Walk Like a Man: Coming of Age with the Music of Bruce Springsteen by Robert J. Wiersema. (Greystone, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Walk Like a Man

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Robert Wiersema joins me again. His new book, a sort of memoir and a sort of biography and criticism of Bruce Springsteen’s music is called Walk Like a Man: Coming of Age with the Music of Bruce Springsteen. It’s a great book; a beautiful, thoughtful book about growing up and growing older. I’m not a Springsteen fan. I have ‘Born to Run’ on my iPod, but that’s about it. Sinatra, another singer from New Jersey is more prevalent on my iPod. But Mr. Wiersema writes with such affection, care and honesty about his own life as seen with Springsteen’s music as an underscore, you can’t help but appreciate Springsteen as an artist, cultural icon, celebrity, and the person who illuminates Wiersema’s life, for both the writer and the reader, just a little bit more. Robert J. Wiersema is an independent bookseller in Victoria, and a prolific critic and book reviewer. He’s written two bestselling novels, Before I Wake and Bedtime Story, and was last on to talk about his novella, The World More Full of Weeping. His website is at www.robertjwiersema.com. This book is published by Greystone. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rob Wiersema; Good morning, Mr. Wiersema.

Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber, and Life with the Tree-Planting Tribe by Charlotte Gill. (Greystone, and the David Suzuki Foundation, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Eating Dirt

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

A new book, just published is Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber, and Life with the Tree-Planting Tribe. It’s just been nominated for the richest nonfiction prize here in Canada, the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize. The book’s author Charlotte Gill joins me now. I’ve just started reading the book, and it’s a fascinating look at tree planters, their work, their sense of accomplishments not only after a season of driving seedlings into the ground—in Ms. Gill’s case nearly 20 years, but also years from now as this is the slowest growing of our renewable resources. We get a sense of logging’s impact on this part of the world, the majesty of the environment and the forestry business. The planter is a vital part of the ecological process, as well in the forest industry. Charlotte Gill is the author of a fiction collection called Ladykiller which was nominated for a number of prizes including the Governor General’s Award, and the BC Book Prize for Fiction. She’s planted more than a million trees. The book is published by Greystone and the David Suzuki Foundation. The website for more is at www.charlottegill.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlotte Gill; Good morning, Ms. Gill.

Who Killed Mom? A Delinquent Son’s Meditation on Family, Mortality, and Very Tacky Candles by Steve Burgess. (Greystone, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Who Killed Mom?

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The award winning writer and broadcaster Steve Burgess joins me now. He is the author of a terrific new memoir: Who Killed Mom? A Delinquent Son’s Meditation on Family, Mortality, and Very Tacky Candles. I’m about a third of the way in, having just bought the book a day or so ago, and I’m really enjoying it. The book has that wit, clarity and charm that you might have seen in recent days on the CTV News Channel or when he was hosting @the end on CBC Newsworld, nearly a decade ago. He’s frequently heard on CBC Radio, and his writing has been featured in publications such as Reader’s Digest, the Globe and Mail, Swerve, and the Vancouver Sun. He’s a regular columnist at TheTyee.ca. His website is at www.steveburgess.ca. Who Killed Mom? is published by Greystone Books. It’s witty, poignant, biting, and hilarious. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Steve Burgess; Good morning, Mr. Burgess.

52 Best Day Trips from Vancouver by Jack Christie. (Greystone Books, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: 52 Best Day Trips from Vancouver

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Jack Christie is back on the program and back with a new book. It’s a new edition of his popular 52 Best Day Trips from Vancouver. The subtitle on the front of the book says it all: ‘An updated guide to the region’s best parks, lakes, beaches and trails, including the new Sea to Sky Trail from Squamish to D’Arcy. He has been dubbed Mr. BC, and is read regularly in the Georgia Straight and seen on Shaw TV’s hosting The Rec Report. In 2004, he received Tourism British Columbia’s Tourism Media Award. The book is published by Greystone. The website for more is at www.jackchristie.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Jack Christie; Good morning, Mr. Christie.

Bateman: New Works by Robert Bateman. (Greystone, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Bateman: New Works

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Robert Bateman joins me now. He is a world renowned wildlife artist and conservationist. He has just published a new book, a collection of some riveting and mesmerising art depicting mammals, birds and other wildlife in North America. There are over one hundred full colour reproductions, and though I don’t have an eye for art, even I know there are magnificent pieces here. There are short essays as well in this book, and a marvellous view onto Mr. Bateman’s views on environmentalism, education, art, the wilderness and more. The book is called Bateman: New Works, and it’s also a gorgeous book in its design. Greystone is its publisher. Robert Bateman is On the Line from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, where he lives and paints. He’s an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of British Columbia, and the many other accolades bestowed on this man are legion, and would take several minutes list. His website is at www.robertbateman.ca, and there’s another website, with his writing: www.batemanideas.com. I am pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Robert Bateman; Good morning, Mr. Bateman.

Off the Chain: An Insider’s History of Snowboarding by Ross Rebagliati. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Off the Chain

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The Olympic gold medalist Ross Rebagliati joins me now. He’s just written a highly readable, interesting history of snowboarding, Off the Chain: An Insider’s History of Snowboarding. It’s a compelling book that takes us into the world of snowboarding, the development of the sport, and more. He also takes us through his own history with the sport, as he’s one of snowboarding’s most recognised stars. He discusses his Olympic gold medal win, the loss of it due to a drug controversy, and the subsequent regaining of the medal. The book is published by Greystone. Ross Rebagliati is the founder of the Rebagliati Alpine Snowboarding Training Academy, and sales manager of Westterra Point. His website is www.rossrebagliati.com. He lives in Kelowna, and was recently acclaimed as the federal Liberal candidate in the riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla, where he will likely face Stockwell Day in the next election. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Ross Rebagliati; Good morning, Mr. Rebagliati.

The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History by John Ortved. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Simpsons

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In its 21st season, The Simpsons remains a vital part of television and invariably popular culture. Now, a new book gives us a look behind the scenes of the long running animated sitcom that since its debut in 1989 has affected our language, politics, and more. The book is called The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History. Its author, John Ortved joins me now. He grew up in Canada, and is a former editorial associate at Vanity Fair, where this book grew out of a piece he wrote there. His work has also appeared in publications such as New York, Vice, and the New York Observer. His website is www.artisdumb.org. The book is published by Greystone. Its foreword is written by Douglas Coupland. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Ortved; Good morning, Mr. Ortved.

Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir by Lorna Crozier. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Small Beneath the Sky

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

One of Canada’s most celebrated poets, Lorna Crozier, joins me now. She has recently published a new book, Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir. It’s been universally well-reviewed already. It is described as a tender and unsparing portrait of a family and a place. Crozier’s setting is her hometown of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. She discusses the town, its main street, and more. She also writes about the poverty and alcoholism that’s filled her growing up, what with her father’s drinking. Lorna Crozier has written some 15 books of poetry, and has edited two previous non-fiction anthologies, including Addicted: Notes from the Belly of the Beasts, which she co-edited with her partner Patrick Lane, a previous guest on the program. She is the chair of the writing department at the University of Victoria. She was recently named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. The book, Small Beneath the Sky is published by Greystone. From her home in Saanich, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lorna Crozier; Good morning, Ms. Crozier.

A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly by Dr. John Sloan. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: A Bitter Pill

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A much needed book is out now, A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly. It’s written by Dr. John Sloan, who is a senior academic physician in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. He provides a view onto elderly care, filling in the knowledge gaps we might have on how older patients are cared for. The anecdotes and case studies are fascinating to read and an instructive way to understand these issues. Dr. Sloan has spent well over 30 years caring for the frail elderly, many years conducting his practice outside an office, doing house calls, one of the few doctors who did so. A Bitter Pill is published by Greystone. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Sloan; Good morning, Dr. Sloan.

A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future by Larry Campbell, Neil Boyd, and Lori Culbert. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: A Thousand Dreams

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In A Thousand Dreams, a new book, there’s a photograph from September 1901 of crowds assembling around Hastings and Cambie awaiting amongst others, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. This week, we’re expecting in Canada, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. They’ll be at SFU on Saturday, on West Hastings, but I doubt Charles and Camilla will venture eastward into the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Neil Boyd joins me now. The noted Simon Fraser University criminologist is the co-author of a fascinating new book, that’s part history, part analysis and prescription of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The beginning of the book is an astonishingly good history of the country’s poorest neighbourhood, one that’s home to many Vancouverites at risk due to addiction and homelessness. It’s also instructive to other urban centres in North America. The authors call for the decriminalisation of prostitution and drugs, the continuing of Insite, the safe injection site, more social housing, and the transfer of addiction services to the Health Ministry. The book is called A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future. It’s published by Greystone, and co-authored by Neil Boyd, Senator and former mayor Larry Campbell and the Vancouver Sun’s Lori Culbert. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Neil Boyd; Good morning, Professor Boyd.