Book News Vol. 10 No. 32

BOOK NEWS

As the weather grows colder and the rain sets in, we know you're looking for a great read to keep you occupied while you're stuck indoors. May we suggest Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving? The author’s highly-anticipated fourteenth novel was published on Tuesday and it’s already garnering attention. This, from the Washington Post, “Juan Diego’s memories of adolescence around 1970 in Oaxaca compose some of the most charming scenes that Irving has ever written. [Irving’s] still an unparalleled choreographer of outrageous calamities that exist somewhere between coincidence and fate.”

Meet John Irving in person next montha at a VWF special event. Purchase your ticket early to avoid missing out.

Tuesday December 1 at 7:30pm
Vancouver Playhouse

Details and to purchase tickets, www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/john-irving.

AWARDS & LISTS

At the annual Rogers Writers' Trust Prize ceremony on November 4, Vancouver's Annabel Lyon was awarded the $25,000 Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award, which is given to an author in mid-career. For the full list of winners, click here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/rogers-writers-trust-fiction-prize-goes-to-author-andre-alexis/article27079751/

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the winners of its 2015 Governor General's Literary Awards. Guy Vanderhaeghe took home the Fiction prize for Daddy Lenin and Other Stories.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/10/28/guy-vanderhaeghe-robyn-sarah-sydney-smith-among-2015-governor-generals-awards-winners/

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named by the Baileys Prize as its "best of the best" of the last decade. The award, now known as the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, chose to mark its 20th anniversary by asking the chairs of judges of the past ten years to name their favourite.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/02/baileys-prize-crowns-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-as-its-best-of-the-best

The finalists for the BpNichol Chapbook Award have been announced. The $4,000 award is given to the best poetry chapbook published in Canada in the past year.
http://www.quillandquire.com/awards/2015/11/02/bpnichol-chapbook-award-shortlist-announced-2/

The New York Times has released its list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2015. Here they are, in alphabetical order.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/28/books/review/28-new-york-times-best-illustrated-childrens-books-of-2015.html

Susan Pederson has won this year's Cundill Prize in Historical Literature for her book The Guardians: The League of Nations and the Crisis of Empire. The $75,000 prize is one of the world's most lucrative non-fiction prizes. The book is a re-examination of the League of Nations in the aftermath of the First World War.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/susan-pedersen-wins-cundill-prize-in-historical-literature/article27077586/

YOUNG READERS

In this interview, Robin Talley, author of Lies We Tell Ourselves and a new book called What We Left Behind, talks about "writing LGBT and genderqueer characters, 'issues books' and the joys of the infuriating cliffhanger ending." For her, "it's important for fiction to show the breadth of the world we live in."
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/nov/02/robin-talley-interview-lies-we-tell-ourselves

NEWS & FEATURES

Paris' renowned bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, has opened is own literary themed restaurant. According to the store's manager, its founder had been knocking on the next door neighbour's door once a month since the 60s, asking if he could use the space to open a literary café." Dishes include "the Flapjack Kerouac" and "The Bun Also Rises."
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/oct/28/paris-bookshop-shakespeare-and-company-opens-cafe

What is good bookstore reading etiquette? Here's an illustrated guide, starring a cartoon character Jonathan Franzen!
http://mashable.com/2015/10/28/book-reading-etiquette-guide/#X.JMZvhMSGqB

How did the ellipsis arrive in English literature? "A Cambridge academic claims to have found the first use of a 'brilliant innovation' that has endured as a mark of incomplete speech."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/20/unfinished-story-how-the-ellipsis-arrived-in-english-literature

An unseen TS Eliot cat poem has been recovered. "In Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, TS Eliot gave us a Mystery Cat...Now it turns out that he also dreamed up a Gourmet Cat, in Cumberleylaude, the feline star of a previously unpublished cat poem who has a taste for ‘salmon, duck, or expensive French wines.'"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/02/pet-rescue-unseen-ts-eliot-cat-poem-recovered

BOOKS & WRITERS

Slade House by David Mitchell, is like "The Bone Clocks's naughty little sister in a fright wig-all the usual Mitchell motifs are here, plus a wicked dose of hilarity." The "ingenious" new novel germinated from a Twitter short story!
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/29/slade-house-david-mitchell-review

For the first time in 20 years, Gloria Steinem has a new book out. In this video interview conducted from her New York City apartment, she discusses her "rich, colorful life"—including travels, the influence of her parents, and key moments in her career as a journalist and activist.
https://www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/gloria-steinem-weighs-in-on-clinton-fiorina-and-000414854.html

In Mary Gaitskill's new novel, The Mare, "the author — known for depicting violent sex and lonely people-delves into the most frightening subject of all: real connection." It's a novel about how love can be "inflected by race and class and privilege."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/magazine/mary-gaitskill-and-the-life-unseen.html

"I've arrived at the age of nostalgia," says Guy Vanderhaeghe in this interview with Quill & Quire. He discusses masculinity, aging and his GG–winning story collection here:
http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/2015/10/30/ive-arrived-at-the-age-of-nostalgia-guy-vanderhaeghe-on-aging-masculinity-and-his-gg-winning-story-collection/

Last week's Guardian featured an article on Vancouver's best books. This week it features Montreal's best, as chosen by Heather O'Neill.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/oct/29/reading-cities-books-about-montreal

John Irving's 14th novel, Avenue of Mysteries, is a "vintage Irving: endearing characters, plenty of havoc." Its protagonist is a Mexican-American writer, who grew up as one of two "dump kids," scavenging glass and metal amid the trash in Oaxaca.
http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/avenue-of-mysteries-is-vintage-irving-endearing-characters-plenty-of-havoc/

In The Gold Eaters, Salt Spring Island author Ronald Wright examines the "clash of empires." Set during the Spanish conquest of Peru, it's a historical novel of exploration, invasion, conquest, resistance and enduring love. Wright is interviewed here:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/author+salt+spring+island+ronald+wright+talks+gold+eaters/11481089/story.html#ixzz3qOzOoaLZ

COMMUNITY EVENTS

LIVE SOULS
Author Serge Alternês as he presents the B&W photographs taken by Alec Wainman a medical volunteer in the Spanish Civil War (1936—1939). Thursday, November 5 at 7:00pm, free. St. Anselm's Church, 5210 University Blvd., Vancouver. More information at 604-738-4688.

MICHAEL CHRISTIE
Author reads from his latest book If I Fall, If I Die. Thursday, November 5 at 7:30pm. Smilin' Buddha Restaurant, 109 East Hastings, Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

OPEN CITY
SFU Library announces a special event at SFU Vancouver as part of SFU's 50th anniversary celebrations. Open City: One Book, One SFU featuring author Teju Cole in conversation with CBC Radio's Eleanor Wachtel. This free event will be held on Thursday, November 5th at 7PM in the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at SFU Vancouver. For more details about this event and to book your ticket, visit: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/onebookonesfu.

BETH KOPE
The Writer's Studio at SFU presents Beth Kope, author of Average Height of Flight (Caitlin Press). Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8:00 p.m. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver.

WORLD POETRY VANCOUVER
Writing Through Loss with co-hosts Elaine Woo and Anita Aguirres-Nieveras. Featured poets Chelene Knight, Deborah Kelly, Jennifer Zilm, Lara Veresi, Mariner Janes, Rene Saklikar and Bong Ja Ahn. Open mic, raffle, and refreshments. Saturday, November 7 at 1pm. Britannia Branch, VPL, 1661 Napier Street. For more information, phone 604-526-4729.

CRIME TIME TRIO
Crime Writers of Canada presents three BC mystery authors-Cathy Ace, Allan J Emerson, Don Hauka. Come and join them for banter and booktalk, signing and mingling. Saturday, November 7 at 1-3pm, North Vancouver Chapters, 1025 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. Free. For more information, phone 604-988-6881.

DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Five poets/poetry-lovers/readers/writers bring to life the works of their favourite deceased poets. Sunday, November 8 at 3:00pm. Central branch, VPL, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at deadpoetslive.com.

SUSAN MUSGRAVE
Susan Musgrave presents her new book Taste of Haida Gwaii: Food Gathering and Feasting At The Edge Of The World Sunday November 8th 7:00 pm Book Warehouse 4118 Main Street More Info. 604 879-7737.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Harold Rhenisch and Joe Denham plus open mic. Wednesday, November 11th, 7-9:30pm, at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Sign up for open mic at 7pm. More
information at www.pandorascollective.com.

SPOKEN INK
Featuring poet Bonnie Nish and her daughter Ali Denno on Thursday Nov. 12th at 8:00 p.m. at a new location, Wings Pub & Grill, 6879 Kingsway, Burnaby.

MIJI CAMPBELL
Miji Campbell author of Separation Anxiety A Coming Of Middle Age Story. Book signing Saturday November 14th 2.00 pm Book Warehouse 4118 Main St. More Info. 604 879-7737.

Upcoming

IAN RANKIN
Cuffed, the Vancouver International Crime Fiction Festival, presents a special event with Ian Rankin. Monday, November 16 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $24 plus service charges. St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, Burrard and Nelson, Vancouver. Tickets and more information at ticketstonight.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=3021.

JUNE HUTTON
June Hutton in conversation in discussion of her new novel Two-Gun and Sun Wednesday November 18th 7.00 pm. Book Warehouse Main Street Novel Nights Series. Book Warehouse 4118 Main Street More Info: 604 879-7737.

ANN WALMSLEY
Ann Walmsley author of The Prison Book Club. Reading and Book Signing. Thursday November 19th 7.00 pm Book Warehouse 4118 Main Street More Info. 604 879-7737.

JCC JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL
A week of literary events including meet-the-author opportunities, readings and panel discussions and more. November 21-26, 2015. For complete details, visit jewishbookfestival.ca.

VANCOUVER VANISHES
Book Launch of Vancouver Vanishes Narratives of Demolition and Revival featuring Caroline Adderson, Eve Lazarus, Kerry Gold, John Atkin and Michael Kluckner Monday November 23rd 7.00 pm Book Warehouse 4118 Main Street More Info. 604-879-7737.

ELIZABETH MCLEAN
Elizabeth McLean author of The Swallows Uncaged. Discussion and Book Signing. Tuesday November 24th 7.00 pm Book Warehouse 4118 Main Street More Info 604 879-7737.

CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA
Crime writers Cathy Ace. Allan J. Emerson and Don Hauka will do readings from their work, and answer questions about their experiences finding agents and publishers, online resources for writers, local writing groups, and writers' conventions. Thursday, December 3 at 7:00pm. Poirier branch, Coquitlam Public Library. More information at coqlibrary.ca.