Book News Vol. 9 No. 41

BOOK NEWS

Miriam Toews Podcast
Miriam Toews's appearance at the 2014 Festival was a highlight and received rave reviews. Listen to a recording of her sold out solo event here, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/audio-archives/intimate-evening-miriam-toews.

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

Festivals Around Town

PuSh Festival January 20-February 8

PuSh presents groundbreaking work in the live performing arts, featuring artists from around the world. Local theatre innovators Alex Lazaridis Ferguson and Steven Hill have formed a new company, Fight with a Stick, which makes its debut at PuSh with Steppenwolf. Inspired by Herman Hesse's 1927 novel of self-reflection and transformation, Steppenwolf has been specially staged for the Russian Hall. The audience is seated before a bank of mirrors: somewhere within the reflection, a story begins.

Steppenwolf
February 4–8
Russian Hall
Tickets/info: http://pushfestival.ca/shows/steppenwolf/

AWARDS & LISTS

The nominations for this year's Folio Prize are in. The prize is given to an English-language book of fiction published in the UK, though the authors can be from any country. Among the 80 chosen are David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks and The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/15/folio-prize-2015-80-titles

YOUNG READERS

Are your teenagers looking for something to read in the New Year? Here are the 13 most anticipated YA novels of 2015.
http://www.bustle.com/articles/52695-13-of-the-most-anticipated-ya-novels-of-2015-aka-what-you-need-to-be-reading

NEWS & FEATURES

Should writers respond to their critics? According to James Parker, "No, no, a thousand times no."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/books/review/should-writers-respond-to-their-critics.html?_r=0

The book business has a "diversity problem." How do we address this? Here are six ways to improve diversity in book publishing.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/65043-got-diversity-six-hacks-that-address-book-industry-diversity-21st-century-style.html

"Culture" is Mirriam-Webster's word of the year. "Merriam-Webster based its pick and nine runners-up on significant increases in lookups this year over last on Merriam-Webster.com, along with notable, often culture-driven—if you will—spikes of concentrated interest."
http://news.yahoo.com/merriam-webster-names-culture-word-082532788.html

"One cannot have too large a party." That's just one of many quotes "to live life by" assembled by The Guardian for Jane Austen Day.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/dec/16/jane-austen-in-quotes-30-tips-for-a-successful-life

"You'd think teenagers would shun traditional print books for e-readers. But the latest survey says that's not true." As it turns out, teens prefer the printed page to ebooks.
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/dec/16/teens-ebooks-ereaders-survey

CBC is set to adapt Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series. Hamilton, who appeared at this year's Writers Fest, based the series on his experience as a businessman in Asia.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/12/cbc-to-adapt-ian-hamiltons-ava-lee-mystery-series.html

BOOKS & WRITERS

Are you looking for last minute gift ideas? Here's the CBC's roundup of "our favourite Canadian books of the year."
http://www.cbc.ca/books/bestbooks2014/index.html

There are also many great books this year that haven't been as publicized in the press. Here are "27 great books you never heard about—but should've."
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2014/12/underrated_books_overlooked_fiction_nonfiction_and_comics_of_2014.html

Over a long career, Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare has "canvassed the historical and linguistic territory" of his language through essays, poetry and more than forty novels. His 1978 novel, Twilight of the Eastern Gods, has finally been translated into English, an autobiographical bildungroman set in "the procrustean warp of a Soviet communism that is international, polyglot, industrialized, but artistically inert."
http://lareviewofbooks.org/review/albania-prophet-surveillance-state

"I think most metaphors divert you from what it is you ought to be looking at," states Richard Ford in this interview with the LA Review of Books. He discusses his newest book, Let Me Be Frank With You, along with his own life, hurricanes, the old South and more, here:
http://lareviewofbooks.org/interview/decommissioned-words-interview-richard-ford

Is "confessional" writing self-indulgent? Afaa Michael Weaver doesn't think so. "He has been exploring the intersection of the personal and the public for 30 years in poetry, and in his most recent work, shows the possibilities for spiritual growth and healing in the very subjects that are often considered 'shameful.'" His newest book is called City of Eternal Spring.
http://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/convergence-personal-political-spiritual-poetry-afaa-michael-weavers-plum-flower-trilogy

Fifty writers, artists and thinkers have come together to create a new anthology in support of First Nations women. Called Kwe: Standing With Our Sisters, it is edited by Joseph Boyden.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/12/joseph-boyden-edits-new-anthology-highlighting-plight-of-first-nations-women.html

"Are you there, readers?" Judy Blume has written a new book for grown-ups. Called In the Unlikely Event, it's her first book for adults in 15 years.
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-new-judy-blume-novel-for-adults-coming-in-june-20141215-story.html

Ashley Little's new book, Anatomy of a Girl Gang, was inspired by discoveries she made about "the fascinating world of all-girl gangs—the rarest alliance in all of gang culture." Set in Vancouver, it's a multiple-perspective story of five teenage girls "who seek solace in each other while terrorizing the city." Little is interviewed, here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/2014/12/ashley-little-how-i-wrote-anatomy-of-a-girl-gang.html

Andrew Steeves, the editor and print master at Nova Scotia's Gaspereau Press has written a book. Smoke Proofs: Essays on Liteary Publishing, Printing and Typography "offers an introductory lesson on the history of print publishing that doubles as a CanLit call to arms, urging both publishers and readers to expect the best from each other."
http://www.quillandquire.com/digital-publishing-and-technology/2014/12/16/gaspereau-presss-andrew-steeves-on-publishing-and-typography/

In her new book, How Not to Write, Lisa Carver gives writers an important piece of advice: get rejected! Check out an excerpt, here:
http://therumpus.net/2014/12/the-sunday-rumpus-essay-get-rejected/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

DYLAN THOMAS: RETURN JOURNEY
starring Bob Kingdom and directed by Anthony Hopkins. The Cultch presents the farewell tour of this legendary hit production, specially conceived as one of the flagship performances for the centenary celebrations of Dylan Thomas. Playing now until December 21. Information at http://thecultch.com/events/dylan-thomas-return-journey/. Tickets from $19.

POETIC JUSTICE
Poetic Justice special holiday event-all open mic with host, Candice James, Poet Laureate of New Westminster. Sunday, December 21 at 3:00pm. Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street, New Westminster.

YOUTH POETRY SLAM
Another qualifying slam to make the youth slam playoffs in March or 2015. Monday, December 22 at 8:00pm. Cost: $4/$6-$10. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial.

POETIC JUSTICE
Poetic Justice special holiday all open mic session with host, Sho Wiley. Sunday, December 28 at 3:00pm. Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street, New Westminster.

Upcoming

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Phinder Dulai and Nilofar Shidmehr with open mic. Wednesday, January 14 at 7:00pm at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Sign up for open mic at 7 pm. More information at www.pandorascollective.com.

KRISTI CHARISH
local debut author Kristi Charish launches her new book Owl and the Japanese Circus. Monday, January 19 at 7:00pm. Central branch, 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver. More information at 604-331-3603.

A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
Featuring award winning B.C. authors and illustrators with guest speaker Kit Pearson winner of the 2014 Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence. A wine and cheese event on January 21 from 7-9pm at Creekside Community Centre. Free to Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable members and students. More information at www.vclr.ca.

SOME SORT OF LIFE
Naomi Waken, Nanaimo's first Poet Laureate, shares her latest novel, Some Sort of Life. Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00pm. Welsh Hall, West Vancouver Memorial Library.