April 2, 2007

Now reading

Now reading: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, my April classic. Next up is Certainty by Madeleine Thien. And I’m looking forward to hearing Jacqueline Baker and Lionel Shriver read at Harbourfront on Wednesday.

Posted in literary events, now reading | No Comments »

February 6, 2007

From YA to Feldman

My favourite bookish link of the week is Lois Lowry’s blog. She has a website too. I loved her Anastasia books when I was young, and I am going to be rereading the first one in the near future. It occured to me yesterday that my first references to Freud, Gertrude Stein and Billie Holiday were courtesy of her. I’m glad she’s made a such a fine place for herself online. Another YA author I enjoyed who has done so is Marilyn Sachs, and looking through her bibliography brought back quite a few memories.

Speaking of ghosts of books past, I found Stump the Bookseller recently while searching for the book Me and Fat Glenda. My google query was “burgers” and “inez” (marvelous thing seach engines) and evidently someone had had a similar question because this book had appeared at Stump the Bookseller. Readers write in with bits they can remember of long-lost books, their queries are available for perusal, and you can fill in other readers’ gaps, or check out the “solved” section to bring back memories of your own. It’s quite cool.

Along the lines of YA, I’ve been inspired to read The Unreluctant Years: A Critical Approach to Children’s Literature by the most famous Toronto librarian of all, Lillian H. Smith. Recommended by the booklet “100 Memorable Books” which I picked at my local branch of the Toronto Public last week. And you should get one of those if you’re able. It’s a list of books recommended by TPL librarians as not necessarily the best or most important books, but books which have had an impact on their own lives. It’s a lovely booklet with great commentary and best of all, it’s free. Thank the TPL. I always do.

Further in Toronto things, check out Write Around Town, a new column by Ragdoll whose blog I enjoy. February is bursting with bookish business.

And finally, I think I’m starting a new feature here at Pickle Me This. This past month I’ve been banned from the internet Wednesday to Friday between 8:30 and 5:30. I’ve made my husband take the internet cable to work with him because I have the most incredible talent of whiling my time away on internet inanities. Last week’s was my high school’s ‘where are they now’ page, which provided an afternoon of fun to my BFs Britt and Jennie when I sent it their way. “This is a goldmine” quoth Britt. Oh Britt, it gets better. This week’s time-sucker was the best site on all the net, Corey Feldman’s homepage. This site is essential. If it weren’t for this site, we couldn’t have had this conversation tonight at dinner:
S- (talking about something I can’t remember) is very zen.
K- Corey Feldman’s son is called Zen.
S- Who’s Corey Feldman?
It seems they didn’t have him in England. But really folks, if it weren’t for Corey Feldman’s homepage, I could never have segued into the most important conversation my husband and I have ever had.

Posted in bookishly, curiosities, kids books, literary events, time suckers | No Comments »

February 1, 2007

Sites to see

The big news is that echolocation issue six is online and it’s beautiful. The launch is tomorrow night, Thursday, February 1st, 2007 8pm and thereafter at Labspace Studio, 276 Carlaw Ave., Suite 202. www.labspacestudio.com.

Also online, I’ve just found Jennica Harper’s website, where you can find out more about this fabulous poet/screenwriter/comedian/teacher/etc/etc.

And finally, we bring you every book Art Garfunkel has read since June 1968 (via 50 Books). The world has beeen waiting too long.

Posted in bookishly, links, literary events | No Comments »

January 29, 2007

Woolf at Pratt

The EJ Pratt Library at Victoria College, University of Toronto (the library I like to call my own) is home to the renowned Bloomsbury & Hogarth Press Collection, which comprises (in part) The Virginia Woolf Collection. In honour of the 125th anniversary of Virginia Woolf’s birth, the library is currently featuring a mini-exhibition of some materials from the Woolf collection, from first editions to finger puppets, and there is some really great stuff to see if you’re in the neighbourhood.

Posted in literary events | No Comments »

January 21, 2007

Call for Submissions

Now seeking submissions is echolocation, which through its last two issues has proven itself one of the best new literary journals in Canada. (Watch for the Issue 6 Launch on Feb. 1 details to follow). As fiction editor, of course, I’ve calling for short fiction submissions in particular. See here for details, and email me if you have any questions.

Posted in literary events | No Comments »

November 21, 2006

echolocation launch

You are invited to attend the launch of echolocation Issue 5, Thursday, November 23, 9:30pm at the Victory Cafe (581 Markham St., 2nd Floor) on this Thursday, November 23, from 9:30pm. This event is free. Snacks will be provided and readers will be reading, and one of those readers will be me.

Posted in literary events | No Comments »

November 9, 2006

echolocation at the Toronto Small Press Book Fair

echolocation will be at the Toronto Small Press Book Fair Saturday, November 11, 2006 at the Victory Café, 581 Markham St. with copies of issue 5, back issues and free bookmarks. The Fair runs on Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12 (11am-5pm both days). There will also be readings Saturday evening, from 6 to 9 pm, at The Victory Café. For more information visit the Toronto Small Press Book Fair site.

Posted in literary events | No Comments »

November 3, 2006

The Octopus and other readings

Last night, I went to see the brilliant Jennica Harper read, and it was wonderful to put a voice to those words. I enjoyed the evening very much, as Rebecca Rosenblum was there, and we got to hear other readers too, including Leon Rooke, Terence Young and Patricia Young. If I haven’t implored you to check out Jennica Harper’s The Octopus and other poems yet, you should do so. It’s a top-rated Pickle Me This Pick of 2006.

And Jennica signed my copy and I got a bookmark!

Posted in bookishly, literary events | No Comments »

October 27, 2006

Fun Without Prairie Fiction

We had a grand old time last night at the echolocation Halloween Party, and we were truly humbled by the amazing costumes assembled there. We didn’t dress up. We are lame. I did, however, give my secret party trick the light of day (or night?) and composed two spontaneous folk songs- one about the Filthy Federlines and the other about robotic dogs (naturally). They were received warmly and I did so enjoy the night out. On the walk there, my mind was shouting to the beats of my feet, “Need drink. Need drink. etc.” Drink was had. Delicious.

In my previous entry, when I mentioned that The Diviners was one of “those books”, I meant that it is a book I intend to be revisiting as long as visiting hours are open. What I had neglected to realize, of course, is that it is also one of “those books” in the sense of the dreaded Prairie Fiction. Remember how Prairie Fiction nearly drove me to defenestration one month ago? Now, it is distinctly possible that my Prairie Fiction issues are linked to my menstrual cycle, but I think there is something further than that. I learned recently about certain types of fiction that cause post-traumatic stress disorder in readers, and I really think Prairie Fiction does that for me. I am not being completely dramatic. Books do tend to make their impressions upon me (ie when I read Fight Club and became psychotic?) I loved The Diviners, but it stirred something up in me that needs to be left alone in order me to be functional. I become overwrought. Sarah Harmer wrote “I’m a Mountain’; I’d love to hear “I’m a Prairie” and find out what it has to say, and then maybe I could get to the root of the problem.

I am now reading Laurie Colwin’s Goodbye Without Leaving which should calm me down a bit.

Two fabulous acquisitions in our house: Atwood’s The Penelopiad (which I read last winter and loved) and a pastry marble!

Posted in acquisitions, bookishly, holidays, literary events, now reading | No Comments »

October 17, 2006