Current Events

[Story]

17 Canadian comics/graphic books to watch out for in spring 2020:

https://www.cbc.ca/books/17-canadian-...

[Kathleen]

Thank you for sharing this link, Story. There are quite a few that I look forward to reading.

[Story]

Kathleen wrote: "Thank you for sharing this link, Story. There are quite a few that I look forward to reading."

It was an interesting list, wasn't it. Lots of books I'd never heard of.

[Kathleen]

@Story Yes, it is an interesting list. You are right, there were many books that I have never heard of.?

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

Tom Power's recent chat with Margaret Atwood on how she is making sense of the COVID-19 pandemic

https://youtu.be/Z_2ygjzEyDE

[Kathleen]

Thanks, Allison hikes the bookwoods. I enjoyed listening to the conversation. I always enjoy Margaret Atwood.

[Allison]

I enjoyed that! Just watched it - a fun change of pace from the usual on tv these days. Thanks, Allison!

[Mj]

I am so sorry to hear about Coteau Books declaring bankruptcy in March of this year. Must have missed the announcement in the midst of the news domination about the Corona Virus.

I only found out because I was trying to find out about the supposed "April 2020" publication of Probably Ruby by Lisa Bird-Wilson and was wondering why it wasn't in the library yet or available to purchase anywhere or listed on the Crazy for Can Lit Giller list for books published during the appropriate 2020 timeframe.

It seems this author's book, among others, was caught up in the middle of the bankruptcy declaration.

Such a shame to lose a strong regional publisher who gave a first chance to many Canadian authors. Just another reason to support local bookstores and local businesses.

https://www.moosejawtoday.com/local-n...

[Kathleen]

That is a shame.

[Mj]

Souvankham Thammavongsa, winner of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller award for How to Pronounce Knife is one of 5 finalists for the National Book Critics Circle award for Fiction. She's has some pretty stiff competition but even if she doesn't win, it's quite an honour.

The winners will be announced on March 25, 2021.

Here's a link for the finalists in all categories.
https://www.bookcritics.org/2021/01/2...

[Kathleen]

Thank you, Mj.

[❀ Susan]

It is #IReadCanadian day today (or most days for all of us)! What Canadian author are you reading today???

I am reading Jonny Appleseed

[Mj]

Thanks Susan - didn't realize it is #1ReadCanadian Day today. I am currently reading author Jessica J. Lee and her award winning book for the 2020 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction and also a contender as 1 of 5 books chosen for Canada Reads this year - Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan's Mountains & Coasts in Search of My Family's Past. Looking forward to it. Like memoirs and books about our natural environment.

[Susan]

I read a big chunk of Hench yesterday.

[Michelle]

I'm reading Crow Winter by Karen McBride.

[Heather(Gibby)]

I was and am reading The Best Laid Plans and it is great

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny Teaming Up On New Political Mystery Novel

https://apple.news/AOnZAc1A_RMu9k78H0...

[Mj]

Thomas King was announced today as the 2021 Stephen Leacock Award for Humour for Indians on Vacation.

Check out the following link for more details including the other short-listed books and their authors.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...

Didn't realize that King was part Greek.

[❀ Susan]

Great to see him winning this prize. I have met him a few times and his sense of humour and gentle nature shines through!

[❀ Susan]

https://www.cbc.ca/books/margaret-atw...

new Atwood essays coming next year!