Lauren Scott

'We are the story of the women who die': 'In-Between Days' chronicles life with cancer

rabble staff — Wed, 11 May 2016 21:01:18 +0000

May 19, 2016

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Teva Harrison's debut graphic memoir offers an intimate look at the vibrant life of a cancer patient.

'Night Moves' brings new light to the shadows of Canada's North

rabble staff — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:10:45 +0000

September 24, 2015

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"Why do you place such haunting red hand prints throughout all of your paintings?" asks one character to another in 'Skull.Full.Of.Rust' one of the many short stories in Dene author Richard Van Camp's latest collection, Night Moves.

Dene author Richard Van Camp's latest short story collection "Night Moves" finds us back in Fort Simmer with some friendly faces, but wholly new and haunting experiences.

Veganism might be for you, but it's not for me: A true story

Vegan Challenge — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:52:50 +0000

I've been a vegetarian for almost five years now and this has never been a problem for me.

Morally, I feel as if I line up with veganism more than vegetarianism. My reasoning for going vegetarian in the first place was because I've always felt uncomfortable with the idea of eating a dead animal. I've always been an animal person, and eating my friends was just a little too icky for me.

Environmental activist Ann Cavlovic talks 'non-preachy' climate activism

bound but not gagged — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:14:40 +0000

Last Wednesday was Earth Day, one of the few days left that we actually think about the environment and how we affect it. Although we live upon its surface and exploit its resources 365 days a year (and that extra day every four years), it's not often that the average person thinks about the environment. Is that because we don't care or think about it? Or is it the fact that environmental activism can sometimes come across as preachy or holier-than-thou to the average carbon sucking vampires of our world? It's a toss up. However, there are some writers who are driving a stake in the heart of common conceptions around environmental activism.

128 km later: How to hold on after your life doesn't make sense

rabble staff — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:55:17 +0000

April 23, 2015

"Lemme just get this out of the goddam way; I'm nervous as all hell. Nervous because you may or may not relate to the mess that follows."

This is how Paul Dore's debut novel, The Walking Man, opens: an intimate conversation with the narrator, our unnamed protagonist. A bundle of nerves, the character spills out his anxieties, struggles with depression, fears of opening up to people, of never finding love.

This book is that over-sharing friend we all have, and yet readers should not be intimidated or scared off by its candidness.

Paul Dore's 'The Walking Man' blends reality and fiction during a journey of self-discovery after a particularly tumultuous year. Dore opens up about the books and his hopes here. Hold on, reader.

Q&A with George Elliott Clarke

bound but not gagged — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 17:53:06 +0000

A little while ago, I got to speak to one of my favourite poets: George Elliott Clarke. Originally from Nova Scotia, Clarke now lives in Toronto, where he is currently the appointed poet laureate. Clarke has 13 published collections of poetry and is in the process of writing his life's work: a three part epic poem, his version of Dante's hell. An expert in the academic field of Black Canadian literature, Clarke puts the study in perspective, and shed some light on the current situation of Black Canadian authors and poets.

Could you tell me a little bit about yourself and your work?

Sex, drugs and pyromania: 'The Green Hotel' exposes Toronto's underbelly

rabble staff — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 22:39:23 +0000

March 26, 2015

First time author, Jesse Gilmour was introduced to the Canadian arts scene as a subject of a book instead of as a writer. His father, the infamous David Gilmour, wrote the memoir The Film Club, which talks about their relationship around the time when Jesse dropped out of high school.

Jesse Gilmour explores the father-son relationship in the most extreme of terms. What will a father do for a son, and what will a son ask of a father?

Immigration barriers: 'Ru' by Kim Thúy wins Canada Reads

bound but not gagged — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:30:59 +0000

Canada Reads came to a close today and Kim Thúy's debut novel Ru (translated by Sheila Fischman) won Canada's annual "title fight."

I have to say, that at the beginning of the week, I thought that The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King was the sure choice. When it got knocked out on Tuesday, everything became uncertain. It seemed as if it was all up in the air.

'And the Birds Rained Down' is down and out of Canada Reads 2015

bound but not gagged — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:46:35 +0000

In a four-to-one vote, Martha Wainwright was the only panelist left rooting for And the Birds Rained Down by Jocelyne Saucier (translated by Rhonda Mullins). Unfortunately #50ShadesofMarthaWainwright was not enough to stay in the competition. I will be expecting to see even more shades tomorrow.

After losing The Inconvenient Indian yesterday, the audience was nearly silent when And the Birds Rained Down was voted off today. Perhaps they were still in shock. I know I was.

Today was also surprising because And the Birds Rained Down was the book that sounded the most interesting to me, as far as sit-down-with-a-hot-beverage enjoyment goes. Either way, I know I will be reading it sometime soon.

'The Inconvenient Indian' is conveniently kicked off of Canada Reads

bound but not gagged — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:34:44 +0000

The second day of Canada Reads came as a total shocker as Thomas King's The Inconvenient Indian was voted out of the competition.

Each of the remaining books: Ru, And the Birds Rained Down, When Everything Feels Like the Movies and The Inconvenient Indian received one vote against them. It all came down to the defendant of When Everything Feels Like the Movies, Elaine "Lainey" Lui, who did not hesitate to vote for The Inconvenient Indian.

'Intolerable' is the first cast off for Canada Reads 2015

bound but not gagged — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:53:47 +0000

So the first day of Canada Reads has come to an end and Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes by Kamal Al-Solaylee has been voted out of the running to be "the book that breaks barriers."

Although Kristen Kreuk defended her position valiantly, it was ulitmately Cameron Bailey's vote that cast her out of the competition.

Who do you think will be next?

Watch with me tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET at http://www.cbc.ca/books/

Follow me at @laurenscawt and join the conversation with #rabbleReads! I want to hear from you!

Read into it: Three things to consider with Canada Reads 2015

bound but not gagged — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 20:03:55 +0000

It's that time of year again, Canada's annual reading reality show, Canada Reads, is back! Next week, March 16-19, the battle of the books, hosted by last year's defending champion, Wab Kinew (who defended Joseph Boyden's The Orenda), is on and more controversial than ever. Before controversy, let's talk about what books we can expect to see this year.

Q+A with poet Kevan Anthony Cameron A.K.A Scruffmouth

bound but not gagged — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:59:43 +0000

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your work?

A: My name is Kevan Anthony Cameron, I’m also known as Scruffmouth. I'm a spoken word artist and a scribe. Basically, I'm a writer and a performer. I was born in Edmonton Alberta and my family is Jamaican. A lot of my cultural sensibilities come from my upbringing and my culture, and that is very much a part of my work…

It was probably about ten years ago, almost 11 years ago actually, that I first performed spoken word at a poetry slam and that kind of opened up a new world that I still live in and I kind of use all of my experiences now to either express myself now or gain employment.

Vancouver Chapters closing: What does this mean for the big-box books business?

bound but not gagged — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 12:38:00 +0000

It was announced last month that the Robson Street Chapters in Vancouver will be closing on June 30, 2015. The "department store for book lovers" has closed stores in various locations across Canada including Toronto's John St., Richmond St. W. and Bloor West locations last year. The Robson flagship store is just another closure to add to Chapters' growing list.

CBC Canada Reads 2015 list announced

bound but not gagged — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:55:59 +0000

The CBC released its final book choices and pannelists for Cananda Reads 2015 today. The longlist was cut down to five contenders that will be under debate by notable Canadian panellists. This year's battle of the books will include:

1) And the Birds Rained Down by Jocelyne Saucier, translated by Rhonda Mullins. And the Birds Rained Down will be championed by Canadian songstress, Martha Wainwright.

2) Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes by Kamal Al-Solaylee. Intolerable will be championed by British Columbia actress, Kristin Kreuk.