Breaking news. Literary exhortation. Entertainments. And occasionally the arcane.
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Monday 12 July 2010
Talk to the Hand
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The avant-garde allergy to criticism, honest self-evaluation and peer dissent (something I've long complained about, especially in my cage match with Christian) is getting a real airing over at Vox Populism (see comments). I thought I would never see the day. Here's a taste from Paul Vermeersch:
"I would like to see a critical vocabulary that allows for so-called “avant garde” texts to be honestly and qualitatively evaluated. Certainly not every “avant garde” text written in Canada (or anywhere else for that matter) is “good”, but I have honestly never heard anyone who self-identifies as belonging to the “avant garde” tradition call anything “bad” that didn’t belong to a recognizably different tradition. And before this is thrown back at me, I will go on record as saying yes, a great deal of poetry written in other traditions is bad. Most of the poetry ever written is bad. I admit it is bad, and I can tell you exactly why it’s bad. But can the “avant garde” do the same?"
More here.
Twelve easy places
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PHOTO BY ROBERT J. GALBRAITH, THE GAZETTE
The Montreal Gazette on Saturday July 10 did a three-page spread (with video) on 12 of Montreal's people-friendly places inspired by Avi-Friedman's new book, A Place in Mind: The Search for Authenticity."In just under 200 pages, the McGill University architecture professor takes readers on a leisurely tour of some of his favourite places around the world: to a tea rooom in Tuscany, farmers; markets in China and England, a playground in Israel, a sculpture garden in the Canadian Arctic and more."
The Gazette feature "puts a local face to some of the global themes in Friedman's book.
Sunday 11 July 2010
Dear Mr. Alexis
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Over on their blog, CNQ publishes editor Zach Wells' response to Andre Alexis' article on reviewing culture "The Long Decline."
Friday 9 July 2010
Crows Landing
Wednesday, July 14 at 7 p.m. Tour des Arts, Le Cafetier de Sutton, 9 rue Principale nord. Sutton, Quebec. She reads with Antony Di Nardo (Alien, Correspondent).
Saturday, July 17, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Knowlton WordFest 2010, Pettes Memorial Library, 276 Knowlton Road. She reads with A.F. Moritz (The Sentinel).
Listen to an interview with Briscoe on CKUT radio
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Getting a life ... and a dog
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Amulet Books (an imprint of Abrams) has published a charming novel for teens by Art Corriveau. How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog) has been getting kudos galore. It has been chosen as a "Top 10" pick for the Summer 2010 Kids' Indie Next List. The Washington Post called it a "fresh mystery that is believable as a kid's experience." In 2007 we published Corriveau's short story collection, Blood Pudding, in our Esplanade fiction series. According to the Globe and Mail, "Corriveau's versatility is impressive--he writes of men and women, gay and straight, blind and sighted, with equal verisimilitude." Congratulations, Art!
Labels:
Art Corriveau,
Esplanade Books,
short fiction
Saturday 3 July 2010
Under the Big Top
Blogger Jacqueline Snider gives some love to Michael Harris' new collection Circus.
"I found 'Circus' a thoroughly enjoyable read. The different voices, timbres and points of view are engaging and eye-opening (and for the chihuahua Oliver, leg-lifting) in their honesty, maturity and genuine understanding of what makes--and doesn't make--human nature tick."
Here's a taste of some of Harris's poetry.
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