Book News Vol. 9 No. 51

BOOK NEWS

My Way Podcast
Today's podcast release features three of the 2014 Vancouver Writers Fest's most intriguing authors, on stage together in an event aptly titled My Way. Charles Foran, Karl Ove Knausgaard, and Eimear McBride are pioneers arriving triumphantly in new literary lands. Writing in the risk zone of the unconventional often comes with a personal cost-and sometimes results in great reward. Listen to a podcast here, http://writersfest.bc.ca/audio-archives/my-way.

A Dram Come True
A whisky tasting fundraiser in support of the Vancouver Writers Fest.

Join us at Hycroft, the perfect spot to share a dram with old pals or make new friends while enjoying uisce beatha (the water of life). Sample rare and distinguished single malts curated by Dave Mason, President of the West Coast Whisky Society. Just confirmed: Pemberton Distillery will be pouring their 2011 Pemberton Valley Organic Single Malt Whisky.

Tickets: $120
Preview Tasting Tickets (access to bars 45 minutes early): Add $40
7:30pm, June 5 at Hycroft
Details and to purchase tickets here, http://writersfest.bc.ca/events/dram-come-true.

Incite 2015
An evening of memoir with Cathie Borrie (The Long Hello), Lynette Loeppky (Cease) and Kara Stanley (Fallen). Details: https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.

FREE!
7:30pm, March 25
Alice MacKay room, VPL Central Library
Click here for details: https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite

AWARDS & LISTS

Miriam Toews' novel, All My Puny Sorrows, has been nominated for the UK's Wellcome Book Prize. The £30,000 award highlights books that engage "with some aspect of medicine, health, or illness."
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/03/09/miriam-toews-nominated-for-wellcome-book-prize/

The longlist for the Baileys Women's Prize has been released. Emily St. John Mandel and Heather O'Neill are among the nominees.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/10/baileys-womens-prize-for-fiction-longlist-in-pictures

British Columbia authors Kim Fu and Raziel Reid have both been named as finalists for the U.S. Triangle Awards. Fu is nominated for the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction for her novel For Today I Am a Boy, and Reid for the Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction for When Everything Feels Like the Movies.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/03/10/kim-fu-and-raziel-reid-finalists-for-u-s-triangle-awards/

The Canadian Library Association has announced two award shortlists: the Young Adult Book Award and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. Former Writers Fest authors, including Maggie de Vries, Mariko Tamaki, Rémy Simard and Kyo Maclear are among the nominated.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/03/05/canadian-library-association-announces-two-award-shortlists/

Seventeen Canadian authors have been nominated for the Lambda Literary Awards. The awards recognize excellence in LGBT literature.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/03/04/sixteen-canadian-authors-nominated-for-lambda-literary-awards/

YOUNG READERS

Here are three new picture books worth a read: See You Next Year, by Andrew Larsen; Home, by Carson Ellis; and Dinosaurs from Head to Tail, by Stacey Roderick.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/three-new-picture-books-worth-a-read/article23328774/

NEWS & FEATURES

Sir Terry Pratchett, known for his Discworld series of fantasy novels, has died at age 66.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31858156

Shakespeare & Company, one of the world's most famous bookstores, has launched a new international online presence. The new site has not only been redesigned, but "they've also introduced a place for news and updates called 'Le Blog,' started a Tumblr called 'Down the Rabbit Hole,' and created the capability to send physical books from Paris to customers worldwide."
http://www.mhpbooks.com/shakespeare-company-in-paris-launches-new-website-and-will-ship-books-worldwide/

Is an app that censors profanity in books a good or bad thing? "Execution hiccups aside, the app makes one thing very clear: Ebooks have a flexibility that could completely change the extent to which censorship or sanitization is possible–and the extent to which authors' copyrights give them control over their texts."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/09/clean-reader-app-ebooks_n_6831570.html

A new Guinness World Record has been set for longest book Domino chain! You can check out a video of all 5, 318 books tumbling here:
http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/03/06/new-guinness-world-record-set-for-longest-book-domino-chain-5-318-books-video/

What makes a book re-readable? "Going back to a book is a way of daring that past self to find new evidence for that old love."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/books/review/which-books-do-you-read-over-and-over-again.html

Harry Potter fans are crowdfunding to buy their own real-life Hogwarts Castle. The group is looking at a castle near Gdansk, Poland which "has been for sale 'for years,' but is secretive about their other options: 'we don't want to tip off the sales people and make them raise their prices!'"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/11434993/Harry-Potter-fans-1-million-plan-to-buy-Hogwarts-castle.html

What are the world's most translated books? Here's an infographic which lists the 50 most translated, including the Canadian classic Anne of Green Gables.
http://electricliterature.com/infographic-the-worlds-most-translated-books/

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei has gone on a tweeting spree about his favourite authors. "In a series of tweets to his more than 100,000 followers, he proclaimed his admiration for Soviet authors Mikhail Sholokhov and Alexei Tolstoy."
http://www.mhpbooks.com/ayatollah-khamenei-isreading/

BOOKS & WRITERS

Kazuo Ishiguro has laid to rest rumours that he is a genre snob. "The author has taken criticism for his treatment of the fantasy genre in his new novel, The Buried Giant, but says 'I am on the side of the pixies and dragons.'"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/08/kazuo-ishiguro-rebuffs-genre-snobbery

Umberto Eco is set to publish a new novel in English called Numero Zero. "The novel links two stories: one about the shooting of Mussolini and his mistress at Lake Como in 1945, and one about a hack writer named Colonna in 1992 Milan."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/10/umberto-eco-new-novel-numero-zero

Daniel Torday's novel, The Last Flight of Poxl West, is "both a touching, old-fashioned drama about war and love...and a more modern framing tale that makes us rethink the impulses behind storytelling." In it, a 15-year-old boy worships his uncle Poxl, a World War II bomber pilot, who turns out to be a little different from what he's claimed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/books/review-the-last-flight-of-poxl-west-by-daniel-torday.html

When Raziel Reid began writing Everything Feels Like the Movies, he found inspiration in Vancouver's Mountain View Cemetery. "I would sit by a tree and dream...it felt sort of spiritual, and I used to try to summon Larry Forbes King when I was writing." He discusses this, and more, here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/reflections-of-author-raziel-reid-in-when-everything-feels-like-the-movies/article23334167/

Kim Echlin's novel, Under the Visible Life, explores the bond between artist and instrument. "Any novel about a gifted musician must reckon with the love triangle that will eventually emerge. How can human love–messy, imperfect, bittersweet–compete with the pure and intense bond between musician and instrument?"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/exploring-the-bond-between-artist-and-instrument-in-under-the-visible-life/article23333894/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

SOUTHBANKS WRITERS' PROGRAM READING SERIES
Featured poets Pam Galloway & Susan McCaslin will read from their new works. Thursday, March 12 at 6:30pm. Surrey City Centre Library, 10350 University Dr., Surrey. More information at surreylibraries.ca.

BOOK LAUNCH
Graham Good reads from and discusses Goethe's Poems, as well as his previous translation, Rilke's Late Poetry. Thursday, March 12 at 6:30pm. Banyen Books & Sound, 3608 4th AVe. W., Vancouver.

WORDS ON THE WATER
Featuring David Carpenter, Ivan Coyote, Steven Galloway, Sarah Leavitt, Bernice Lever, Derek Lundy, Richard Wagamese, and Kathleen Winter. March 13-14, 2015. Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 Island Highway, Campbell River, BC. Details at wordsonthewater.ca.

A CELEBRATION OF GAIA AS A MUSE
North Vancouver based poet, librettist and non-fiction writer Elaine Woo reads from her debut poetry collection Cycling With The Dragon. Saturday, March 14 at 1:00pm. Brittania branch, VPL, 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver. More information at nightwoodeditions.com.

GERALD LASALLE
Author of Widow Walk presents his latest book Isthmus. Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30pm. Newton branch, Surrey Public Library. More information and to register, phone 604-598-7406.

LUNCH POEMS AT SFU
Erin Mouré and Andrew McEwan are the featured poets. Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 12:00 noon, free. SFU Harbour Centre's Teck Gallery, 515 W Hastings St. For more information, visit www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/lunchpoems.

MARILYN DUMONT
Reading by critically acclaimed Indigenous author and poet. Wednesday, March 18 at 12:00pm, free. Liu Multi-Purpose Room, Liu Institute for Global Issues, 6476 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver. More information at cwila.com.

MARY NOVIK
Author in discussion of her novel Muse. Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse Main Street. More information at 604-879-7737.

SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA
Author reads from her debut novel Signal To Noise. Thursday, March 19 at 7:00pm. Storm Crow Tavern, 1305 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.

POETRY READING
Pam Galloway and Susan McCaslin at People's Co-op Bookstore. Both poets will be reading from their new works, Pam's volume of poetry (Passing Stranger) and Susan's memoir (Into the Mystic: My Years with Olga), both from Inanna Publications. People's Co-Op Bookstore, March 19, at 1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, 7-9 pm. Host, Nancy Tam:

Upcoming

PEN AND SWORD
Authors C.C. Humphreys, Sebastien de Castell and Kris Sayer will discuss their personal journeys studying swordplay to enrich their writing, characters and stories. Monday, March 23 at 7:00pm. Central Branch, VPL. More information at 604-331-3603.

NOIR AT THE BAR
Drink, mingle and hear talented local authors read. Featuring Linda L. Richards, Robin Spano, Owen Laukkanen, Sam Weibe, Glynis Whiting, E.R. Brown, Charlotte Morganti, and Dietrich Kalteis. Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00pm. Shebeen Whisk(e)y House, 210 Carrall St., Vancouver.

BRANDON MULL
Author of the Five Kingdoms series reads from his latest book Crystal Keepers. Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, Burnaby.

WRITING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Susan McCaslin will be offering a reading and short writing workshop based on her new spiritual autobiography Into the Mystic: My Years with Olga. Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30pm, free. Banyen Books and Sound, 3608 4th Ave. W., Vancouver. More information at banyen.com.

NVCL LOCAL AUTHOR SERIES
Readings by Amir Ahmad Nasr and Pasha Parvaneh Hashemi. Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00pm, free. North Vancouver City Library, 120 W. 14th Street, North Vancouver. More information and registration here, nvcl.ca/calendar.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features George McWhirter and Tina Biello plus open mic. Thursday, March 26 at 7:00pm. 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.

DARK SIDE II
Andrew Pyper (The Damned) and Nick Cutter (The Deep) present their latest books. Monday, March 30 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, Burnaby.

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Readings from Candice James, New Westminster's Poet Laureate and George Fetherling, author of many books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30pm. New Westminster Public Library, New Westminster. More information and registration at 604-527-4667.

AN EVOLVING CITY
Event featuring George Bowering and Wayde Compton. Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm, free. Pulp Fiction, 2422 Main Street, Vancouver.

UNHANGED AUTHOR
Free workshop for writers thinking of entering the 2015 Arthur Ellis Unhanged Author competition. Saturday, April 11 from 10am to 5pm. VPL Central branch, 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver. Complete details at crimewriterscanada.com.

NEIL MCKINNON
Author reads from his new book The Greatest Lover of Last Tuesday. Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00pm, free. VPL Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

NORTH SHORE WRITERS FESTIVAL
Sixteenth annual festival featuring John Vaillant, Heather O'Neill, Zsuzsi Gartner, Grant Lawrence and others. April 17-18, 2015. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. Complete details at northshorewritersfestival.com.

ARTHUR ELLIS SHORTLIST EVENT
Cathy Ace will be grilling a panel of her fellow BC crime writers including Don Hauka, Owen Laukkanen, Kay Stewart and Sam Wiebe about their latest, and forthcoming, works, as well as their writing styles and habits. Thursday, April 23 at 7:00pm, free but registration required. Bob Prittie Metrotown branch, Burnaby Public Library. Information and registration at 604-436-5410.

RACHEL HARTMAN
Author of Seraphina reads from her latest book, Shadow Scale. Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00pm, free but registration required. McGill branch, Burnaby Public Library. Information and registration at 604-299-8955.

CASCADIA POETRY FESTIVAL
Features more than forty poets from across Cascadia, a bioregion that stretches from California to Alaska, including Sam Hamill, Brenda Hillman, Robert Bringhurst, Susan Musgrave, Sharon Thesen, Joanne Arnott, and Stephen Collis. April 30-May 3, 2015 in Nanaimo, BC. Complete details at cascadiapoetryfestival.org.

PAUL YEE
Meet the author of Dead Man's Gold and Ghost Train. April 30 at 10:00am. Newton Library meeting room, Newton Library, Surrey. More information at 604-598-7408.