Books
Lynda Fishman writes a book, Repairing Rainbows, about learning to move forward after a plane crash took the lives of her mother and two younger sisters.
The Imperfectionists reads like a Buckley book, with lots of dialogue, plenty of contemporary bite and just enough bizarre froth to make it cinematic in quality.
Two new books look at philanthropy: A Year of Living Generously, by Lawrence Scanlan, is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book about some of the most crucial issues of the day, from poverty and homelessness to pollution and international development. And Spirited Commitment chronicles the history of the Bronfman Family Foundation.
"Buy land," Will Rogers advised. "They ain't makin' no more." History, on the other hand, is made anew daily. And each generation retells the past with new information, new insight and, sometimes, new wisdom.
Summer reads. Beach books. The terms have always carried a faint air of derision, as if the quality of our reading choices naturally goes down as the temperature outside goes up. But does this really reflect the way people read? A recent bit of informal Sunday field research at Parc Lafontaine - not a beach, admittedly, though it does often feature people on blankets near water - revealed some decidedly non-trashy fare: Hemingway, Maupassant, Bukowski, Munro, Palahniuk. All are known, to greater or lesser degree, as short-story writers.
The actress Gloria Swanson said she gave her memoirs more thought than any of her marriages because "you can't divorce a book." Reading a memoir is like meeting a stranger and falling into a long, intense conversation. Here are a fine half-dozen.
Less than a century ago, a new poetic movement in Canada broke dramatically from tradition, liberating poets to define for themselves what poetry means and what, at its best, it can say. Several recent collections illustrate how wildly successful those earlier poets were in shaping the landscape.
It's finally vacation season, and those long and languid days stretch ahead, the perfect opportunity to indulge in the pleasures of reading for fun. If you haven't already picked up The Help by Kathryn Stockett (more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list), it's a must-read, in my opinion. Here are some other popular novels to while away the hours at a park, beach or - if you're lucky - a cottage somewhere. Some are from our tried and true favourite authors, and one is the work of a new Montreal novelist.
Ever notice how self-help books keep taking up more bookstore shelf space? Maybe it's the economic slump or the decline of organized religion that are sending readers to the self-help section. Where else can $30 tops buy a little hope?
Watchwords
Big words work - now and then
In my last column, I discussed the dangerous allure of big words - the sense in some people's minds that a longer word is better than a shorter one that means the same thing.
Comments ()
Funk vs. Orwell: is bigger better?
Experts are consulted after one reader wonders why using the correct, but long word earns him abuse
Comments ()
Edie Austin
Summer Reading
"Summer reading" conjures up images of hammocks and deck chairs, beaches and balconies. ...
NarrativesIan McGillis
Blue Metropolis 2010: The day after
A few observations on Blue Metropolis 2010, the festival that volcanic ash could not stop.Personally...
NarrativesIan McGillis
Blue Metropolis Day Five: Heading for home
James Frey being interviewed by Joel Yanofsky drew one of the biggest crowds of the festival. For ...
Narrativesfeatures
For kids: Bridge made fun
By his own admission, Louis Sachar's choice of subject matter for his latest YA novel is unorthodox, to say the least.
Comments ()
For Kids: To share with Dad
Every child longs to be the apple of Daddy's eye, and tomorrow we celebrate fathers who succeed in making their children feel just so. Here are a few titles those Dads can share with their kids:
Comments ()
For Kids: For the beach, the car or a rainy day
An occasional rainstorm notwithstanding, temperatures are rising, the end of school is in sight and people are planning summer vacations. It's the time of year when families start thinking about loading up the car and heading to the beach; a cache of books continues, for many, to be an integral part of the vacation experience. Here are some suggestions:
Comments ()
Summer reading for kids, in French
We all like to think our kids will be playing outside in the sunshine all summer long. But good books will keep kids happy on those inevitable rainy days, long car trips or when they just need to chill out under a tree. Here are a few good choices of French-language books for various ages, all recently released by Quebec publishers.
Comments ()
Sports Library
Feherty lets it all hang out in latest PGA tome
The Power of Positive Idiocy: A collection of rants and raves, by David Feherty,
Comments ()
More Reading
- A new book lifts the lid off the troubled saga of DreamWorks
- Wonder Woman gets 21st century makeover
- Barbara Eden to publish memoir
- Art of War: Poets paint picture of Afghan conflict
- Can Hollywood finally catch its Holy Grail?
- Award-winning book weaves fictitious tale of real-life prime minister
- Nobel-winning author Saramago dies at 87
Blogs
Sponsored Links
More Blogs
Tasty news for Montreal foodies
»
Get exclusive offers!
»
