Book News Vol. 9 No. 31

BOOK NEWS

We've moved into October and cooler weather, but things are heating up at the VWF box office. Tickets are selling briskly but there's still plenty of great interviews, readings and panel discussions to choose from, with 104
writers from around the world.

Check out Festival events including: An Intimate Evening with Eimear McBride (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/10-intimate-evening-eimear-mcbride), Community of Characters (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/25-community-characters), Turning the Page (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/53-turning-page), The Ventriloquists (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/74-ventriloquists), Familiar Haunts (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/58-familiar-haunts), A Conversation with Dinaw Mengestu (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/79-conversation-dinaw-mengestu), and Tim Winton in conversation with Hal Wake (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/87-tim-winton-conversation-hal-wake).

Special Events

Joseph Boyden & Friends
Spend an unforgettable evening with The Orenda author Joseph Boyden and Festival authors and support the Vancouver Writers Fest. Details at http://writersfest.bc.ca/events/boyden.

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.

A Literary Arts Centre for Vancouver? Yes. Indeed.
As Book News readers, we know you are interested in the literary arts. You may not know, however, that a group of publishers, and other interested parties are working on creating a public space to showcase the city's extraordinary practitioners in the written and spoken arts. This initiative will be the first of its kind in the city: a dynamic home for the city's vibrant publishing and writing communities, and a lively public venue for readings, launches, and other literary-related activities. They want to hear from you and for you to learn more about their ideas. If you would like to participate in the development of this unique literary space, please help by filling in the survey here, http://www.books.bc.ca/literary-arts-centre-vancouver.

Volunteer
Volunteers with daytime and early evening availability still needed! Shifts open on Food & Beverage, Box Office and Production. For information and to register, go here, http://writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/volunteer.

FESTIVAL AUTHORS

Between is a "searing new book" by Angie Abdou. "Darkly funny and elegantly written", it tackles sexism, racism, substance abuse, class and the politics of child care without being polemic.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/Angie+Abdou+Stuck+Between+domestic+sorrows+Drama/10238854/story.html

Caroline Adderson has some important literary advice for you: "character is more important than plot!" She discusses this, and more, here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/caroline-adderson-literary-advice-character-is-more-important-than-plot/article20805698/

Sense of place is also important to Colm Tóibín, whose new novel, Nora Webster, is set in the coastal Irish town where he grew up. In this interview, he discusses his new book, teaching, America, and why he gave up poetry.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/colm-toibin-explores-his-irish-hometown-in-nora-webster-1412007935

Dionne Brand, though best known for her poetry, has written a new novel. It's called Love Enough, to which she "brings an exquisite mastery of language and crystalline precision to her prose."
http://www.cbc.ca/thenextchapter/episode/2014/09/29/shelaghs-feature-interview-with-dionne-brand/

Sarah Waters' newest novel, The Paying Guests, "is its own perfect deception: What seems to be a quiet, domestic novel set in suburban London in 1922 gives way to a shocking and moving page-turner about an illicit love affair, murder, and sensational trial." Waters is interviewed by the Daily Beast, here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/30/sarah-waters-queen-of-the-tortured-lesbian-romance.html

What's the book that changed your life? For Sarah Ellis, it was Dodi Smith's I Capture The Castle.
http://www.straight.com/life/734701/book-changed-your-life-sarah-ellis

Esther Freud also has some opinions on books. What is she reading now? Which would she take to a desert island? She answers these questions, and more, here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2769868/WHAT-BOOK-did-Esther-Freud-think-sexy-terrifying.html

The Guardian newspaper recently organized a webchat with Joshua Ferris. Even if you missed it, the questions and answers are still available online.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/live/2014/sep/26/joshua-ferris-webchat-to-rise-again-at-a-decent-hour

Aislinn Hunter's The World Before Us is the story of a London archivist with a dark past. When she was 15, the child she was babysitting disappeared—" a split second event that shapes Jane's life and the course of the novel." Hunter is interviewed by Shelagh Rogers here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/09/aislinn-hunter-on-her-novel.html

Kim Thuy's new novel, Mãn, is "a story of realism told like a fable." But unlike most fairy stories, the title character is "a woman who was raised with the awareness of how harsh the world could be, and always chose to ignore the battles not worth fighting."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/kim-thuys-man-is-a-story-of-realism-told-like-a-fable/article20804546/

Will Starling is Ian Weir's second novel. It's "a rollicking thrill-ride, a 19th-century-style potboiler in both form and content. It's also a remarkably subversive novel, a dense inner heart of darkness lurking under the surface hijinks and thrills."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/ian-weirs-will-starling-is-a-rollicking-thrill-ride/article20805909/

Rudy Wiebe's latest novel explores "a parent's anguish," drawn from his own experiences with life and death. Most specifically, Come Back, features a son who commits suicide at 24, just as Wiebe's did.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Rudy+Wiebe+latest+drawn+from+real+life+death/10239870/story.html

AWARDS & LISTS

An unlikely institution has created its first literary prize: Amtrak! The rail operator has chosen twenty-four writers for its very first literary residency program, which provides a free long distance train trip, complete with a "sleeping compartment, free meals and access to the observation car!"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/business/media/the-little-writing-prize-that-could.html

The finalists have been chosen for the first-ever Kirkus Prize. There are six writers each in fiction, nonfiction and young readers' literature. 2014 Writers Fest authors Dinaw Mengestu and Sarah Waters are among the chosen few.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/09/30/352696150/book-news-first-ever-kirkus-prize-picks-18-finalists

Lionel Shriver's Kilifi Creek has won the BBC national short story award. Her story about a gap-year traveller's near-death experience is inspired by her own life.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/30/lionel-shriver-wins-bbc-national-short-story-award-kilifi-creek

Kei Miller has won the £10,000 Forward poetry prize. The Jamaican poet's collection, The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way To Zion, is based on "dialogue between a mapmaker striving to impose order on an unfamiliar land and a 'Rasta-man' who queries his project."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/30/kei-miller-wins-forward-poetry-prize

The shortlist for the HarperCollins Canada/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction has been announced. The prize recognizes the best "unpublished manuscripts by students and graduates of the University of British Columbia's creative-writing program."
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2014/09/30/best-new-fiction-shortlist-announced/

Monique Gray Smith has won CODE's Burt Award for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Literature for her Young Adult novel Tilly, a Story of Hope and Resilience. 2014 Writers Fest author Thomas King came in second place for The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2014/09/29/monique-gray-smith-wins-burt-award-for-first-nations-metis-and-inuit-literature/

YOUNG READERS

A new picture book says goodnight in a blissful, rustic setting. In Mary Lyn Rays's Go to Sleep, Little Farm, "rhyming couplets work their way around a farm, its surrounding countryside and its white clapboard farmhouse." The book is reminiscent of Goodnight Moon, an "idyllic, lulling bedtime story."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/books/go-to-sleep-little-farm-by-mary-lyn-ray.html

NEWS & FEATURES

It's another week for literary top ten lists. First up, the top ten walks in books!
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/25/top-10-book-walks-duncan-minshull

Up next, the top ten stories of mothers and daughters (whether going on walks or not). Interestingly, Pride and Prejudice has made it onto both lists.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/17/top-10-stories-mothers-daughters-meike-ziervogel

Parody copyright laws are set to come into effect in the UK. What does that mean? People will now be allowed to parody copyright works, "so long as it is fair and does not compete with the original version."
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29408121

It's an unfortunate truth that a startlingly small percentage of fiction in translation is written by women. A soon-to-be-real prize dedicated to "great women's writing from the non-Anglophone world" hopes to tackle this problem.
http://www.mhpbooks.com/a-new-prize-for-women-in-translation/

Literary lions have united to protest Amazon's e-book tactics. So far, the group known as Authors United includes Philip Roth, Orhan Pamuk, Milan Kundera, Salman Rushide and V.S. Naipaul.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/business/literary-lions-unite-in-protest-over-amazons-e-book-tactics.html

BOOKS & WRITERS

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher is Hilary Mantel's newest collection of short stories. Despite the title, "these stories are much more like Ms. Mantel's description of herself ["passive, illness-plagued and spooked"] than like the ironclad Machiavellians who dominate her Thomas Cromwell trilogy-in-progress."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/books/the-assassination-of-margaret-thatcher-by-hilary-mantel.html

David Bezmozgis' The Betrayers is a "poignant, funny and elegant" novel about a Soviet "refusenik," a man whose past as a Russian dissident allows him to build a career as an Israeli politician. It's part of a greater project of Bezmozgis' to tell the story of Soviet Jews. He discusses this, and more, in this interview with The Rumpus.
http://therumpus.net/2014/09/the-rumpus-interview-with-david-bezmozgis/

Us, by David Nicholls, is a "poignant tale of a marriage in crisis." In it, a mismatched couple take a European vacation, with the verdict of whether they should stay together or break up to be decided at the end.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/01/us-david-nicholls-review-fiction

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MEET THE AUTHOR: MARY NOVIK
Mary Novik discuses her sweeping work of historical fiction, Muse. Thursday, October 2 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $22 (includes refreshments). Christianne's Lyceum. 3696 W. 8th Ave. To reserve your space call 604.733.1356 or email lyceum@christiannehayward.com. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.

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.

TWS READING SERIES
The Writing Studio at SFU presents Doretta Lau, author of the short story collection How Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun?. Thursday, October 2 at 8:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street Vancouver.

VCON BOOK LAUNCH RECEPTION
Mingle and chat with a variety of science fiction and fantasy authors, editors and publishers from throughout BC, Canada and the US. Friday, October 3 at 7:00pm. Open to the public. Sheraton Vancouver Guildford, 15269 - 104th Ave., Surrey. More information at vcon.ca.

ALEX LESLIE
Alex Leslie reads from her forthcoming poetry collection, 'The things I heard about you', as part of the launch for Adrienne Gruber's new chapbook, Intertidal Zones. Friday, October 3 at 7:30pm. Heartwood Community Cafe, 317 E. Broadway, Vancouver. More information at harbourpublishing.com.

BOOK LAUNCH
Cathy Ford and Julia Leggett launch their new fall books. Sunday, October 5 at 4:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at mothertonguepublishing.com.

literASIAN 2014
Festival of Pacific Rim Asian Canadian writing. Featuring Fred Wah, Louise Bak, Lily Chow, Yasuko Nguyen Thanh, and many more. October 9-12, 2014. Details and more information at literasian.ricepapermagazine.ca.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Diane Tucker reads from her poetry collection, Bonsai Love. Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00pm. Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at harbourpublishing.com.

POETRY READING
Reading by poets Phinder Dulai and Renee Saklikar. Thursday, October 9 at 12:30pm, free. Room 7100, Special Collections, W.A.C. Bennett Library, SFU, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby. More information at lib.sfu.ca/special.

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

DIVERSE VOICES IN CANADIAN LITERATURE
Authors will introduce their latest work: Nilofar Shidmehr (Iran) Between LiveS, Phinder Dulai (South Asia) dream/arteries, and Julia Lin (Taiwan) Miah. Emcee: Narges Govahi (Iran). Sunday, October 12 at 3:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia. More information at vpl.ca.

LLAMA LLAMA PYJAMA PARTY
Dress up and meet author-illustrator Anna Dewdney as she introduces both Llama Llama and her latest creation, Nelly Gnu. Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30pm. Kidsbooks South Surrey, 15033-32nd Ave., Surrey. More information and to purchase tickets here, kidsbooks.ca.

ROBERTA RICH
Former lawyer and author of the popular historical novel The Midwife of Venice reads from the sequel The Harem Midwife. Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm. White Rock Library. More information at fvrl.bc.ca.

TIM BOWLING
Poet reads from this new work of poems exploring the challenges and joys of midlife, as well as the natural glories of the West Coast. Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More information at vpl.ca.

PEDAL
Chelsea Rooney launches her debut novel, Pedal. Readings and discussion also with Jen Neale, Erika Thorkelson, Tracy Stefanucci and Elizabeth Hand. Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30 pm. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver. Fore more information, visit http://caitlin-press.com/event/vancouver-book-reading-chelsea-rooney-pedal/.

EXTRAORDINARY PRESENCES
A workshop/performance of The Muted Note, a song-cycle of settings of poems by the Canadian poet P.K. Page, composed and performed by Scott Thomson and Susanna Hood. Thursday, October 16 at 2:00pm. Dodson room, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, 1961 East Mall, UBC. More information at ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca.

EMERGE 14
Emerge 14, the annual anthology from The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University, in which 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.

STIGMA, SHMIGMA: WRITERS ON STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT
Chelsea Rooney, Dina Del Bucchia and Leah Horlick all write audaciously on subjects that make others nervous. Hear readings from their newest works and join the conversation, facilitated by feminist writer Meghan Murphy. Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm, free. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia. More information at vpl.ca.

BOOK READING
Reading, Q&A, and Signing with Ian Weir, author of Will Starling and Aaron Bushkowsky, author of Curtains for Roy. Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at 604-879-7737.

Upcoming

WHISTLER READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL
Annual fall event celebrating the written word with renowned Canadian authors, speakers panels and workshops, and reading events. October 17-19, 2014. Complete details at whistler.com.

THE BRIDGE GENERATION
The Queer Imaging and Riting Kollective for Elders (aka QUIRK-E) will be reading stories from their recently published anthology: The Bridge Generation. Friday, October 17 at 7:00pm, free. Alma VanDusen room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia. More information at vpl.ca.

MARIE-LOUISE GAY
The Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable's Illustrator's Breakfast with Marie-Louise Gay. Saturday October 18, 2014 at the University Golf Club 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Includes breakfast. Book sales by KidsBooks. More information at www.vclr.ca.

VERONICA ROTH & TAHEREH MAFI
Bestselling teen authors are interviewed about their books. Saturday, October 18 at 2:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, Burnaby. More information at chapters.indigo.ca.

THE FUTURE OF CREATIVITY
The Artists' Legal Outreach and Books on the Radio present The Future of Creativity: Ideas for the Digital Age on October 18. A conversation with author Astra Taylor, The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age, drawing from her recent work on the nature of the digital economy and its impact on creators and creative industries, followed by a panel with new media thinkers. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/astra-taylor-the-future-of-creativity-tickets-13140546729?aff=eorg.

NIGHTWOOD EDITIONS BOOK LAUNCH
Nightwood Editions is proud to present a Vancouver book launch with four B.C.-based authors: Kayla Czaga, Alex Leslie, Matt Rader, and Elaine Woo. Sunday, October 19 at 7:00pm. The Grande Luxe Hall, 303 8th Ave. E., Vancouver. More information at harbourpublishing.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/.

AUTHORS UNBOUND
An evening of readings by five local authors/writers, who will be featuring a mix of novelists, poets, short story and non-fiction genres. Monday, October 27 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, lower level, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia. More information at vpl.ca.

BOOK READING
Reading, signing, and siscussion on Writing with Cathy Ace, author of Corpse with the Platinum Hair. Wednesday, October 29 at 6:30pm. Book Warehouse, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at 604-879-7737.

AUTHORS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Reading by the author of The Towers of Tuscany, the story of a woman who dares to follow her own path in the all-male domain of the painter's workshop. Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall West, West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

BOOK LAUNCH
English and Creative Writing teacher Crystal Hurdle launches her latest book of poetry, Teacher's Pets. Thursday, October 30 at 11:30am. Fir 206, Capilano University. More information at capilanocreativewriting.blogspot.ca.

JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL
The 30th annual Jewish Book Festival featuring an exciting roster of writers from across Canada, the US, and Israel, including Yotam Ottolenghi, Zeruya Shalev, Steven Galloway, Dr. Brian Goldman, Bob Bossin, and Mark Leiren-Young. November 22-27, 2014. More information at jewishbookfestival.ca.