2009 November « Below The Spruce

Saturday Morning News

November 28th, 2009 § Leave a Comment

I’m up insanely early due to whining dogs and screeching cats, so to keep the anger suppressed I’m searching for a little literary news this morning.

The Guardian has a lengthy piece that has writers and other literary types picking a few of their favourite books of the year. I sifted through to find some poetry titles I might be interested in getting my hands on.
Siblin and Brown are up for the 2010 National Award for Canadian Non-fiction.
Naomi Klein has a new book in the works called No Logo. This piece does a brief overview of it. I put this here merely because my wife is reading The Shock Doctrine now and I’m paging through it every now and then.
A lovely overview of a Welsh/British form of verse called the englyn. Kind of like the haiku, only cooler. Makes me want to try some of these.
The National Post has a list of some historically inspired books you might find interesting. I’ve got the first of these on the shelf ready to go, if I can ever get to it.

November 26th, 2009 § Leave a Comment

I’m off sick today and can do very little beyond being a passive participant in existence. Here’s a couple items for you.

A document of a legal nature that ensured that Thomas Paine’s marriage was dissolved, while giving him enough money to flee the country.
The Paris Review is seeking a new editor. This article recounts some of the magazine’s importance and contribution to the publishing world.
Photos and readings from the Harbourfront reading series to be archived.
That rare Darwin first edition has sold at auction for $174,000 Cdn.
This last one is not about books, but is an interesting read, both for the subject matter (which is unfamiliar in Canada), but also the Northern Territory’s planned reaction to a camel invasion. I kid you not. Some australian’s are livid.

November 24th, 2009 § Leave a Comment

I’ve got ten minutes to lunch and so thought I’d post a couple items.

It’s the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”. An auction house in London is putting up a rare first printing found in a bathroom bookshelf.
Salty Ink has a brief article on a new anthology of Atlantic Canadian short fiction. Some great authors in this one.
First ever graphic novel to be published in Egypt has been yanked on claims of indecency. There are fines and everything. Censorship likes to love up on you it seems.