latest novels, then book a one-on-one session for answers to any of your burning mystery questions. Saturday, September 27 at 1:00pm, free. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at culturedays.ca.