Five Canadian Books: #CanadaReads 2024

2024-03-04T09:18:06-05:00

This morning, the 23rd edition of Canada Reads program launches. I’ve missed the voice of a career writer in the program in recent years and now, with Heather O’Neill’s inclusion (whose Lullaby for Little Criminals was a previous Canada Reads winner) as a champion, my affection for the program’s

Five Canadian Books: #CanadaReads 20242024-03-04T09:18:06-05:00

Here and Elsewhere Reading in 2022

2023-01-20T14:48:28-05:00

On the day that I got my visitor’s card at the library here, I borrowed Marie-Louise Gay’s Mustafa (2018): a children’s story (Gay illustrates, writes, and translates) about a boy who searches for himself, in the space between his old country and his new country. Certains soirs, Mustafa rêve

Here and Elsewhere Reading in 20222023-01-20T14:48:28-05:00

Margaret Atwood Reading Month: #MARM Week Three, 2021

2021-11-16T14:18:04-05:00

Today, Margaret Atwood turns 82. For those who wish to celebrate her birthday, consider adding a candle to your favourite treat, and watching this video (in the column alongside), when she sat down with Tom Power on her 80th  in 2019. It’s a quick-fix time-travel device, YouTube, isn’t it?

Margaret Atwood Reading Month: #MARM Week Three, 20212021-11-16T14:18:04-05:00

Shadow Giller: Ian Williams’ Reproduction (2019)

2019-10-21T13:49:25-04:00

Ian Williams landed in my stack with his longlisting for the ReLit Award in 2011. This is why I read prizelists: they encourage me to read in different directions, when left to my own devices, I sometimes plod along, in familiar reading territory, simply out of habit. The title

Shadow Giller: Ian Williams’ Reproduction (2019)2019-10-21T13:49:25-04:00

Thoughts on Reading as a Shadow Giller Jury Member

2018-12-05T16:05:29-05:00

Let’s start with the obvious: it’s not perfect. This whole question of a literary prizelist. A prizelist is going to reflect many different things, from the jurors’ preferences to the prize founders’ or administrators’ networks, from the cultural zeitgeist to the political climate. It is unlikely to reflect any

Thoughts on Reading as a Shadow Giller Jury Member2018-12-05T16:05:29-05:00
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