Behind the Times

I realize my blogging has been spotty at best. I take for granted that I am beholden to no one.

Some belated shout-outs are in order, however!! And here they are, in a list of THINGS YOU MUST DO WITH YOUR FIRDAY (it's mostly about buying books):

1. Feeling Expansive? Answer: The Journey Prize Anthology #22.

My amazing friend Andrew MacDonald has his short story "Eat Fist!" chosen for this year's shortlist. After reading it, I was chuffed to discover I had already read a portion of the story in manuscript form. How connected do I feel? Plus, the story is a truly Andrew-story: featuring a lesbian body-builder, Wonder Woman and poignant moments about Ukrainian heritage. Andrew was interviewed by the National Post, and he sounds very charming.

And then "Eat Fist!" won a Western Magazine Award for fiction. It's like dominoes of good feelings.


2. Need Relationship Advice in a time of War and Turmoil? Answer: The Mandarins by Simone De Beauvoir.

I was supposed to bring Simone home to Calgary for a friend abroad because her suitcases are too heavy. Instead, I brought her to Vancouver and my bedside table.

3. Feeling Indie? Answer: magazine, Broken Pencil #49 


In which I wrote a lil' book review (I'm proud, I'll admit it) of Paul Headrick's Doctrine of Affections, and in which resides other work by contributors I adore: Andrew (he's ubiquitous these days), Spencer Gordon and Matt Loney.

There is also a review of The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud, which, if you have been paying attention, just won the Giller. It's so interesting to read a review that was written before the hype. In it, reviewer Kris Rothstein is by no means won over by the book-- Rothstein writes "The Sentimentalists is a thoughtful, gentle novel, and while it fails to deliver a strong narrative, its careful prose demands attention." Well, attention it received-- and when I first saw the review, I thought (evilly) that this is a one of those moments of hindsight where you wish you'd written, "this book should win the Giller!" just so you can grin maniacally when it does. But, the review is in fact better in every way because it was written pre-hype. I have not read the book (yet), so I remain conflicted about what the Giller's effect on my own reading will be.