Canada Reads American Style

Book Chat #18

Rebecca and Tara share their latest reads!

Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle):

• The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine by Ricardo Nuila
• The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
• Autokrator by Emily A. Weedon
• The Street by Ann Petry
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
• Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy by Ali Velshi

Tara (@onabranchreads):

• The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley
• Indian Burial Ground; Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
• The Shining; Salem's Lot by Stephen King
• The Residence; The Damned by Andrew Pyper
• Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
• Fungal: Foraging in the Urban Forest by Ariel Gordon

 

Interview - Leslie Shimotakahara and Sisters of the Spruce

Rebecca welcomes Canadian author Leslie Shimotakahara, whose third novel, Sisters of the Spruce, is on Quill & Quire's "2024 Spring Preview: Fiction" and the 49th Shelf's "Most Anticipated: Our 2024 Spring Fiction Preview." Her memoir, The Reading List, won the Canada-Japan Literary Prize and has been translated into Japanese, and her fiction has been shortlisted for the KM Hunter Artist Award. She has written two other critically acclaimed novels, After the Bloom and Red Oblivion. 

Leslie’s writing has appeared in the National Post, World Literature Today, and Changing the Face of Canadian Literature, among other anthologies and periodicals. She completed a PhD in English at Brown University, after which she returned to her hometown of Toronto, where she now resides with her husband. 

https://leslieshimotakahara.com/

https://www.instagram.com/leslieshimotakahara/

https://caitlinpress.com/Books/S/Sisters-of-the-Spruce

 

Highlighted books:

• From Slave Girls to Salvation: Gender, Race, and Victoria's Chinese Rescue Home, 1886-1923 by Shelly D. Ikebuchi
• We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama
• Within the Barbed Wire Fence: A Japanese Man's Account of his Internment in Canada by Takeo Ujo Nakano

Interview - Barbara Black and Little Fortified Stories

Tara interviews author Barbara Black, a self-described "serial artist", who was born in North Vancouver, B.C. and currently resides in Victoria, B.C.  

 

As a writer and editor, Barbara has worked in journalism, public relations, government policy, education, and the arts. As a creative writer, Barbara has explored the genres of poetry, fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction, and libretto.

 

As a classically trained vocalist, she has performed in both the classical and jazz worlds, in both vocal ensembles and as a soloist with an orchestra.  She is also a composer and most recently, collaborated as a lyricist and librettist.

 

Barbara's short story collection Music from a Strange Planet debuted in 2021 to critical acclaim (Barbara discussed the collection on the podcast dated February 12, 2022). Her most recent book, Little Fortified Stories (Caitlin Press), was released on May 17, 2024.

 

https://barbarablack.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bblackwrites/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21410142.Barbara_Black

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbarablackwriter

 

Links to journals, authors, and books mentioned:

https://www.ekphrastic.net/

https://megpokrass.com/about/

The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by Adam Moss

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/192723955-the-work-of-art

 

Interview - Finnian Burnett and The Price of Cookies

Tara welcomes author Finnian Burnett, who is a professor, writer and lifelong learner.  Their work often explores the intersection of the human body, mental health and gender identity.  Finnian holds a doctorate in English pedagogy from Murray State University and teaches college English, creative writing and early British Literature, using story-based pedagogy to create equity in multicultural classrooms.

 

Finnian is a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant, a finalist in the 2023 CBC Nonfiction prize and a 2024 Pushcart nominee. Under their former name, they have published several novels with Sapphire Books Publishing, including two rainbow award winners and the Writer's Digest first place in fantasy self-published book called, Coyote Ate the Stars.

 

In addition, Finnian has two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man (published by Ad Hoc Fiction) and The Price of Cookies (published by Off Topic Publishing).

 

Finnian lives in beautiful British Columbia with their wife.

 

https://finnburnett.com/

https://finallyfinnian.com/

 

Highlighted books and authors:

• Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest
• Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
• The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen
• Poet Miranda Krogstad
• Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
• All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac
• Never Let Me Go; Klara in the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Don't forget to check out Rebecca and Tara live on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@canadareadsamericanstyle/streams

 

Book Chat #17

Rebecca and Tara share their latest reads and links to their new feature on YouTube: Reading From Our Shelves!

Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle): 

• Somehow by Anne Lamott
• Imagining Imagining: Essays on Language, Identity & Infinity by Gary Barwin
• Autokrator by Emily A. Weedon
• I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity by Izzeldin Abuelaish
• James by Percival Everett
• The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning by Ben Raines
• Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
• Eleanor Courtown; The Brickworks; Stella's Carpet; The Marzipan Fruit Basket by Lucy E.M. Black
• Making Up the Gods by Marion Agnew

Tara (@onabranchreads): 

• Cold; Chasing Painted Horses by Drew Hayden Taylor
• Coexistence: Stories; A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt
• A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
• Nosy Parker; The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe
• Followed by the Lark by Helen Humphreys
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• A House with Good Bones; Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Reading From Our Shelves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObgtKpEdnRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lek38hy8jCA&t=93s

 

 

Interview - Sydney Hegele and Bird Suit

Rebecca is excited to speak with Sydney Hegele, a queer Anglo-Catholic writer from the Greenbelt in Southern Ontario. They are the author of Bird Suit (Invisible Publishing, May 7, 2024) and The Pump (Invisible Publishing 2021), which was the winner of the 2022 ReLit Literary Award for Short Fiction and a finalist for the 2022 Trillium Book Award. Their essays have appeared in Catapult and Electric Literature, EVENT, and have been featured by Lithub, The Poetry Foundation, and Psychology Today. Their essay collection Bad Kids is forthcoming with Invisible in Fall 2025. Sydney’s work often explores small-town queerness, environmental justice, mental illness, religious life, and the complicated relationships between these things. They live with their husband and French Bulldog on Treaty 13 Land (Toronto, Canada).

https://www.sydneyhegele.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneyhegele/

Titles mentioned:

• Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker (Foreword)
• Play by Jess Taylor

•  Imagining Imagining: Essays on Language, Identity and Infinity by Gary Barwin

Interview - Heather Stemp and the Ginny Ross series

Rebecca is excited to chat with Heather Stemp, author of the Ginny Ross historical fiction series for tween and teen readers.  Rebecca also recommends it for adult fans of Anne of Green Gables.

Heather’s paternal roots lie in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.  After 30 years as an English teacher, she retired to research her family history, discovering her Aunt Ginny’s friendship with Amelia Earhart in the process.  As a result, she began writing the Ginny Ross Series.  Amelia and Me was shortlisted for the 2014/2015 Red Cedar Award.  Under Amelia’s Wing was shortlisted for the 2021 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the 2022 Red Maple Award.  Beyond Amelia, will be released April 16, 2024.

When not writing, Heather loves traveling with her husband, Don, and spending time at the cottage with her grandchildren and grand dogs.

https://www.heatherstemp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authorheatherstemp/

https://visitatchison.com/highlight/amelia-earhart-festival

https://visitatchison.com/highlight_type/amelia-earhart

When the Dikes Breached by Martha Attema

Winterkill by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Dreadfall Water series by Thomas King 

 

Interview - Vince Ditrich and the Tony Vicar series

Tara chats with Vince R. Ditritch, the author of the Tony Vicar series which includes The Liquor Vicar, The Vicar's Knickers, and The Vicar Vortex.  He is also the drummer and manager of the band Spirit of the West.  He has circled the world, earned more than a dozen gold and platinum albums, and been enshrined in several Halls of Fame.  Vince currently lives on Vancouver Island.

 

 

100th Co-Host Celebration

Rebecca and Tara celebrate their 100th episode as co-hosts by sharing ten facts about themselves and their top three podcasts.  Interestingly, they both had near death experiences and divulged youthful criminal secrets.

Rebecca:

• I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity by Izzeldin Abuelaish
• Podcast episodes: Mark Tewksbury -- March 14, 2022 and April 30, 2022; Ali Hassan most recently on March 17, 2024; Adam Shoalts on December 11, 2024

Tara:

• The Hapless Milliner (Miss Austin Investigates #1) by Jessica Bull
• Podcast episodes: Keegan on July 24, 2022; Vince Ditrich mid-April 2024

 

 

Book Chat #16

Rebecca and Tara discuss their latest reads!

Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle):

• There There; Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
• The Street by Ann Petry
• The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West
• Sisters of the Spruce by Leslie Shimotakahara
• My Ántonia by Willa Cather
• Wrong Time Wrong Place by Gillian McAllister

Tara (@onabranchreads):

• Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh
• The Song of Achilles; Circe by Madeline Miller
• Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces by Elamin Abdelmahmoud; Commotion (CBC Radio One)
• Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
• Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World; The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed; The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant
• The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys
• World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Fumi Nakamura (illustrator)
• Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper
• A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan

 

CBC’s 2024 Canada Reads Wrap Up with Host Ali Hassan

Rebecca and Tara chat with CBC's Canada Reads host Ali Hassan about the 2024 debates!  Ali's website includes information about his stand-up comedy, public events, acting, memoir, hosting, podcasts, etc.  He may be the busiest man in Canada! 

https://standupali.com/

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads

https://www.loveclosely.com/

https://allpoetry.com/Do-Not-Ask-My-Love

Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr:

https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/prairie-edge

 

CBC's 2024 Canada Reads Wrap Up with Sarah

Rebecca chats with the podcast's good friend Sarah from Nova Scotia to find out what she thought of the 2024 Canada Reads debate.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sareshears/

 

CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY THREE Wrap Up

Rebecca and Tara discuss CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY THREE!

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads

 

Rebecca and Tara will be doing a live YouTube Wrap Up on DAY FOUR (3/7/24) with Jolene at 2:00 pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/@canadareadsamericanstyle/streams

 

Connect with Jolene on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BookwormAdventureGirl

CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY TWO Wrap Up

Rebecca and Tara discuss CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY TWO!

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads

https://www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com/

 

Rebecca and Tara will be doing a live YouTube Wrap Up on DAY FOUR (3/7/24) with Jolene at 2:00 pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/@canadareadsamericanstyle/streams

 

Connect with Jolene on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BookwormAdventureGirl

 

CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY ONE Wrap Up

Rebecca and Tara discuss CBC's 2024 Canada Reads DAY ONE!

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads

 

Rebecca and Tara will be doing a live YouTube Wrap Up on DAY FOUR (3/7/24) with Jolene at 2:00 pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/@canadareadsamericanstyle/streams

 

Connect with Jolene on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BookwormAdventureGirl