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People, Places, Passages - An Anthology of Canadian Writing
People, Places, Passages: An Anthology of Canadian Literature features short stories, poems, memoirs, and excerpts of plays and novels in English, French, Italian, and a variety of Italian dialects. Its 98 contributors are established and prize-winning authors as well as emerging writers. The volume is the most comprehensive collection yet of Italian-Canadian writing, and a milestone in the history of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers (AICW). The writings in this anthology take readers on a journey through myriad worlds and themes: Canada and Italy, past and present, immigration, language, memory, friendship, love, fear, mystery, tears and laughter – an essential volume for students and scholars of Italian Canadiana.
550 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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October 5, 2018
Bravo to the editors of this comprehensive anthology. What a huge undertaking to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers (AICW). I can only image the long hours that would have been required to compile and organize all the material for this literary-based project.
This is no light ‘beach read’. However, it is more accessible versus scholar-based and would appeal to a wide range of readers.
Over 500 pages long, the book showcases the work of 98 Italian Canadian contributors and is dedicated to the late Venera Fazio, a well-respected volunteer for the organization and a co-editor of several Italian Canadian themed anthologies.
After reading the book, I felt I had a better understanding of this cultural and literary community. I especially enjoyed the variety of genre: from historical information about the AICW to memoir and non-fiction to plays to essays to fiction and finally to poetry. There was plenty of heartfelt emotion in the stories about the immigrant experience but enough variety in the topics to keep me reading. Some of the poetry disappointed me but with such a large collection featuring both experienced and emerging writers, that is bound to happen. Also because I don’t understand Italian or French, there were sections of the book I had to skip over, making it difficult to fully rate the anthology.
Overall, an excellent book to introduce readers to this organization and many of its members.
I should also disclose that I received a free copy of this anthology and that I know one of the three editors. I have tried to focus my comments more on the content versus the editing style.
For more information, a Question and Answer session with one of the editors appears on my blog Kites Without Strings.
This is no light ‘beach read’. However, it is more accessible versus scholar-based and would appeal to a wide range of readers.
Over 500 pages long, the book showcases the work of 98 Italian Canadian contributors and is dedicated to the late Venera Fazio, a well-respected volunteer for the organization and a co-editor of several Italian Canadian themed anthologies.
After reading the book, I felt I had a better understanding of this cultural and literary community. I especially enjoyed the variety of genre: from historical information about the AICW to memoir and non-fiction to plays to essays to fiction and finally to poetry. There was plenty of heartfelt emotion in the stories about the immigrant experience but enough variety in the topics to keep me reading. Some of the poetry disappointed me but with such a large collection featuring both experienced and emerging writers, that is bound to happen. Also because I don’t understand Italian or French, there were sections of the book I had to skip over, making it difficult to fully rate the anthology.
Overall, an excellent book to introduce readers to this organization and many of its members.
I should also disclose that I received a free copy of this anthology and that I know one of the three editors. I have tried to focus my comments more on the content versus the editing style.
For more information, a Question and Answer session with one of the editors appears on my blog Kites Without Strings.
Displaying 1 of 1 review