The acclaimed author Miriam Toews talks about her new novel, All My Puny Sorrows (Knopf, 2014), siblinghood, assisted suicide and more, with Joseph Planta.

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews (Knopf, 2014). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: All My Puny Sorrows

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Miriam Toews joins me again. She’s just published her sixth novel: All My Puny Sorrows. It’s already gotten remarkable notices. In the book, we meet two sisters: Elfrieda and Yolandi. Yoli has a messy life in Toronto, two teenage kids, and other complications. Elf is an accomplished concert pianist, glamorous, married, and harbours suicidal thoughts. In fact, she acts on them just weeks before a concert tour around the world. The two sisters are brought together, and the story looks at siblinghood, mental health, love, grief, and more. I’ll get Ms. Toews to tell us about this book, and more. Miriam Toews is the award winning author of the novels: Summer of My Amazing Luck, A Boy of Good Breeding, A Complicated Kindness, The Flying Troutmans, and Irma Voth. She’s also written a work of non-fiction, Swing Low: A Life. This new book is published by Knopf. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Miriam Toews; Ms. Toews, good morning.

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