Bound but not gagged

B.C. publisher Dagger Editions makes queer women writers a priority

bound but not gagged — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 18:39:39 +0000

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In the early 1970s Vici Johnstone was a young woman with questions about her identity. "I'd go into the libraries and what you'd find in the libraries way back then was mostly medical," she recalls. "Medical descriptions of this condition called homosexuality."

On gender discrimination, representation in #canlit and the CWILA effect

bound but not gagged — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 17:00:25 +0000

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Many Canadian women hold a place in popular culture as iconic writers. From Lucy Maud Montgomery to Margaret Atwood to Alice Munro, women loom large in the Canadian literary scene. When it comes to the contemporary literature scene, female writers are still struggling to be acknowledged and heard.

The Canada Council for the Arts strikes a new chord with funding model

bound but not gagged — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:05:57 +0000

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The Canada Council for the Arts is reinventing itself for the better according to new CEO Simon Brault.

The council is developing a new funding model, which will be put into action in April 2017, that is a radical departure from the way the council has been run for decades Brault says.

"The way we approach funding is now less the way it was imagined in the 1960s and more the way it should be imagined in 2016," Brault says.

Literature through the eyes of Indigenous writers and readers

bound but not gagged — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:18:30 +0000

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This post is reprinted with permission from 49thShelf.com. Follow the link to see more great features and to explore the more than 80,000 Canadian books listed on the site.

Seven important parts of Nellie McClung's dynamic and complicated legacy

bound but not gagged — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:00:12 +0000

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"Never explain, never retract, never apologize, just get the thing done and let them howl."

- Nellie McClung, suffragist, writer and activist

'Animal Appetites' raises autism awareness with an unconventional alphabet

bound but not gagged — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 19:40:24 +0000

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Andrea Bull wasn't quite sure what to expect when she asked her brother Robert to illustrate the quirky alphabet inspired children's book she'd written. Robert, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of four, had been drawing for years. But what would he produce when faced with lines like "alligators eating anchovies on an airplane?"

Angel Catbirds and human dogs: A year of Canadian literature in review

bound but not gagged — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:14:39 +0000

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2015 brought Canada many things: a new sex-ed curriculum in Ontario schools, a new prime minister, and a new agreement at the Paris Climate Conference. But what about the world of literature? If you're a few chapters behind in your CanLit news here's an overview to help catch you up.

Increased funding for Canada's Council for the arts

Resilient words, resilient women: New collection highlights voices of immigrants

bound but not gagged — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 18:22:00 +0000

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Rashmi Luther looked around at the first, second, and third-generation immigrant women in the audience for the launch of Resilience and Triumph at Octopus Books in Ottawa Dec. 3.

"I don't want you to be shy," she said.

"You're not subjects in somebody else's research. You're not characters in somebody else's stories. You're telling your own narrative."

The applause was thunderous.

'Altered Genes, Twisted Truth' explores the danger and deception of GMO foods

bound but not gagged — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:13:00 +0000

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"One of the most important books of the last 50 years" writes world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall in her foreword to Steven Druker's tome Altered Genes, Twisted Truth, an alarming peek behind the curtain that shrouds the science of genetically engineered food.

Canadian culture crisis: Time for a revamp of cultural support

bound but not gagged — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:36:48 +0000

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Pages Unbound Festival connects the 'wild' with the creative

bound but not gagged — Wed, 06 May 2015 14:27:41 +0000

What is Wild Culture @ Pages Unbound Festival, you asked?

I have had many questions about one particular event that has really piqued curiosity, at the Pages UnBound Festival, (May 7-10) -- The Cabaret of Wild Culture.

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.

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?

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.

CWILA's new critic-in-residence looks forward to 2015

bound but not gagged — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:41:14 +0000

The Canadian Women in the Literary Arts (CWILA) announced last month that transgender writer, poet, performer and scholar, Lucas Crawford, will be the 2015 critic-in-residence. This marks Crawford as the first transgender critic-in-residence for CWILA.

Crawford is currently a faculty member at Simon Fraser University, where he researches what he calls the "literary history of transgender." He says that literature holds the creative reins for the direction in which conventionally skewed definitions of gender can be challenged. This is what he is hoping to do: challenge conventional ideas of gender within literature.

Canadian indie publisher: Gerbil Meets Mouse

bound but not gagged — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:01:05 +0000

Bailey J. Thompson used to love playing with her gerbils and telling stories as a child. As she grew up she began working at a publishing company, but her dream was to create inspiring literature for all ages. She wanted to share her own lessons and experiences especially with children in an accessible and relatable way. She did this through the tales of her gerbils: Mocha, Petri and Melvin, with the old Victorian dollhouse she had as a child as the background to their adventures.

Maya Angelou, legendary author, dead at 86

bound but not gagged — Wed, 28 May 2014 14:17:45 +0000

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Legendary author Maya Angelou has died at the age of 86 in North Carolina.

Angelou is best known for her series of autobiographies, which weave together powerful themes of identity, racism and family and consciously expand the parameters of the autobiographical genre.

In particular, Angelou's first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, brought her instant recognition as a Black female writer and the book became an immediate bestseller for its central portrayal of life as an African-American woman.

Spartacus Books forced out of DTES after 40-plus years

bound but not gagged — Wed, 21 May 2014 19:26:43 +0000

Spartacus Books, the iconic non-profit, collectively run, non-sectatrian Vancouver radical bookstore, is being forced out of the DTES after 40-odd years in the neighbourhood, headed for a new East Vancouver home in the Cedar Cottage/Commercial Drive area.

Over 1000 volunteers have passed through its doors since 1973, and those doors -- through several changes of specific venue - have all faced out on the same neighbourhood. Spartacus Books' forced departure brought out profoundly mixed feelings in its staff: sadness, anger and a sense of loss at being pushed out, but also hope and a sense of resolve to continue the struggle from the new location.

Farley Mowat, acclaimed Canadian author and activist, dead at 92

bound but not gagged — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:11:45 +0000

Acclaimed Canadian author, environmentalist and activist Farley Mowat has died at age 92.

Mowat authored around 40 books, won numerous awards including the Governor General's Award, was made an officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

His time studying biology at the University of Toronto after returning home from the war would go on to inform his writing. Some of Mowat's most famous and beloved books were based on his own expeditions and experiences, which allowed him to combine his love of nature and writing.

babble book club reading 'The Orenda' by Joseph Boyden

bound but not gagged — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:36:46 +0000

This month the Babble Book Club will be reading Joseph Boyden's The Orenda! Our final discussion will take place on April 22 at 8 p.m. EDT in the babble book lounge.

The Orenda is a sweeping tale about the early stages of colonization in our country. Written in a three-part narrative style, this work of historical fiction recounts the story of Bird, a Huron elder, Snow Falls, his adopted Haudensosaunee daughter and Christophe Crow, a Jesuit missionary sent into Huron territory to find converts for the French. The Orenda recently won Canada Reads, CBC's annual competition to find the book that every Canadian should read.

The Orenda won Canada Reads and I feel weird about it.

bound but not gagged — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:52:17 +0000

This week five celebrity panellists gathered with host Jian Ghomeshi for Canada Reads, our country’s annual "title fight," to decide on the book that all Canadians should read. The theme of this year's debate could be particularly relevant to rabble readers: “What is the one novel that could inspire social change in this country?” After four days of debate, Joseph Boyden's The Orenda was crowned champion yesterday morning. And I feel weird about it.

Are you Pro or Con Canada Reads?

bound but not gagged — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 01:07:40 +0000

Another Canada Reads is done and another simultaneous outcry and cheer about the validity of the program has happened. Maybe's it's the terrible weather this time of year or maybe it's the reliance on a "survivor" style format, but either way, Canada Reads has become a polarizing topic in discussions about CanLit.

"The format is the worst!" "It generates so much exposure!" "The readers don't have a voice!" "I love Jay Baruchel!" "It's just a game!"

There are lots of opinions and comments about Canada Reads and there seems only one thing left to do: we need to have a point-counterpoint with ourselves.

So, let's compare some art! The question on all our minds: Is Canada Reads beneficial to Canadian literature?

A table in Paris: Remembering Mavis Gallant

bound but not gagged — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:51:03 +0000

A café table in Paris stands empty. It is the Pablo Picasso table at Le Dôme, one of the four historic cafés at the slanting intersection where Boulevard Raspail crosses Boulevard Montparnasse. Early in the 20th century, each of these cafés buzzed with writers and artists; all are now too expensive for aspiring writers. Today's clientele at Le Dôme, Le Sélect, La Coupole and La Rotonde is a mixture of wealthy Parisians and visitors who are giving themselves a treat. Yet in 1950, when Mavis Gallant arrived in Paris, the cafés of Montparnasse were a welcome refuge for an impoverished artist.