Walt Whitman’s Secret by George Fetherling. (Random House, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Walt Whitman’s Secret

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Walt Whitman is arguably America’s greatest poet, and his final years provide a basis for the new novel from the author and poet George Fetherling. Walt Whitman’s Secret is a reimagining of Whitman’s final years. The author of Leaves of Grass is an ill man, whose admirers view him as not only a venerated writer, but some sort of mystic. Whitman struggles with some personal secrets and demons, and in this book we also look at ideas of nationalism, identity, and celebrity. George Fetherling joins me from here in Vancouver to talk about this book and more. We’ll talk about his own writing, and whether he thinks Whitman is relevant to today. Walt Whitman’s Secret is published by Random House. It has already been described as ‘an extraordinary achievement,’ and a ‘resonant, shimmering work.’ Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, George Fetherling; Good morning, Mr. Fetherling.

Ghosted by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. (Random House, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Ghosted

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall is highly regarded in the literary community here in Canada. His first book, a memoir, Down to This, received good notices and many award nominations. He has just published his first novel, a book described as ‘audacious,’ ‘not for the faint of heart,’ ‘harrowing,’ ‘spellbinding,’ as well as ‘Bukowski craggy and Hornby sweet.’ Mason is the lead character, and he’s not doing too well, battling gambling, alcohol and drug vices, he aspires to be a writer, but can’t seem to get it together. His landlord, creditor and dealer is his friend Chaz, who gets him to start selling hot dogs. He gets a gig as a writer, from some guy who asks him to write a love letter to this girl. The guy kills himself, and it turns out he’s just written the guy’s suicide note. The book goes on from here and we’ll get the author to tell us more. It’s called Ghosted, and it’s published by Random House. Mr. Bishop-Stall was also on the television program The Newsroom. In Vancouver today, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall; Good morning, Mr. Bishop-Stall.

Illustrado by Miguel Syjuco. (Hamish Hamilton, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Illustrado

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

One of the most highly awaited and critically acclaimed books of the season, Illustrado is out now. Its author is the much talked about Miguel Syjuco, whose first novel has already won the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Palanca Award, and did so before it was published. The book has also been well received in Canada, the United States and in the Philippines, whose culture, popular and otherwise, is at the centre of this book. My parents are Filipino, but I was born here, and so I’ve never identified myself as anything but a Canadian, perhaps a British Columbian, certainly a Vancouverite. But my culture is something I’ve discussed on this program, whether it’s been with authors like Nam Le, Judy Fong Bates, Wayson Choy or Denise Chong, as well as Mable Elmore, the first Filipino-Canadian elected to the BC Legislature. And it’s fitting, after a short vacation there earlier this year, and discussing the recent elections there on this show with Winnie Monsod, that all of this thinking about who I am comes together with Mr. Syjuco’s book, an astonishing, introspective look at Filipinos and the Philippines. It’s a novel, yet its gift is its ability to give a view that’s useful, whether you’re like me and you have some roots, or you’re looking for great writing. It’s often funny as well. www.syjuco.com is his website for more. Illustrado is published in Canada by Hamish Hamilton. I’m very pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, from his home in Montreal, Miguel Syjuco; Good morning, Mr. Syjuco.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

A few months back there was some talk in the trade papers, as well as the mainstream press, certainly on the internet like on Facebook and Twitter, about a forthcoming project by Linda Richards and David Middleton: The Greatest 100 Books of British Columbia. Ms. Richards and Mr. Middleton are culling together a list and publishing a book next year. We’ll talk about how they’re doing this, the considerations being taken, as well as how we can get involved. I’ve already come up with my own list. It’s a great conversation to start, and you can read more at their website: www.greatest100books.com. Linda L. Richards is the editor and co-founder of January Magazine, as well as a regular contributor to The Rap Sheet. She is also a novelist. Some of her previous books include Death Was the Other Woman, Calculated Loss, The Next Ex, and Mad Money. Her last book was Death Was in the Picture. Her website and blog can be found at www.lindalrichards.com. She joins me from the Gulf Islands this day. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Linda Richards; Good morning, Ms. Richards.

The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding. (Doubleday, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Wild Zone

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Joy Fielding’s The Wild Zone begins with a joke. Will and Jeff, who are brothers, are yucking it up at a South Beach bar with their friend Tom, when they spy the beautiful Suzy. The guys bet as to who can seduce Suzy, and the story goes from there. It’s described as a story full of dark secrets, hidden passions, and filled with intrigue. Joy Fielding joins me now from here in Vancouver. She is a New York Times bestselling author of Mad River Road, Puppet Lost, See Jane Run, and many more acclaimed and bestselling novels here in Canada and the United States. Her website is www.joyfielding.com. The Wild Zone is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joy Fielding; Good morning, Ms. Fielding.

In the Fabled East by Adam Lewis Schroeder. (Douglas & McIntyre 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: In the Fabled East

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Adam Lewis Schroeder has been described as a young author worth watching, and his new book, In the Fabled East is already a much talked about release of the spring. It is his second novel, and is a sweeping literary saga set against the backdrop of French Indochina. It is said to be a rich and sensual depiction of Southeast Asia, echoing Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad. Adam Lewis Schroder joins me now. He grew up in Vernon, and has completed an MFA in Creative Writing at UBC. His previous books include a short fiction collection, Kingdom of Monkeys, and his first novel was The Empress of Asia, which was a critical hit. He is a columnist for CBC Radio One, and is a Creative Writing instructor at UBC Okanagan. He also has a piece in Darwin’s Bastards: Astounding Tales from Tomorrow. His website is www.adamlewisschroeder.com. In the Fabled East is published by Douglas and McIntyre. He joins me from here in Vancouver. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Adam Lewis Schroder; Good morning, Mr. Schroder.

Curiosity: A Love Story by Joan Thomas. (McClelland & Stewart, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Curiosity

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

The book has already gotten good notices. It’s called Curiosity: A Love Story. Its author Joan Thomas joins me now. Set in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, we meet Mary Anning, the fossil collector and palaeontologist, and Henry de la Beche, the geologist. The book is described as a richly imagined and beautifully written tale of two very different people and how their paths cross. The book reflects on love, class, the role of women, and the gap between religion and science. Joan Thomas wrote Reading By Lightning, which won the 2009 Commonwealth Prize for best first book, among other prizes. She is a contributing book reviewer for the Globe and Mail, and has also won a National Magazine Award. She is a consultant for writing and publishing with the Manitoba Arts Council. Her website for more is www.joanthomas.ca. She joins me from Toronto this day. The book is published by McClelland and Stewart. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joan Thomas; Good morning, Ms. Thomas.

The Sea Captain’s Wife by Beth Powning. (Knopf, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Sea Captain’s Wife

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

The Sea Captain’s Wife is a new book from Beth Powning. It’s described as a gripping novel of love and obsession set on the high seas of the 1860’s. It takes us from the Bay of Fundy, where Azuba Galloway was born and where she often dreams of seeing the world. She marries a captain, but she can’t see the world as she’d like. Beth Powning is the author of The Hatbox Letters, Edge Seasons, and Shadow Child. She lives in Sussex, New Brunswick in an 1870 farmhouse, with her husband the artist Peter Powning. She joins me from here in Vancouver this day. The website for more is www.powning.com. The Sea Captain’s Wife is published by Knopf. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Beth Powning; Good morning, Ms. Powning.

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor. (Knopf, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Motorcycles and Sweetgrass

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Drew Hayden Taylor is a prolific writer, journalist, comic, and playwright. He’s produced documentaries on the Native experience, and has written for such programs as Street Legal, the Beachcombers, and North of 60. He is an Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations. Despite over 20 books, he is interestingly enough one of Random House’s New Faces of Fiction with his debut novel, Motorcycles and Sweetgrass. It’s described as a story of magic, family, raccoons, and a mysterious stranger. www.drewhaydentaylor.com is his website. The book is published by Knopf. Joseph Boyden says of the book: “A wisdom exists in these pages that only comes from someone who writes from the heart.” We join the interview in progress as the first portion of the interview was lost due to a technical snafu at my end here in Vancouver. I had been asking Mr. Taylor about his mother’s influence and we pick up where I ask him about his ability to make spaghetti from scratch, which his mother was really impressed with. Mr. Taylor joined me from Toronto.

Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands by Hubert Aquin; Translated by Joseph Jones. (Ronsdale Press, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Shifting Sands

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

We look at the life of the novelist and activist, Hubert Aquin now. The Quebec born writer died in 1977, but his work remains oft-studied and discussed. In 2003, his novel Next Episode, the English translation of Prochaine épisode was the winner of the Canada Reads thing on CBC Radio. Now, his novella, Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands is translated for the first time in a bilingual edition. Marie-Claire Blais, says that this novella is worthy of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Joseph Jones joins me now to discuss Aquin and this book. Mr. Jones is librarian emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Originally from the Carolinas, he was in Quebec during the October Crisis. He’s long been interested in Aquin’s life and work. He found this novella in its original manuscript form and translated it. It’s published by Ronsdale Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joseph Jones; Good morning, Mr. Jones.