Book News Vol. 9 No. 29

BOOK NEWS

We are pleased to announce the addition of a solo event with Australian author Tim Winton in conversation with VWF Artistic Director Hal Wake at 8 pm on Monday, October 20, http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/87-tim-winton-conversation-hal-wake.

The Vancouver Writers Fest presents 104 international writers in 87 events including Waking from the American Dream (Joshua Ferris, Cristina Enriquez, Matthew Thomas), An Evening with James Ellroy, The Hook (Aislinn Hunter, Eric McCormack, Sarah Waters, Ian Weir), Rooted and Riveting (Rabih Alameddine, Michael Crummey, Heather O’Neill) and Rules of Engagement (Dionne Brand, Thomas King, Lee Maracle, Christos Tsiolkas) and many others. Pick up the Festival program guide at in the Lower Mainland bookstores and libraries, or check the Festival website for full details, http:/www.writersfest.bc.ca.


"David Mitchell is a superb storyteller." The New Yorker

The captivating David Mitchell talks to Hal Wake about his much-lauded new novel, The Bone Clocks, at St. Andrew's-Wesley United at 7:30 pm, Saturday, September 27.

Special event tickets are also on sale for Bruce Cockburn (Nov 10), Alan Doyle (Nov 13) and Conrad Black (Nov 13).

More information at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events.

Festival Contest

Are you an avid reader who can't wait for the 2014 Vancouver Writers Fest? Show our Festival authors how much you are looking forward to seeing them in Vancouver this fall, show your friends how much you love to read AND be entered to win $50 to Book Warehouse (to buy more books!) with our #Shelfie contest. Click here for details on how to enter, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/prefaces/tavia/shelfie-contest.

Calling 'Gen Y' Readers

The Vancouver Writers Fest is recruiting for focus group participants. We are specifically interested in talking to Generation Y readers (born 1980 to 1995). If you, or someone you know, would consider participating in a focus group discussion in the future, please sign up, and we will be in touch, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/focusgroup.

FESTIVAL AUTHORS

The inspiration for Aislinn Hunter's The World Before Us came from "the past, namely a bizarre encounter between two escaped asylum patients and a famous 19th-century poet." Hunter was recently interviewed by Shelagh Rogers. The full interview will air on September 22nd, but you can catch a sneak peak (or "sneak listen") here:
http://www.cbc.ca/thenextchapter/2014/09/15/tnc-sneak-listen-shelaghs-conversation-with-aislinn-hunter/

The fact that Joshua Ferris' To Rise Again at a Decent Hour was shortlisted for the Booker Prize is only one of several things that make it notable. It also "hits a high-water mark in the literature of dentistry, however limited that may be!"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/books/joshua-ferriss-to-rise-again-at-a-decent-hour.html

James Ellroy is a crime writer with a very unique pedigree: his mother was murdered when he was a child, and the case has never been solved. "You could say his writing career has been a protracted grief reaction." Ellroy's new novel is called Perfidia.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/09/perfidia-james-ellroys-furious-new-novel/379123/

What is the purpose of writing historical fiction? According to Ian Weir, it is "not to make things up, but to believe the world you are creating."
http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/2014/09/11/ian-weir-on-scaling-the-mountain/

Damon Galgut's new novel, Arctic Summer, shares its title with a book E.M. Forster began in 1909 and never finished. In fact, the author is the centerpiece of the novel.
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/08/13/the-afterword-reading-society-arctic-summer-by-damon-galgut/

Who's your favourite writer? Which fictional character most resembles you? Esther Freud answers these questions, and more, here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/esther-freud-novelist-i-love-tobias-wolff-for-his-elegance-thoughtfulness-and-inventiveness-9726438.html

"Namby-pamby protagonists, step aside!" says Caroline Adderson, author of Ellen in Pieces. Her latest novel marks a departure in format, with a protagonist who is "feisty and earthy and imperfect, and life has dealt her all kinds of blows."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/ellen-in-pieces-namby-pamby-protagonists-step-aside/article20279787/

Angie Abdou's new novel, Between, is her fourth book in eight years. It's also a "conversation starter, especially when it comes to the debate on foreign workers in Canada, as well as women's roles in society and the home."
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Elizabeth+Withey+Angie+Abdou+novel+conversation+starter/10195194/story.html

Eimear McBride's A Girl Is A Half-formed Thing "is a shockingly honest, devastatingly beautiful debut novel." Self-destruction and loss are two of the novel's main themes, a portrait of a young woman who is a still a child, as the title implies.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/a-girl-is-a-half-formed-thing-is-a-shockingly-honest-devastatingly-beautiful-debut-novel/article20577027/

AWARDS & LISTS

The Giller Prize longlist is out, "along with the unexpected news that its purse has doubled, immediately vaulting the literary award to among the richest in the English language." 2014 Vancouver Writers Fest authors Miriam Toews, Shani Mootoo, Arjun Basu and Heather O'Neill made the cut.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/giller-prize-unveils-long-list/article20614335/

Young Adult literature has come a long way, as proved by the amazing range in this year's National Book Award longlist. "The ten books, written by five men and five women, demonstrate the wide diversity of content and genre contained within teen and middle-grade literature, ranging from contemporary novels to historical fiction to narrative nonfiction to memoir-by-poetry."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/sep/15/national-book-award-longlist-young-adult-literature

YOUNG READERS

Two new picture books are reminiscent of out-of-time folk tales, as well as having a sweet, rustic appeal. They're Give and Take by Christ Raschka and Findus Disappears! by Sven Nordqvist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/books/give-and-take-and-findus-disappears.html

NEWS & FEATURES

The European Union Court of Justice has ruled that European libraries can legally scan books without permission, and also make electronic copies available to patrons. Even more interestingly, "it gives libraries legal backing for creating their own electronic editions even when an e-book edition is available."
http://www.mhpbooks.com/german-technical-university-defies-german-textbook-publisher-in-a-case-with-a-surprising-amount-of-drama/

Where's the "magic building" where English majors go to work? In this piece, Cathy Day makes sense of Creative Writing's "job problem".
http://www.themillions.com/2014/09/the-magic-building-where-english-majors-work-making-sense-of-creative-writings-job-problem.html

"When John Ashbery, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, first learned that the digital editions of his poetry looked nothing like the print version, he was stunned. There were no line breaks, and the stanzas had been jammed together into a block of text that looked like prose." Thankfully, new innovations have made e-books more poet-friendly!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/arts/artsspecial/line-by-line-e-books-turn-poet-friendly.html

The Amazon-Hachette struggle continues. This week, Hachette's authors are trying a "new tactic to get their work unshackled." They're targeting the Internet giant's board.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/technology/in-latest-volley-against-amazon-hachettes-writers-target-its-board.html

BOOKS & WRITERS

Autumn is almost here, heralding the arrival of colder temperatures and turning leaves. But for eager readers, there's something even more exciting coming: the fall book season! In this preview, authors tell us which books they can't wait to read.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/fall-preview/article20578330/

Roddy Doyle has a new book out. Called Two More Pints, it's a "savagely funny" follow-up to his 2011 novel of a very similar name: Two Pints. They're both dialogue-driven, written like a conversation between two old men in a Dublin pub. "They seem part mouthpiece for Doyle himself, part living social history."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/16/two-more-pints-roddy-doyle-review-novel

Nigerian fiction has been more and more in the news these days, thanks to up-and-coming writers like Teju Cole. But he's just one of many great writers to emerge from the West African nation. Here's a list of the top ten books about Nigeria.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/10/top-10-books-about-nigeria-barnaby-phillips

Speaking of top ten lists, here's another: the top ten fictitious biographies. "From Nabokov to Woolf to Coetzee, novelist Jonathan Gibbs selects the best imaginary lives presented as the real thing."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/27/top-10-fictitious-biographis-jonathan-gibbs-nabokov

Victor Lodato's Jack, July is the featured story in this week's New Yorker. Its protagonist, Jack, is a twenty-two-year-old who's "coming down from a meth high on a hot July 4th in Tucson."
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/22/jack-july

Lodato also discusses the story, here:
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/week-fiction-victor-lodato

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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.

BOOK LAUNCH
Book launch of Vancouver Confidential. Sunday, September 21 at 6:00pm. The Emerald Supper Club, 555 Gore St., Vancouver.

A SILENCE OF ECHOES
Book launch and signing of A Silence of Echoes by Candice James, Poet Laureate, New Westminster. With guest readers Renee Saklikar and Dennis E. Bolen. Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30pm. New Westminster Public Library Auditorium, 716-6th Ave, New Westminster.

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.

Upcoming

THE TOWN SLUT'S DAUGHTER
Canadian poet Heather Haley launches her debut novel. Thursday, October 2 at 7:30pm. Slickity Jim's, 3469 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at howesoundpublishing@gmail.com.

LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS
Vancouver writer Sam Wiebe reads from his latest book. Friday, October 10 at 7:00pm. Pulp Fiction Books, Main street.

EMERGE 14
Emerge 14, the annual anthology from The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University, thirty-five emerging writers explore love, creation, death, regret, discovery and terror will be launched in a special gala. Thursday, October 16 at 6pm. SFU Downtown Campus, Harbour Centre. More information at cormac_oreilly@hotmail.com.

JANE EATON HAMILTON
Author reads from her new book Love Will Burst Into A Thousand Shapes. Thursday, October 23 at 7:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at http://caitlin-press.com/event/vancouver-book-reading-jane-eaton-hamilton-love-will-burst-into-a-thousand-shapes/.