Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
We wish them well
Like so many people all over the world, we have been following news reports on Nelson Mandela's health. For someone of mature years like me, who remembers too well the evil days when the apartheid regime in South Africa had him in prison, it is sad to see him decline. It seemed like a miracle when he was freed.
One spring day some years ago during the Mulroney administration, I heard on the news that Nelson and Winnie Mandela, who had been visiting Canada, could be seen in person, if not close up, if we stood at a fence at the \Ottawa airport, from which they were flying home. My husband and I drove out to the area, parked by the side of the road, and stood with people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who wanted a glimpse of the Mandelas. Eventually they appeared, with the Mulroneys, and greeted some of the people at the fence, but we didn't see them close up as we were too far away. The Mulroneys seemed to believe that all the.. people had come out to see them, and they kept waving and moving in front of the Mandelas,obstructing our view of them.
Eventually both couples went inside a building after a final wave. On our way back to the car we passed a young couple, and heard a girl exclaim, with joy, "These hands were touched by Winnie's!"
Time has passed and a lot has happened. In light of things that came out of the South African Truth and Reconciliation hearings, there's a certain irony about that girl being so thrilled to have touched Winnie's hands.
I have always been glad we went to see the .Mandelas, even if it was at a distance. We respect and honour the love and grief being expressed by South Africans these days, and we wish them and their country well.
One spring day some years ago during the Mulroney administration, I heard on the news that Nelson and Winnie Mandela, who had been visiting Canada, could be seen in person, if not close up, if we stood at a fence at the \Ottawa airport, from which they were flying home. My husband and I drove out to the area, parked by the side of the road, and stood with people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who wanted a glimpse of the Mandelas. Eventually they appeared, with the Mulroneys, and greeted some of the people at the fence, but we didn't see them close up as we were too far away. The Mulroneys seemed to believe that all the.. people had come out to see them, and they kept waving and moving in front of the Mandelas,obstructing our view of them.
Eventually both couples went inside a building after a final wave. On our way back to the car we passed a young couple, and heard a girl exclaim, with joy, "These hands were touched by Winnie's!"
Time has passed and a lot has happened. In light of things that came out of the South African Truth and Reconciliation hearings, there's a certain irony about that girl being so thrilled to have touched Winnie's hands.
I have always been glad we went to see the .Mandelas, even if it was at a distance. We respect and honour the love and grief being expressed by South Africans these days, and we wish them and their country well.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
New reviews
My review of Luanne Rice's new novel, The Lemon Orchard, has just been published online in Compulsive Reader, http://www.compulsivereader.com/?p=3415
My review of Charlie Angus's non-fiction book, Unlikely Radicals, is in the June issue of the CCPA Monitor.
My review of Charlie Angus's non-fiction book, Unlikely Radicals, is in the June issue of the CCPA Monitor.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Be Glad They Spelled Your Name Right
A writer friend of mine was sharing her concerns about marketing her recently published novel. Getting reviews is always a challenge. I'm fortunate in receiving three reviews, so far, of The Songcatcher and Me.
My friend had eagerly awaited a review of her book, but, when it appeared, it fell short of her hopes. She doesn't think the reviewer actually read the book, but instead, read the beginning chapter, then flipped to the end, read that, and completely missed the part that was potentially controversial. "Or maybe the reviewer was trying to do me a favour by making my book look bland," she thought.
Included in the book was her bio note, mentioning her graduate degree, which was relevant to the subject matter. The reviewer truncated the bio note with the result that she appears less well-educated than she is.
The same sort of thing used to happen to me when I was published in the (now-defunct) annual of a writer's organization. My bio note was always edited so that my strongest accomplishments as a writer were omitted. I suspected that the editor felt threatened by my accomplishments and wanted me to seem less of a writer than I was. As a book reviewer for Compulsive Reader and Canadian Materials, I know that it's quite possible to present an author's best achievements truthfully yet briefly in a review, and I always try to do so.
The final straw was that the reviewer screwed up the information as to how to buy the book. Since the periodical appears infrequently, a correction isn't going to do much good.
"Be glad they spelled your name right," I said.
My friend had eagerly awaited a review of her book, but, when it appeared, it fell short of her hopes. She doesn't think the reviewer actually read the book, but instead, read the beginning chapter, then flipped to the end, read that, and completely missed the part that was potentially controversial. "Or maybe the reviewer was trying to do me a favour by making my book look bland," she thought.
Included in the book was her bio note, mentioning her graduate degree, which was relevant to the subject matter. The reviewer truncated the bio note with the result that she appears less well-educated than she is.
The same sort of thing used to happen to me when I was published in the (now-defunct) annual of a writer's organization. My bio note was always edited so that my strongest accomplishments as a writer were omitted. I suspected that the editor felt threatened by my accomplishments and wanted me to seem less of a writer than I was. As a book reviewer for Compulsive Reader and Canadian Materials, I know that it's quite possible to present an author's best achievements truthfully yet briefly in a review, and I always try to do so.
The final straw was that the reviewer screwed up the information as to how to buy the book. Since the periodical appears infrequently, a correction isn't going to do much good.
"Be glad they spelled your name right," I said.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Compulsive Reader
Compulsive Reader is an online book review magazine edited by Magdalena Ball. My reviews of other writers' books frequently appear in it . In the current issue, Lorna Foreman's review of my new book,
The Songcatcher and Me, has been published Also appearing is my review of Barbara Abercrombie's book, Kicking in the Wall, on the craft of writing.
To read these reviews and others, the simplest thing to do is to Google Compulsive Reader.com and click on "Book Reviews."
The Songcatcher and Me, has been published Also appearing is my review of Barbara Abercrombie's book, Kicking in the Wall, on the craft of writing.
To read these reviews and others, the simplest thing to do is to Google Compulsive Reader.com and click on "Book Reviews."
Thursday, May 9, 2013
A song from The Songcatcher and Me
Ottawa singer/songwriter Pat Moore, www.patmoore.net, took one of the song lyrics from my new novel, The Songcatcher and Me (Ottawa, Baico, 2013, $20, baico@bellnet.ca and set it to music. Visit her website to hear her singing, "Beneath White Sails He'll Fly." Also check out the information about Pat's Ottawa Opry for Amnesty International to be held this June.
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