Our Family Literacy Day Baby Literary Salon

It's Family Literacy Day! To celebrate, we invited our favourite Mom and Baby friends to share some stories, and to sing some songs (as the theme of this year's Family Literacy Day is "Sing For Literacy"). The event was a resounding success, and not just because of the snacks provided. No, it was a success because the guests brought even more snacks, including delicious fudge, green tea shortbread and jello treats for the little ones. (Forgive me for fixating on edibles, but for breastfeeding women, this is very very important).

Margaret and her mom Carolyn brought family favourite Tumble Bumble, as well as Margaret's beloved book of the moment Boo Boo. Finn in particular enjoyed Tumble Bumble. His mom Sara came with a copy of one of her childhood favourites, the absolutely magical The Bed Book by Sylvia Plath. Who knew Sylvia Plath wrote a children's book? No, not I. But I liked the elephant bed the very best.

Leo's mom Alex brought along a copy of hardcore alphabet book Awake to Nap by Nikki McClure. The illustrations were beautiful, and "I is for inside" was the best one. Later, Alex read Margaret Atwood's first kids' book Up in a Tree, which was pretty delightful and might even impress the most avid Atwood-hater. Also remarkable was the character that looked like a baby Margaret Atwood, and was absolutely adorable.

I read Ten Little Fingers Ten Little Toes, as well as Harriet's fave All About Me: A Baby's Guide to Babies. And then, because of the singsong theme, we also read/sang Old MacDonald, Five Little Ducks and The Wheels on the Bus. The babies played quite happily together, and took turns playing with the best toy out of all the toys we own: a tin pie plate. Harriet fell down from sitting and now has her first bruise. Leo and Finn bonded over a set of plastic rings. Margaret showed us her mobility prowess. We listened to Elizabeth Mitchell, and drank tea, and ate delicious things, and in celebrating family literacy, we spent a splendid afternoon.

Family Literacy ALL WEEK LONG

Next Wednesday (January 27th) is Family Literacy Day, but we're turning it into a week-long celebration here at Pickle Me This. Stay tuned for lots of children's literature love, including an interview, a party and a fieldtrip. Check out their website to find an event where you can take part, or register your own.

Tricks of Perspective

It's a strange trick of perspective, and I can never quite figure it out: is Harriet tiny or enormous? It changes from moment to moment, day to day. And I do like this picture, because I so rarely get to see her from a distance, for the individual person she is and will grow to be, as opposed to my forever appendage. She truly is one of the funniest and most interesting people I have ever met, through her staying-asleep skills are appalling. But how I admire her excellent posture and her perfectly round head.

Bookishly, my books to-be-read seem much less overwhelming today, mostly because I cleaned my house this week. I am not sure why there is a link between the two, but I'll take ease wherever I can find it. And in a similar trick of perspective to the paragraph above, I am now reading Kiss the Joy as it Flies by Sheree Fitch, because I'm altogether intrigued about what a novel would be were it written by the author of Kisses Kisses Baby-O (one of our favourite bedtime board books). And so far, it's as marvelous as expected.

I discovered Fitch had written an adult novel when it made the longlist for Canada Also Reads, The Afterword's response to CBC Canada Reads. It's an intriguing list, packed with many books I've loved before, including The Incident Report, Stunt, Come Thou, Tortoise, Girls Fall Down, Coventry, February, Cloud of Bone, Too Much Happiness, The Killing Circle, Bang Crunch, and Yellowknife. Looking forward to seeing the shortlist.

Canada Reads 2010: Independently

I continue to swear by the aphorism, "the best antidote to the disappointment of the literary life is to read", but the literary life must be something disappointing because this comes up a lot. Lately, it's the whole Canada Reads 2010, which I'm not going to knock because I love the spirit behind the whole thing, and I'm going to be following the campaign, but it just wasn't the reading list for me. What I wanted was what I found from (most of) the 2009 lineup-- book recommendations out of nowhere, books I'd never pick up otherwise, that challenge my sensibilities, and that I might just fall in love with.

And so in deciding to go seek those recommendations myself, I am thrilled to bring you Canada Reads 2010: Independently. In which I've enlisted my own awesome celebrity panel of five-- authors, illustrators, critics, publishers, editors among them (one of each and some of both) who'll each be selecting a book to champion. And I will be reading each of these five books, which I expect will be various, some out of my comfort zone, and examining them from my own critical perspective. Ranking them in order of my personal preference to pick my favourite of the lot. I am very excited.

I would love also if some others might follow along, as to find out how my tastes compare with other readers' only will enhance my own reading experience. I'll be posting reviews throughout the winter of the books I read, and I'd appreciate any comments.

I realize that my being excited and letting you know that in just two weeks my celebrity panelists and their picks will be revealed somewhat contradicts my earlier assertion that "anticipation will get you nowhere." Pickle Me This, however, makes a point of being inconsistent.

In this case, also, I really don't think I have much chance of disappointment. So stayed tuned. Cool things are indeed afoot. And thanks to my husband for the logo on demand.

Anticipation will get you nowhere

Today was a smaller day than projected. First, we got to the doctor and found out that our appointment wasn't actually scheduled (which wasn't my fault, for once). And then the Canada Reads 2010 lineup was revealed, and I'm not so excited now. Though it's not all bad-- Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner is on the list, and I'm pretty passionate about that novel, so I'm pleased it's going to get wider exposure-- it was one of my favourite books of 2008, and you can read my review here.

But I find the rest of the lineup distinctly blah: I read Generation X years ago and might like to revisit it, particularly as it's such a reference point, but I don't know how satisfying that reread would be. I read Good to a Fault last year, and though many many people loved this book, I didn't. Which was odd, because its domestic realm is a place where I spend a lot of my literary time, but the story needed a good edit and didn't come alive for me. I have never read Fall On Your Knees, though I've started it a thousand times but never got very far in (oddly, however, McDonald's The Way the Crow Flies is a book I absolutely adore). The only book of the bunch that was new to me is Wayson Choy's The Jade Peony, which I'm going to read now.

Participating in Canada Reads this year would involve me buying two books I used to own but gave away, and that's never a good sign. So I suspect I'll not be taking part, and I'm really disappointed about that. Last dear I so enjoyed reading all the books, looking at them critically, attending the Canada Reads Panel at the Toronto Reference Library, and listening to the broadcasts in March. Last year, however, I was inspired to get involved by a list of book I had a genuine interest in visiting (or revisiting, in one case). In particular, I liked the inclusion of a quirky book from a small press (Fruit), and that I got to discover an important Canadian writer I'd been neglecting (Tremblay). I am not so convinced that year's list would reap similar rewards.

I'm also not convinced that any of these are books I'd recommend for all Canadians to read, though does any book, I wonder, hold such general appeal?

A Big Day

Tomorrow is a big, big day. Biggest of all, Harriet goes to the doctor for her six month checkup, so she'll get shot up with powerful poisons and we'll find out how many point how many pounds of enormous she is. What this means, however, is that I won't be able to head down to the CBC to see Canada Reads 2010 unveiled. I'm honestly sad about this, and looking forward to finding out this year's books (which I may or may not read, depending on what they are). In related news, Julie Wilson is guest-hosting the CBC Book Club. In Julie Wilson-related news (and there always is some. I am sort of a Julie Wilson fanatic, actually), tomorrow also starts Advent Books-- a book a day to satisfy your holiday shopping-recommendation needs.

I am now reading Gaudy Nights, and I'm surprised to find that it is a fairly demanding read in terms of length and content. Maureen Corrigan also ruined the ending, but I think I'll still enjoy the ride.

Wolf Hall: Dare I Venture There?

Pictured here is Hilary Mantel's Writer's Room, and HARK! She won the Booker! Which is good news, because I love Hilary Mantel: may I recommend Giving Up the Ghost, Beyond Black, Eight Months on Ghazzah Street, Every Day is Mother's Day, A Change of Climate. But, similar to Margaret Atwood's forays into sci-fi, I really don't have much to do with her many adventures in historical fiction. To be honest, I'd rather read sci-fi than hi-fi (can I call it that?). And for an excellent take on the problems with historical fiction, read Alex Good's assessment here.

But now Hilary Mantel has won the Booker for Wolf Hall-- dare I venture there? "Peeling back history to show us Tudor England": ick. The premise does nothing for me, whatsoever. And didn't I already read it all in A Man for All Seasons (and apparently find it completely forgettable?). But, however unbelievably, I am tempted. And I do love everything I've ever read by our 'Ilary, and I am going to England next week where they'll have the book in paperback. Oh, I have a feeling I'll be buying another book. Except this is one I might hate. A wise decision? Stay tuned...

Pickings less slim than planned

This is the fifth year that I've attended the Victoria College Booksale on Half-Price Monday, and I regret that it may have to be the last. The same books are always left over and for a long time they were exactly the books I wanted, but I have them all now, so the pickings seem a bit slim. Which is probably the reason I thought I was being so prudent as I browsed, careful to only pick up books I had some intention of reading with pleasure (rather than books I'd read if I were somebody I'd rather be, which is a mistake I've made before). In the end, however, my stack was not so modest. It was smaller than in years past, but that's not saying very much.

I got an ARC of Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan (because I liked the title), The Sweet Edge by Alison Pick (because I just read her story in The New Quarterly), That Scatterbrain Booky by Bernice Thurman Hunter, Charlotte's Web by EB White (because they're both wonderful, and Harriet can read them when she's bigger), Almost Japanese by Sarah Sheard (because I liked the title-- Japan having once been my home-- and then I saw it was Coach House, and knew I couldn't go wrong), Dear Mem Fox by Mem Fox (I KNOW! I KNOW!, and I hope no one reading is too deterred by my being absolutely obsessed with this woman. I am so excited to read this book), The Space a Name Makes by Rosemary Sullivan, Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin (because I've already read it, and therefore it won't sit on my To Be Read shelf!), Fludd by Hilary Mantel (see-- slim pickings. I've long swore I'd never read a book called Fludd, but now maybe I will. I do love Hilary Mantel, and this isn't the most historic of her historical fiction, and so...), Excellent Women by Barbara Pym (because I've wanted to read her for a while), My Cousin Rachel by Daphne DuMaurier (even though I haven't managed to get around to Jamaica Inn from last year), Goodbye Tsugsumi and Amrita by Banana Yoshimoto (because we like Japanese fiction in translation at our house), Believe Me by Patricia Pearson (sequel to Playing House, which I read in the spring), Salvador by Joan Didion (because, because, because), and Fatal Charms by Dominick Dunne (a collection of his essays. Am looking forward to it). And also, Eloise, because everyone needs a primer on misbehaviour.

Eden Mills in the Sunshine

If you ever want to appreciate being out in the world, do have a baby. Though this means being out in the world requires a remarkable amount of luggage, but no matter. We had a wonderful time at Eden Mills on Sunday on such a gorgeous sunny day. The drive was beautiful, with splendid autumn colours (already!). We saw our good friends the Rosenblum/ Sampsons, which was splendid (though we really only saw them in passing-- our readings schedules were quite different). On Publishers' Way, we checked out The New Quarterly, where I bought a t-shirt that might fit once I stop breastfeeding, and Biblioasis next door, where I bought The English Stories by Cynthia Flood and said hello to the excellent Dan Wells. We listened to readings by Marina Endicott, Ian Brown (who was amazing-- pictured here) and Miram Toews (who we knew would be amazing already. She was the reason we were there and she did not disappoint). And then Terry Griggs, and Julie Wilson, and I enjoyed it all thoroughly. Also enjoyed was the organic ice cream, cones of which we each had two. Perfect all around, until we got stuck in traffic out by the airport and the baby screamed until home, but alas. These are the chances we take.

Surprising Gillers (with just a bit too much historical fiction. And MARTHA BAILLIE!!)

I was wrong. And come now, this is hardly unprecedented. I tend to be wrong at least five times a day, but I do wish I'd been wrong about something other than Lisa Moore's chances at this year's Giller Prize. Because-- to the surprise of many-- February didn't make the longlist, and I consider it a fine novel. Also to the surprise of many, ten out of the twelve books nominated this year were written by women, which is surprising because women writers don't tend to stack up on prize lists, unless it is the Orange Prize, which is why there is an Orange Prize. (Or at least this is the way it looks from my chair. I could be wrong about this too. I probably am, after all, I haven't slept for more than 2.5 hours in a row in three weeks-- have I mentioned this? Have I mentioned that I'm slowly losing my mind, but I digress... as tired people often do.)

The most remarkable thing about this longlist, however, is that it's interesting. A mix of small and big presses, book names and unknowns (to me), books I know of and will probably never read, and some that seem rather intriguing and I've never even heard of. Okay, a bit too much historical fiction for my liking, but then that fiction seems pretty various, and history is anything past five minutes ago. There is a lot of good stuff here.

Including, The Incident Report by Martha Baillie! Honestly, my disappointment at Moore not being included is quelled by Baillie's spot on the shortlist, because I absolutely adored her book, which was so innovative, surprising, and like nothing else I've ever read before. It's a book that I think more people should know about, not just because they'd probably like it, but because it's so extraordinarily good. And I never thought about it being a Giller pick, because it's not that sort of book, but maybe this just isn't that sort of Gillers? Imagine if Martha Baillie won??

I'm not sure she will. But I sort of think she should. My opinion not meaning so much, of course, as her's is the only book I've read of the list, but I urge you to read it too, and you might just concur.

Eden Mills Upcoming!

We're packing up the (autoshare) car this Sunday and heading out of town for the Eden Mills Writers' Festival. I went last year, and it was as wonderful in the pouring rain as it was in the late-afternoon sunshine, so this year we really can't go wrong either way. Although last year I didn't have a baby in tow, or I did but she was a blastocyst, but I'm bringing a husband this year for moral support, and such a gorgeous outdoor venue is the perfect way to mute squawky baby cries. I think we're all going to enjoy it. The schedule is up, and I regret that some of my most desired readers are double-booked. So I'm going to have to run like a madwoman to pack it all in. (Decisions, decisions: we're giving up a lot to catch Miriam Toews, but we have to, because I heard her read once before and I've been wanting more ever since; hope it's possible to zip from Terry Griggs to Julie Wilson, etc.) Yay, Eden Mills!

*And, oh! Less than two weeks until the Vic Book Sale. And also Word on the Street! The only good thing about about the end of summer is a bookish September.

Pirates and Penguins, oh my!

Yesterday, our wee family attended the launch of Patricia Storms' book The Pirate and the Penguin at the magnificent Yorkville Public Library. It was not actually Harriet's first literary event, as she'd attended Coach House Press's Wayzgoose Party the week before, but it was her first launch, and the first time she'd sat down for a public reading. She was spoiled by Patricia, I think, who had an actual pirate on hand for the occasion, and was kind enough to pose for a picture with us. Her reading was excellent, and held even Harriet's three and a half month-old attention span. Afterwards, Stuart and I had shared a slice of cake, which Harriet inadvertantly stuck her hand in.

We loved the book, from each one of its delightful map-illustrated inside covers to the other. Now, I've never really *got* pirates myself, except Somali ones-- I don't understand why International Talk Like a Pirate Day is funny, for example. But I've been a big fan of penguins going back yonks, and I like alliteration at the best of times. The story was funny, and sweet, and I especially liked its references to knitting and yoga. Patricia has been illustrating really wonderful books for a long time, and we're so excited that she's finally written her own!

Readers' Choice

Oh, exciting! I'm one of five finalists in the University of Toronto Alumni Short Story Contest, whose judges will be choosing a winner in the next few weeks. In addition to the main contest, however, there is a Readers' Choice Award, voted online. Click here to read the five stories (including mine, but I'll play by the rules and not tell you which it is) and vote for your favourite.

September

September is the end of my self-imposed fiction writing maternity leave. Though no doubt the world would not miss my fiction if I never went back, I find that I miss it, and I have a feeling the experience of writing it is going to be different now that I've had a baby. So my goal is to write for fifteen minutes every day, which is a small goal but with my current schedule will some days be impossible. Therefore I should ideally do it before breakfast, right? Oh, but I'm not quite ready to sacrifice sleep, which is still far too precious. So we shall see.

September is also two literary events I'm looking forward to-- first, the launch of Patricia Storms' picture book The Pirate and the Penguin on September 12 at the Yorkville Public Library. Harriet and I are very excited, and not just because we've been told there will be cake. I can't wait to get the book, and help to celebrate the work of such a marvelous lady.

And then the following week, we're off to the Eden Mills Writers' Festival! Terry Griggs! Miriam Toews! Mary Swan! Lynn Johnston! Zoe Whittall! Etc. etc. I am very looking forward.

(Also exciting is that today I'm wearing a pair of pre-pregnancy pants. I'll sure miss elastic waists, but it had to happen sooner or later...)

The Children's Book's longlisting is good news

My two weeks on maternity leave before Harriet was born were spent so unbelievably well, perpetual sunshine and copious ice cream. Lots of reading and writing too. She was scheduled to be born on a Tuesday, and the Friday before AS Byatt's The Children's Book arrived in the mail. At more than 600 pages, the book was a rather daunting prospect for the final weekend of my wonderful, self-indulgent baby-free life. But I also knew that if I didn't get the book read then, it would sit unread for months and months. (I didn't know much then, but I knew enough to know that was true). And so into the book I plunged, 200 pages a day (in addition to all the other things that had to get done that weekend). It was such a brilliant way to read the book, to become so steeped inside it, and I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. And it stayed on my mind during those first few weeks of Harriet's life, when my mind was tied up on knots for various reasons, and the book is the one thing from that whole time that I remember vividly.

All of which is to say that I'm glad it's on the Booker Prize long-list, and I'll be happy if it wins.

Read my review of The Children's Book.

Links

New (to me) blogs on the horizon! Such as The Literary Type, the official blog of The New Quarterly. TNQ is always good, and I'm sure we'll see the same quality of work online. Check out the first post, "On Joining the Conversation", about how online is where literary people are talking these days. I'm also obsessed with the blog Making It Lovely, which is sort of strange because it's about interior design, but also about design on a broader scale and its creator is brilliant. And join our Facebook group, [re]use your mug. As some of you can't help but know, our city is in the midst of a garbage strike, and trash has piled up in the streets. We've posted pictures of the mess in our gallery-- note how much of it is cups, yes? A grand opportunity (in disguise) for us to realize how much less garbage we'd produce if we cut the disposible cups out of our lives. I, for one, had taken the pledge.

Bits and pieces

I am so excited to read the final volume of the Anne books-- I wasn't aware such a volume existed, and wonder if it's actually finished, as its form sounds quite fragmentary. But no less, my favourite Anne books were the last bunch (House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Anne of Ingleside and Rilla of Ingleside), precisely for their dealings with "serious" and "darker" themes this book supposedly contends with-- I couldn't help but think about Anne's stillborn baby in light of Montgomery's own experiences, Leslie Moore's marriage, WW1, the pied piper and Walter's death, when Anne fears Gilbert has ceased to love her, etc. Guardian blogger discusses the "dark side" of Green Gables. Bits of A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book called Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside to mind, actually, and Dovegreyreader interviews Byatt here. Speaking of interviews, Rebecca Rosenblum answers 12 or 20 questions. And speaking of nothing at all, 30 Rock ripped off the Muppet Show, why our federal tax dollars should not fund jazz, and Russell Smith on baby slings (he says do avoid the polyester).

CNQ

Canadian Notes & Queries is one of my favourite magazines, and now you can check out their brilliant new website. In particular, may I refer you to my review of Libby Creelman's novel The Darren Effect which I enjoyed very much.

Visit JessicaWesthead.com

I'm pretty excited about Jessica Westhead's fabulous new website, not just because it showcases her work, but also because of my amazing husband Stuart Lawler's part in its making (through his great venture Create Me This). And it's a gorgeous site. Yay, Jessica! Yay, Stu!

Travel: The Poetry of Motion

I've really been enjoying Charlotte Ashley's literary blog Inklings this past while, and had fun contributing to this month's virtual book collection, themed Travel: The Poetry of Motion. And then winning first prize for my entry-- how exciting. Go to her post to find out what all was assembled.