Lots of review stuff this month. I’m going to leave it very short, as I’m very behind.

143. The Grotesque in Art and Literature, by Wolfgang Johannes Kayser
(McGraw-Hill, 1963)

A collection of essays discussing the origins and evolution of the grotesque in art and literature. It was dry, and I felt left out – I hadn’t read many of the books in question, so I couldn’t follow the points he was trying to develop. It may fare better on rereading it at a later date.

144. Probably Inevitable, by Matthew Tierney
(Coach House Books, 2012)

Toronto-based Matthew Tierney’s third poetry collection. Review forthcoming in Broken Pencil. Continue reading »

I have an absurd number of books on my to-read shelf. These are books that I’ve bought, and physically have on my shelves, waiting to be read.

I don’t know how I’m ever going to catch up, especially with all the neat books that have come out this fall, and the classics I have yet to read. Never mind the review stuff that isn’t even on that list.

How does anyone keep up?

127. Fables of Identity, by Northrop Frye
(Mariner Books, 1963)

Why doesn’t anyone name their kid Northrop any more? I’m not breeding, but I still think this name should make a come back. So c’mon breeders: next kid, choose Northrop!

This is a great collection of essays, dealing with everything from archetypes and mythology in general, to their presence and effects in specific texts.

I always feel under read. I learn so much every time I read a book of his, and I need to reread everything I’ve read before, because I’m sure I’d get more out of it now than when I first began reading literary criticism.

128. Zen Ghosts, by Jon J Muth
(Scholastic Press, 2010)

I originally picked this up for my little cousins as a Hallowe’en gift, but I love it too. It’s an unusual ghost story, more of a zen koan, told by Stillwater, a zen panda.

The costumes, colours, and illustration are gorgeous. The owl pirates on the flaps slay me. It’s such a beautiful book.

129. What Disturbs Our Blood, by James FitzGerald
(Vintage Canada, 2010)

I won a copy as a part of a CBC Twitter draw, which was pretty nifty. Slightly less nifty was the book itself. Continue reading »

Though it can seem like it sometimes, the world’s not all bad. Apparently whales are learning to speak human, or at least trying, and that’s pretty awesome. Maybe once they get the hang of it they can advise us how to live better.

Canadian publishing is about to get smaller with Douglas & McIntyre filing for bankruptcy protection. Shortly before that announcement, the co-founder Scott McIntyre was announced as the recipient of the first-ever Ivy Award. John Barber comments in The Globe and Mail, and Matt Williams of House of Anansi responds.

Not to mention the impending merger of two of the world’s largest publishing houses, Penguin and Random House. See Quillblog’s poll for their merger name. I like House of the Random Penguin best, myself.

And, while we’re at it, the Toronto Women’s  Bookstore is closing at the end of November. You can read a great tribute on here.

At least some of us are still reading (though, that said, people have been ringing death knells for the book pretty much since they started to print them) . The Canada Reads 2013 long list has been announced (though none of my suggestions made the list). You can vote for your pick in each region until November 5th, so get your vote on.

• Here’s a postcard from Ernest Hemingway sent to Gertrude Stein.
• Santa’s pipe is to be sanitized from a new edition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, sparking censorship debates. Which is just silly.
• Ok, this is pretty awesome: The Best of Book Spine Poetry.
• And here you’ll find poets touching trees.
• The Al Purdy a-frame has been saved, though donations are still needed.
• The rules of WRITE CLUB to not match those of Fight Club, but it still sounds intense.
• EB White on being a writer.
• A poet talks about the power of poetry and why it should be taught more from a young age.
• Book Riot on what your book pile says about you. I’m not sure I agree (of course I’ll read all these books one day…) but I can’t turn down good book porn.
• Sylvia Plath would have been fifty this year. Hear her read “Daddy” here.
• Though readings, as in those things you go to where the author reads from hir book, are changing. Apparently, there’s a lot less actual reading.
• There’s a new literary prize for Canadian women.
• Female lions can rock manes too.

I’m going to assume you’ve already seen the trailer for Iron Man 3, and that you think it’s “dark.” But if you haven’t, there’s the link.

Happy weekend, kids.