News & Reviews
The book’s introduction explains why “lives” in the title is plural, and why the subtitle is “A Memoir of Sorts.” The explanation is confusing, but in an intriguing way. You might think at first that “lives” is plural to account for all the lives intertwined with Atwood’s: parents, children, lovers, associates, other writers…
The Spoken Word event at Cafe Voltaire on Thursday, April 19th was Emceed by Erin Bauman and was held mainly to showcase Christina Kinnie’s self published book, Walking through the Layrinth; A Memoir. The selections Kinnie read dealt with women leaving difficult and often violent relationships, the guilt resulting from those relationships and…
On May 6th, 2015, the Canadian government passed the Anti-Terrorism Act (Bill C-51.) According to the Angus Reed Poll taken days before, 82% of the people interviewed supported the bill. Of that group only 18% had read and/or discussed it with others, while 20% knew nothing about it. Of the rest, 25% had seen a…
The unrestricted literary imagination was at play during the readings by Barry McKinnon and Cecil Giscombe held at the Black Donkey Café on June 10th. The atmosphere lent itself well to free-thinking and the strengthening of friendship. John Harris introduced the two poets, Barry McKinnon of Prince George and Cecil Giscombe of Berkeley, California. “I like what they’re talking about…
The Plotline Bomber of Innisfree, written by Josh Massey, a journalist from Terrace, BC was published by Book Thug of Toronto. His launch was held at Books and Co in Prince George and is available for $21. He also spoke to CNC students in English 204 (Canadian Poetry) about his writing strategies and…
Fabienne Calvert Filteau is in her late twenties and from an old Central BC family. Her great grandparents settled in Vanderhoof around the turn of the twentieth century. As the family expanded it spread across the country but centred itself on a cabin that the grandparents built in the late twenties near Fort St. James…
Don Precosky’s memoir, published by Repository Press, Prince George in 2016 is about how he put himself through university working exhausting all night shifts at a truck stop on the Trans-Canada Highway near the current Thunder Bay is painful to read. However, this is not a criticism, but a tribute to how well the book…
Welcome to the latest in Graham Pearce’s events, sponsored by the College of New Caledonia. I’m John Harris, and Graham asked me to introduce our readers tonight, Barry McKinnon, Sharon Thesen, and Greg Lainsbury. They’ll read in that order, and then again after a short break, and then take questions. I’m here in my…
Readings by poets Sharon Thesen, Barry McKinnon and Greg Lainsbury brought together various sectors of the Prince George literary community at the Twisted Cork on Friday, Nov. 10th. The event, organized by College of New Caledonia creative writing instructor Graham Pearce, and sponsored by the college, drew more than 100 listeners. Prince George…
I travelled independently in Iran for two months, a few years ago. It was compulsory for all women to wear a hijab and a chador or abaya when in public and at that time, the entire costume was to be black. The hijab is a tight head -covering that holds all head hair out…
Locally, National Poetry Month started with a celebratory proclamation by Mayor Lyn Hall. Public Library employees, Gillian Wigmore and Darcie Smith organized numerous events to encourage members of the community to learn about and maybe even write some poetry. Poetry Parlour sessions were planned for every Wednesday until the 19th. Wigmore read a poem…