Hello Bonjour,
All is quiet on the bookstore front these days. This is the perfect season to come by and chat as browsers and buyers are seldom seen and we have more than enough time to devote to long conversations (not all about the weather).
We are busy getting ready for our Valentine’s Day evening. Braedan Houtman is now in charge of events at the store, and he is telling you all about this one further down the newsletter.
We ordered many literary love stories for the occasion. It required all our creativity to select some that end well while steering clear of the romance territory. Actually, I am not sure that we succeeded in our quest for happy endings, but love will be mentioned with talent on pages that deserve to be turned and that’s what matters.
What else?
I read a few books in January and I chose two that you might enjoy as well.
AUDE'S PICKS
THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF EVERYDAY LIFE
In 112 pages, choreographer Annie-B Parson reminds us that every day is a dance between time and space, art and life, body and brain. This book is a poetic chronology of mundane moments, and I truly loved it. A very good antidote to cabin fever if you need one.
These collected very short stories are not all about snow, I reassure you. Many are about landscapes though, and even more about little nothings full of greatness. Walser’s genius sparkles on every page, ironic, melancholy, thoughtful, and disarmingly charming. There are so many facets to Walser that you jump from one story to the next wondering what new trick this magician can possibly pull out of his very elegant hat.
NEW ON THE SHELVES
February is Black History Month. It is a great time to discover new authors as publishers feature them more prominently throughout the month. We jumped on the new paperback version of Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste that will be released on February 14th. This is an important read and we have been recommending it for a long time as well as Wilkerson’s first book The Warmth of Other Suns.
Check our Black History table for new releases from Ayobami Adebayo, reissues of James Baldwin and many others that we picked from our bookcases or ordered for the occasion.
Speaking of new black authors, we loved Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson, and many of you did too so you will be happy to know that his new novel, Small Worlds will be published in July.
The Italian shelves are getting pretty full. We restocked Italo Calvino’s books (the ones with the wonderful Peter Mendelsund covers) as well as Elena Ferrante’s, Natalia Ginzburg’s and Fleur Jaeggy’s.
If you like Natalia Ginzburg, you might want to pick up Cespédes’ Forbidden Notebook next.
On the Canadian side of literature, we received newly released paperback versions of Sheila Heti’s Pure Color and Heather O’Neill’s When We Lost Our Heads.
Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke my Heart is a witty, touching collection of essays on pop culture and life by Jen Sookfong Lee.
INTERESTING NEW RELEASES
Let’s not forget that Rushdie is one of the greatest writers alive.
A first novel by the author of The Dangers of Smoking in Bed.
EVENTS
The Writing Workshops are back every Monday of February from 6:30 to 8 pm.
Be inspired by writing prompts. No homework. No grades.
No experience required. Just bring notebook and pens.
Sabina Walser
The workshops are both challenging and a lot of fun. They are conducted by Sabina Walser who takes some of her inspiration from Lynda Barry and Natalie Goldberg (who attended the first workshop at the bookstore, in November).
Sabina Walser was born in Switzerland, grew up in Washington DC, and has been living in Montreal for the past 30 years. She teaches English literature/creative writing at a local college. Writing and reading – and most recently learning pottery – are her passions. Being related to Robert Walser is her claim to fame.
Valentine's Day
Book Up is our Valentine’s Day event with the lofty goal of fulfilling Aude’s long-held dream: two people meeting at the bookstore and one day having their wedding here.
Though hopes are high, stresses are low. The event requires no frills, skills, or Netflix & chills—everyone is welcome whether single or spoken for. Just bring a book which you believe best represents you, then chat with others based on what they’ve brought with them. We hope everyone walks away with a new friend or (fingers crossed) significantly more.
I’ll be there to help break the ice and serve wine.
$5 Entry. Arrive by 7 pm.
Braedan