Book News Vol. 9 No. 38

BOOK NEWS

Holiday Giving
Looking for a special gift for the book-lovers on your list? Look no further! The VWF has gift ideas to bring joy to readers of all persuasions, from gift certificates to memberships.
http://writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/perfect-gifts-book-lovers

AWARDS & LISTS

The longlist has been announced for the 19th International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, a prize worth €100,000. Eleven Canadian titles made the cut!
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2014/11/24/2015-dublin-literary-award-longlist-includes-11-canadian-titles/

Vancouver writer Christine Leclerc has won the bpNichol Chapbook Award for Oilywood. The $4,000 prize recognizes the best poetry chapbook published in Canada the previous year.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2014/11/24/christine-leclerc-wins-2014-bpnichol-chapbook-award/

Gary Bass has won the seventh annual Cundill Prize in Historical Literature for The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide. "The $75,000 U.S. award is the world's richest international prize for a non-fiction work, recognizing a book that has 'a profound literary, social, and academic impact in the area of history.'"
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2014/11/21/gary-bass-wins-2014-cundill-prize-in-historical-literature/

YOUNG READERS

Last week, Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. In this interview, she discusses the racist gaffe which marred her appearance at the awards, "swimming against the tide in a white industry and how her own story is entwined with that of America."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/25/jacqueline-woodson-national-book-awards-invisible

NEWS & FEATURES

The writer PD James, who charted the transformations of British life through bestselling crime fiction starring the detective Adam Dalgliesh, has died aged 94.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/27/pd-james-detective-fiction-dies-aged-94-detective-adam-dalgliesh

Literary tourism is on the rise, including in Canada! Here's a guide to Toronto's stores, sites and events for the literary-minded.
http://bookriot.com/2014/11/23/literary-tourism-toronto/

Winnie the Pooh has been barred from a Polish playground because of his "dubious sexuality" and "inappropriate" clothing. According to one local council member, Pooh "is half naked which is wholly inappropriate for children. [Poland's fictional bear] is dressed from head to toe, unlike Pooh who is only dressed from the waist up."
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/winnie-the-pooh-banned-from-polish-playground-for-being-an-inappropriate-hermaphrodite-9872278.html

There's a young adult fiction boom going on in the Arab world. "The boom in young adult fiction has left the Arab publishing world playing catch-up, as authors try to compete with Twilight and The Hunger Games without breaking cultural taboos."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/nov/21/ya-fiction-arab-world-young-adu

A shooting at Florida State University has resulted in unusual publicity for books: they saved one student's life, literally. "His backpack full of books stopped a bullet...he only realized hours later the gunman had tried to shoot him when he found a bullet among the now-shredded books he had checked out of the library. The Oxford Context of Wyclif's Thought caught the slug."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fsu-student-jason-derfuss-saved-book-bag-campus-shooting-n252536

It's a tough time to be an anti-heroine! "Monstrous men are more than welcome in serious fiction, but create an unlikeable female character and you're in for trouble."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/nov/17/readers-anti-hero-anti-heroines-fiction

What's an "authorism?" They're words coined by authors that have entered the wider language. Here are top ten words invented by writers.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/19/top-10-words-invented-writers-authorisms

The rhythms of overheard speech vary from language to language. What's English's rhythm? "English is a great language for writing headlines, and tweets, but also for hearing haiku."
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/11/18/overheard-haiku/

Why do people write on bathroom walls? It's been a human pattern for centuries. "The Roman poet Martial, who lived in the first century AD, totally zinged a rival writer with the suggestion that if he wanted to get published, he should go find a bathroom wall."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/behind-the-writing-on-the-stalls/383016/

BOOKS & WRITERS

Let Me Be Frank With You is Richard Ford's fourth work of fiction chronicling the life of Frank Bascombe, hero of his novels The Sportswriter, Independence Day, and The Lay of the Land. He's interviewed by Deborah Treisman, here:
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/living-frank-bascombe-interview-richard-ford

The protagonists of Julie Lawson Timmer's debut novel, Five Days Left, make up two very different families. One consists of a single mother recently diagnosed with Huntington's disease, and the other is a pair of foster parents who must make a difficult decision when their charge's biological mother suddenly dies. Timmer is interviewed here:
http://therumpus.net/2014/11/the-rumpus-interview-with-julie-lawson-timmer/

This year marks the 30th year anniversary of Roch Carrier's The Hockey Sweater. Now, Carrier's interest in the history of Canada's French-English divide has resulted in a new book: Montcalm and Wolfe: Two Men Who Forever Changed the Course of History.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/roch-carrier-revisits-history-closer-to-home/article21734237/

The Guardian newspaper recently hosted a webchat with Vancouver writer William Gibson. The author of Neuromancer and a new novel, called The Peripheral, answered readers' questions– "from AI to the influence of Blade Runner in our belief in the future to why he didn't predict cellphones."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/live/2014/nov/21/william-gibson-webchat-post-your-questions-now

Speaking of webchats, the Rumpus Poetry Book Club also recently organized a discussion online. You can see their chat with Michael Bazzett, author of You Must Remember This, here:
http://therumpus.net/2014/11/the-rumpus-poetry-book-club-chat-with-michael-bazzett/

Are you a fan of Spoken Word? Here's an interesting collection of readings put together by the National Park Service.
http://www.nps.gov/safr/photosmultimedia/spoken-word.htm

Published authors are being invited to apply for the 2015-2016 Haig-Brown House Writer in Residence position. Complete details here:
http://www.haig-brown.bc.ca/writer-residence.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

DAVID ZIEROTH
Book launch of the authors new collection of poems, Albrecht Durer and Me. Thursday, November 27 at 7:00pm, free. Capilano Library, 3045 Highland Blvd., North Vancouver. For more information and to register, call 604-987-4471.

GRAHAM GOOD
Author reads from his forthcoming translated poetry collection Goethe's Poems. Also reading, Jim Christie from his new poetry collection The Big Thirst. Friday, November 28 at 6:00pm. Cottage Bistro.

TOFINO & CLAYOQUOT SOUND: A HISTORY
Authors Margaret Horsfield and Ian Kennedy sign copies of their new book. Saturday, November 29 at 2:00pm. Russell Books, 734 Fort Street, Victoria.

SHORE TO SHORE
Author Suzanne Fournier launches her new book. Saturday, November 29 at 2:00pm. Bill Reid Gallery for Northwest Coast Art, 639 Hornby St., Vancouver.

AN EVENING WITH SOME OF VANCOUVER'S FAVOURITE QUEER WRITERS
Join Rachel Rose, Nat Marshik, Alan Woo, Esther McPhee and Brett Josef Grubisic as they read from their latest work. Hosted by Amber Dawn. Amber Dawn also leads the largest queer free-writing group exercise of all time! Tweet your #queerpoem to @PlenitudeMag and it will be read on stage. Saturday, November 29th. Doors at 8pm, starts at 8:30pm, at Cafe Deux Soleils. $10 at the door includes two print issues of Plenitude Magazine. For details, join the event on Facebook, facebook.com/events/742453355843036/.

MOSS-HAIRED GIRL
3-Day novel winning manuscript Moss-Haired Girl: The Confessions of a Circus Performer, A Novella by R.H. Slansky, will be launched in book form as will new issues of Geist and subTerrain. Saturday, November 29 at 8:00pm, free. The Brickhouse, 730 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at info@anvilpress.com.

TURBULENT TALES
Award-winning journalist and author Carol Shaben joins Edmonton's Historian Laureate, Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail to launch her new book, Polar Winds: A Century of Flying the North. Tuesday, December 2 at 7:00pm. Billy Bishop Legion, 1407 Laburnum St., Vancouver.

ON MALICE
Author Ken Babstock launches his new collection. Tuesday, December 2 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse, Main Street, Vancouver.

FIONNCARA MACEOIN
Author reads from her new collection of poetry, Not the First Thing I've Missed. Tuesday, December 2 at 12:00 noon. The Paperhound Bookshop, 344 West Pender Street, Vancouver.

ECHOES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Join author and historian Robert "Lucky" Budd and CBC's Sheryl MacKay to celebrate the release of his latest book. Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse, Main Street, Vancouver.

POETRY O'CLOCK
Readings featuring Helen Guri, visiting from Toronto, and great local poets Gillian Jerome, Alex Leslie and Cecily Nicholson. Thursday, December 4 at 7:00pm. People's Co-Op Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.

USED BOOK CHRISTMAS SALE
Looking for a special gift for someone on your holiday shopping list? Browse a great selection of gently used children's and adult books, CDs and DVDs. December 4-6, 2014 from 10am to 5pm. Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

SHEILA NICKOLS
Author signs her new book Looking Back at Maple Ridge. Friday, December 5 at 1:00pm. Black Bond Books, Haney Place Mall, Maple Ridge. More information at 604-463-8624.

SUSAN MCCASLIN
Author will be reading from The Disarmed Heart at the Planet Earth Poetry Series with Dvora Levin, Hillside Coffee and Tea, 1633 Hillside, Victoria, B.C., Friday Dec. 5, 2014, 7:30-9 pm.

MIKE MCCARDELL
Author will sign copies of his newest book Cardboard Ocean. Saturday, December 6 at 11:00am. Coles Bookstore, Seven Oaks Mall, Abbotsford.

CRIME WRITERS PANEL
Three local authors explain what goes into writing believable murder mysteries and thrillers, and answer all the questions that you're just dying to ask. Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm, registration appreciated. Terry Fox Library.

POETIC JUSTICE READING SERIES
Debut poets Elaine Woo and Kayla Czaga present their new books. Sunday, December 7 at 3:00pm. The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., New Westminster. More information at poeticjustice.ca.

A WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION WITH POETRY AND MUSIC
Celebrate the solstice with local poets and musicians at a fundraiser for kids in need. Features Evelyn Lau, Christopher Levenson, Bonnie Nish, Rob Taylor, Diane Tucker, Fiona Tinwei Lam, and musical performers Fraser Union, Christina Kent, Samuel Louis, and Bob Walker. Wednesday, December 10, 7-9:30pm, at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver.

Upcoming

THE CORPSE WITH THE PLATINUM HAIR
Author Cathy Ace signs her latest mystery novel. Saturday, December 13 at 1:00pm. Black Bond Books, Haney Place Mall, Maple Ridge. More information at 604-463-8624.

JILL BARBER
Join singer-songwriter as she reads from her newest children's book, Music is for Everyone! Sunday, December 14 at 2:00pm. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More informatin at emackinnon@nimbus.ca.

WINNING THE WAR
Author Mark Zuehlke offers an insightful, informative journey back to February and March 1945 when our nation's soldiers launched one of the Second World War's most important offensives in his new book Forgotten Victory: First
Canadian Army and the Cruel Winter of 1944-45. Tuesday, December 16 at 7:00pm. Alice MacKay room, lower level, Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

LUNCH POEMS AT SFU
Readings by Jacqueline Turner and Changming Yuan. Wednesday, December 17 at 12:00 noon. Teck Gallery, SFU Harbour Centre Campus, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. More information at https://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/upcoming-events/lunch-poems/readings/2014/17Dec2014.html.