Book News Vol. 9 No. 32

BOOK NEWS

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and the Festival is just around the corner. Still looking for Festival tickets? Check out these events:

Event 11: Waking From the American Dream - Joshua Ferris, Cristina Henriquez, Matthew Thomas; Event 13: My Way – Charles, Foran, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Eimear McBride; Event 29: An Evening with James Ellroy; Event 45: Odd Jobs – Ian Hamilton, Lee Henderson, Anne Kennedy; Event 46: The Hook – Aislinn Hunter, Eric McCormack, Sarah Waters, Ian Weir; Event 47: Truth and Fiction – Jacquiline Baker, Damon Galgut, Steven Galloway; Event 49: Not a Mystery – Herman Koch, Carrie Snyder, Russell Wangersky, Ian Weir.

Due to popular demand we have moved event 65 (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2014/events/65-ann-marie-macdonald-conversation-jerry-wasserman), Ann-Marie MacDonald in conversation with Jerry Wasserman and there are additional tickets available. For information on other event and venue changes see the Festival website here, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/2014/updates.

Special Events

Joseph Boyden & Friends
Spend an unforgettable evening with The Orenda author Joseph Boyden and Festival authors (Michael Crummey, Charles Foran, Steven Galloway, Anne Kennedy, Thomas King, Heather O'Neill, Carrie Snyder, Russell Wangersky) 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.

FESTIVAL AUTHORS

Jane Smiley is "the sort of writer who secretly drives other writers a little bit crazy. She's prolific and successful, untroubled by neuroses or blockages, with no messy blots of drinking or drug-taking on her résumé." Her latest novel is called Some Luck, and she discusses it here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/books/jane-smileys-some-luck-is-the-first-in-a-trilogy.html

Colm Tóibín's new novel, Nora Webster, belongs to a long tradition—the literature of grief. It "draws on his memories of his father's death–in doing so, it joins a rich tradition of writing about loss, from Sophocles to Joan Didion."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/02/colm-toibin-literature-of-grief

The notion of the writer sitting in a café and watching the world go by doesn't mean much to Dionne Brand. Instead, she prefers to walk the streets of the city, in her case, Toronto, in order to find its pulse "and imprint it in the pages of her books."
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2014/09/25/dionne_brands_new_novel_set_in_toronto_is_about_love.html

Michael Cho's graphic novel, Shoplifter, is "that rare thing, a graphic novel debut in which text and illustrations fit together like two halves of the same mind." It's the tale of a woman's journey from malaise to health, depression to hope, and from arrested development to the beginnings of adulthood.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2014/10/01/book-review-shoplifter-michael-cho/lVDPWcs7RNL1EOK424reeK/story.html

Why novelize a novelist's life? Arctic Summer, Damon Galgut's novel about E.M. Forster, "is the first great flowering of the post-Moffatt Forster [Moffat is one of his most important biographers], an image of the novelist that wouldn't have been nearly as credible a decade ago. What better homage can a novelist pay to a biographer than that?"
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/novelize-novelist

The protagonist of Ann-Marie MacDonald's new book, Adult Onset, is also a struggling writer, albeit a completely fictional one (with some echoes of MacDonald herself, of course). The Globe and Mail has hailed it "a masterpiece."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/with-adult-onset-ann-marie-macdonald-has-yet-again-delivered-a-masterpiece/article20913210/

Did William Gibson's Neuromancer blueprint our reality? "It's difficult to tell whether Gibson foresaw the future or whether the future, designed by technologists who idolized Gibson's novels, self-consciously imitated his novel."
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/05/american-dreams-did-william-gibson-s-neuromancer-blueprint-our-reality.html

Eimear McBride's A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing has been translated "perfectly to the stage in Corn Exchange's startling and upsetting Dublin theatre festival show about the impact of sexual abuse." The production is "courageously feminist," linking McBride to other undaunted explorers of female sexuality: Marina Abramovic and Sarah Kane.
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/sep/30/a-girl-is-a-half-formed-thing-review-eimear-mcbride-dublin-theatre-festival

AWARDS & LISTS

The finalists for the Rogers Writers' Trust fiction prize have been announced, with four of the five appearing at this year's Vancouver Writers Fest. Congratulations to Miriam Toews, K.D. Miller, Carrie Snyder, and Steven Galloway.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2014/10/01/miriam_toews_steven_galloway_among_finalists_for_rogers_writers_trust_fiction_prize.html

The Giller Prize finalists have also been named. Heather O'Neill and Miriam Toews, both coming to 2014 Writers Fest, were among the six authors to be considered for the $100,000 prize.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/scotiabank-giller-prize-toews-bezmozgis-among-six-finalists-for-100000-fiction-award/article20943614/

Last but not least, the finalists for the Governor-General Literary Awards have been unveiled. Michael Crummey, Christopher Levenson, and Thomas King, also appearing at this year's Writers Fest, were among the chosen few.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/governor-general-finalists-unveiled/article20959928/

France's Patrick Modiano wins the Nobel for literature.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/french-author-patrick-modiano-wins-the-nobel-for-literature/article21002192/

YOUNG READERS

What are the best art books for children? Here are some "inspiring books to help older children feel more confident about creating their own art."
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/oct/06/the-best-art-books-for-children

NEWS & FEATURES

The e-book is a medium that's unstable in its very nature, as technology is upgraded constantly, content is modified, advertisements are swapped in and out, and access is rescinded. Taking all this into account, how do libraries, therefore, preserve them?
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/64271-check-it-out-with-michael-kelley-how-libraries-preserve-e-books.html

Every year Book Riot compiles a list of the ten best literary TED talks of the year. This year's includes Isabel Allende on "how to live passionately," literary critic Stephen Burt's take on "why people need poetry," and designer Matthew Carter's "life in typefaces."
http://bookriot.com/2014/10/06/10-best-literary-ted-talks-year/

Speaking of design, the city of Calgary has revealed pans for a stunning new library. "If these 3D renderings are any indication, Calgarians can expect to have one of the world's most ambitious, modern and beautifully designed downtown libraries in the near future."
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/09/see-designs-for-calgarys-incredibly-beautiful-new-library.html

Meanwhile, at the library in Westport, Connecticut, two new creatures are set to appear: robots who walk, dance and talk in nineteen different languages...and will help you find your books.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/coming-soon-to-the-library-humanoid-robots-1412015687

But why ask your friendly neighbourhood robot for help when you could just mine the literature of your Gchat history instead? In this Salon piece, we learn about "our Gchats, ourselves: Why chat excerpts make good literature."
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/01/our_gchats_ourselves_how_the_g_transcript_became_the_closest_chronicle_of_modern_life/

BOOKS & WRITERS

"You have to live with your mind your whole life. You build your mind, so make it into something you want to live with" says Marilynn Robinson in this interview with The New York Times. Lila is her first novel since 2008, one of two sequels (of sorts) to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/magazine/the-revelations-of-marilynne-robinson.html

"A book can be an inspiration or a murder weapon," says Lyudmila Ulitskaya, whose new novel, The Big Green Tent, will be appearing in English-language markets next year. It was written as a challenge to the Russian state, addressing subjects that just might make many readers uncomfortable.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/06/weight-words

Scheherazade, by Haruki Murakami, is the name of this week's New Yorker story. It's a tale of a man being held in a house that he cannot leave, visited twice weekly by a woman who "has been hired to bring him food and supplies, and perhaps also to attend to his sexual needs."
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/13/scheherazade-3

Famed film director David Cronenberg has written his first novel, Consumed, called "one of the strangest books you'll encounter all year." He discusses the book, and more, here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/david-cronenbergs-debut-novel-consumed-is-one-of-the-strangest-books-youll-encounter-all-year/article20915200/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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

BOOK LAUNCH
Readings by Alex Leslie, Rita Wong and lee williams boudakian. Thursday, October 9 at 7:00pm, free. Pulp Fiction Books, 2422 Main Street, Vancouver.

DOUBLE BOOK LAUNCH
Featuring new poetry by Janet Rogers and Chris Bose. Thursday, October 9 at 7:00pm, free. Grunt Gallery, 116-350 2nd Ave. E., Vancouver.

WORLD POETRY VANCOUVER
Celebrate World Poetry Canada International Peace Festival with an evening with poets Ariadne Sawyer, Angelica Pohveherskie, Anita Aguirre Nieveras, Yilin Wang, Bong Ja Ahn, Peter Lojewski, Selene Bertelsen, Una Bruhns, and Jemma Downes. Saturday, October 11 at 1:00pm, free. Britannia branch, VPL, 1661 Napier 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.

LUNCH POEMS AT SFU
Tim Bowling and Donato Mancini are the featured poets. Wednesday, October 15 at 12:00 noon, free. SFU Harbour Centre's Teck Gallery, 515 W Hastings St. For more information visit www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/lunchpoems.

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
Tim Bowling reads from his new book, Circa Nineteen Hundred and Grief (Gaspereau Press). Sponsored by The Alcuin Society, Gaspereau Press and VPL. Wednesday, October 15, at 7:00 pm, free. Peter Kaye Room, Central Library, 350 West Georgia, Vancouver. More info at alcuinsociety.com/blog.

DAN NEIL
Launch of the author's new novel My June. Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm, free and refreshments will be provided. Delta Town and Country Inn. More information at ronsdalepress.com.

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.

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.

LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS
Vancouver writer Sam Wiebe reads from his latest book. Friday, October 17 at 7:00pm. Pulp Fiction Books, Main street.

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.

EILEEN KERNAGHAN
Author reads from her new book Sophie, In Shadow. Sunday, October 19 at 1:00pm. Renaissance Books, 43-6th Street, New Westminster. More information at renaissancebookstore.com.

THE OUTER HARBOUR
Poet and writer Wayde Compton reads from his debut short-story collection The Outer Harbour, which explores themes of race, migration, home, colonialism, and gentrification. Sunday, October 19 at 2:00pm, Alice MacKay room, VPL, 350 W. Georgia.

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.

Upcoming

JANE EATON HAMILTON
Author reads from her new book Love Will Burst Into A Thousand Shapes. Also features Susan Paddon. 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/.

SURREY INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' CONFERENCE
The 21st annual writers' weekend features over 70 workshops and chances for one-on-one meetings with well-known authors, agents, and editors. October 24-26, 2014. Sheraton Guildford Hotel, 15269 104th Ave., Surrey. More information at siwc.ca.

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.

CANADIAN SPACEWALKERS
Join CBC Quirks & Quarks' Bob McDonald for an astonishing journey into the stars to celebrate Canadian Spacewalkers: Hadfield, MacLean and Williams Remember the Ultimate High Adventure. Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00pm. H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, 1100 Chestnut, Vancouver. Register by calling 604-738-7827.

ECHOES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Reading by Robert "Lucky" Budd from his new book Echoes of British Columbia. Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00pm, free. Book Warehouse, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver.

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.

SECOND GROWTH
Author Fabienne Calvert Filteau’s launches debut collection of poetry. Also featuring local poets Jen Currin, Surya Govender and Daniela Elza. Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00pm. People's Co-op Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Dr Vancouver. For
more information: Co-op Books: (604) 253-6442 or daniela@livingcode.org.

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.

LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS
Vancouver writer Sam Wiebe reads from his latest book. Saturday, November 1 at :00pm. Chapters, Strawberry Hill.

NOIR AT THE BAR
A night of crime fiction. Drink, mingle and hear eight talented mystery writers read: E.R. Brown, D.B. Carew, Dietrich Kalteis, Owen Laukkanen, Charlotte Morganti, Linda L. Richards, Robin Spano and Sam Wiebe. Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00pm, free. Shebeen Whisk(e)y House, behind 212 Carrall, Vancouver.

DEAD POETS READING SERIES
To mark Remembrance Day, five local writerers with extensive public reading experience will read from the work of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, Keith Douglas and Denise Levertov on Sunday 9th November at 3 p.m. in the Alice Mackay Room, lower level, Vancouver Public Library., 350 West Georgia Street. Free.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Elaine Woo with Jen Currin and Christine Leclerc. Wednesday, November 12, 7:00pm. The Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. More information at www.pandorascollective.com.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS: A GALA FUNDRAISER
In support Pandora's Collective's Poetry Outreach Program at the BC Children's Hospital's Eating Disorder
Clinic for Youth under the age of 18. This 1920s themed event hosted by RC Weslowski features music by local songstress Sharon Bryson and visits from literary greats. Saturday, November 15 from 7-10pm at Vinci's Caffe and Gallery, 194 West 3rd Avenue. Tickets are only $45 (or $35 if you're a member of Pandora's Collective) and includes a glass of wine and canapes. Details and to purchase tickets: bit.ly/1qr0TLw.

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.