A lot of interesting things happened in the literary sphere this week, but the commentary was relatively quiet or perhaps I was distracted by my birthday celebrations. This post is also lacking commentary because I’m cleaning up the pad for my pending birthday guests.
Raincoast Books launched a literary podcast series.
The Literary Review of Canada listed the 100 most influential Canadian books, which included 6 royal commission reports and the 1863 Geological Survey of Canada. Atwood, Cohen and Findley are listed, as is Dennis Lee’s Alligator Pie.
David Bergen’s book sales have, according to a CBC report on The National, increased by 2000%
Imagine a Day, one of the most beautiful illustrated books I’ve seen in a long time, won the 2005 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature, Illustration. Don’t judge it just on the cover, which I think is the weakest part.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire premiered this weekend with apparently 9750 engagements in North America. I attended a 10 pm showing at the Dunbar Theatre in Vancouver. There was full-on audience participation. Wooing when the main characters first appeared on screen. Clapping. Gasps of breath. Snickering and tsk tsking over Ron and Harry’s pissing match. It was great.
