Book Choice Of The Week

B.C. Book prizes: the nominees

The winners will be announced on April 26 at the Lieutenant-Governor’s B.C. Book Prize Gala.

City of Vancouver Book Award shortlist

By John Burns

The city has announced the four finalists for this year's City of Vancouver Book Award. The shortlisted titles are: Grant Arnold and Michael Turner's Fred Herzog: Vancouver Photographs (Douglas and McIntyre); Anita Rau Badami's Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? (Knopf Canada); Brett Josef Grubisic's The Age of Cities (Arsenal Pulp Press); Michael Kluckner's Vancouver Remembered (Whitecap Books) Mayor Sam Sullivan will present the $2,000 prize on January 29.

Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival

By John Burns

There won’t be swords at this year’s Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival, but there will be comic novelist Howard Jacobson (Kalooki Nights) coming all the way from England for an opening-night discussion with CBC broadcaster Eleanor Wachtel, and Nicole Krauss (The History of Love) closing the fest. In between, look for readings and performances by—among others—culinary writer Norene Gilletz, former Mossad agent Michael Ross (in conversation with Vicki Gabereau), and photojournalist David Rubinger.

The Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival

By John Burns

The Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival is under way, bringing together authors from across town and around the world–and, more importantly, putting them in contact with the readers who make the whole thing worthwhile. Tickets remain for several promising events–if you can't find something to bestir you, you just aren't trying.

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Word on the Street / Alberto Manguel

By John Burns

If you attend Word on the Street at and around Library Square this Sunday (September 30), make time in your day's agenda to chat with the library-worker members of CUPE 391, on strike for over two months now. (For more on the strike, see Arts Notes ) Speaking of intractable differences, Alberto Manguel delivers the 2007 Massey Lectures in five Canadian cities in October.

3 literary events to ink in

By John Burns

September’s literary calendar is filling up fast; ink in these three ways to fete our local heroes. The Capilano Review launches its latest issue on September 13 with readings by Clint Burnham, Ryan Knighton, Daphne Marlatt, Lisa Robertson, and more. The event, $8, starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Cultch.

Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival

By John Burns

Let's take a moment to plan, shall we? You've already highlighted September 6 as the date for the CBC Radio One Book Club with William Gibson (you haven't? www.cbc.ca/bc/bookclub/ for you, then), so let's concentrate on the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival's dates. October 16 to 21 is the fest proper, with an emphasis this year (its 20th) on such big-name award winners as Alistair MacLeod, Kiran Desai, Nancy Huston, Vincent Lam, Peter Behrens, and Brian Doyle; CBC Radio's Eleanor Wachtel delivers the closing Bill Duthie Memorial Lecture. There will be lots of coverage in the Straight in the coming weeks, plus full details at www.writersfest.bc.ca/ later this month. Of particular note are three special festival events. Naomi Klein discusses The Shock Doctrine on October 4. Jean Chrétien reminisces with A Passion for Politics on November 15. And Yann Martel introduces the illustrated version of his smash hit Life of Pi on December 4. Tickets for those last three will go fast; check www.ticketmaster.ca/ or 604-280-3311 in early September.

Canadian Book Camp

By John Burns

Making summertime plans for the kids? The Vancouver Public Library plays host July 9 to 13 to the Canadian Book Camp, a reading and writing retreat for kids age 11 and up. Dennis Foon, a local playwright and screenwriter is one children's author taking part. He says the camp's benefits are many: "I never met an artist or a writer or anybody until I was in university," Foon said from his Vancouver home. "So it never felt like anything that was possible.

Bruce Serafin: 1950 - 2007

By John Burns

Bruce Serafin, an editor and essayist best known for founding and running the Vancouver Review, died June 6. Serafin was born in 1950 and, as he related in his 2004 memoir, Colin’s Big Thing (Ekstasis Editions), he spent 14 years working at Canada Post.

Fugue, the 2007 edition

Anar Ali, Anosh Irani, and Madeleine Thien are just three UBC creative-writing grads to turn heads recently. Sometimes forgotten, though, are the wonder school's nonfiction alumni. Hear from tomorrow's authors of travel writing, memoir, and more at the launch of the 2007 edition of Fugue, the school's creative-nonfiction journal, on Wednesday (June 13), at the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library (350 West Georgia Street), beginning at 7:30 p.m.

UBC Robson Reading Series

By John Burns

Let's hear it for the UBC Robson Reading Series, a showcase for authors, often first-timers, representing a wide range of communities and backgrounds. Diversity is the key, which isn't surprising when you consider that cocurator Michael V. Smith just won the Community Hero of the Year title from the 2007 Xtra West Hero Awards for his dedication to exactly that.

Kelley Armstrong reading at the Pinetree Chapters

By John Burns

Ontario novelist Kelley Armstrong made quite the splash in 2001 with Bitten, her introduction to the Otherworld series of werewolves, vampires, and other beasties among us. Her latest, No Humans Involved (Random House Canada, $29.95), adds medium Jaime Vegas, one of three show-biz ghost wranglers brought to Brentwood, California, to raise the spirit of Marilyn Monroe for a reality-TV show. Vegas adds a little something extra: she really does see dead people, and they’re not happy.

Main Street Literary Tour

By John Burns

A home-grown three-pack in honour of B.C. Book and Magazine Week. The must-attend Main Street Literary Tour runs tonight (April 26) along Hipster Boulevard, marshalled by Michael V. Smith and Billeh Nickerson, from 6 p.m. For info, e-mail info@bcbookandmagazineweek.com or call 604-684-0228. Second up, the launch of the second installment of memoirs by Modernette John Armstrong. Wages (New Star Books, $21) lists the chequered CV of the long-time journalist and musician. That runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

George McWhirter talk

George McWhirter, on the job as Vancouver's first poet laureate for a month now, spreads his wings–and his message that verse is for all–with a free talk about the places that have inspired his writing next Thursday (April 19) at UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street) at 6 p.m. The campus setting is fitting; McWhirter headed UBC's creative-writing program for a decade, and has been associated with the university's PRISM magazine since 1968.

North Shore Writers Festival's short-story contest

By John Burns

Looking for a new way to entertain a passel of neighbourhood kids during March break? Why not whip up a batch of tasty coyote loaf? It's so simple: just snare and skin a coyote, blanch the meat for three hours, pound, braid, and bake. Yum! Okay, that's my entry for the North Shore Writers Festival's short-story contest. Entrants must write a maximum of 250 words incorporating the words coyote, braid, and blanch?—violence is optional—to win a $100 gift certificate to North Van stalwart 32 Books. Drop off

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