In June, I read native
Interviews with authors, suggested readings, public discussions and performances are planned throughout the province this month with the aim of (re)discovering Aboriginal literature for young and old. Not to be missed, among a host of events, a new tale by Jocelyn Sioui (who is also a seasoned puppeteer), at the Grande Bibliothèque, or a reading-show with Natasha Kanapé Fontaine at the Ursa hall in Montreal. In addition, participating independent bookstores will be able to drop off a new Aboriginal children’s book as part of the “Aboriginal reading as a gift” project, launched in partnership with the Literacy Foundation of Quebec.
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Award-winning authors
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Roxanne Bouchard
Distinctions are multiplying these days for local authors whose work is noticed abroad. In France, Michel Jean received the Best Novel award from readers and booksellers Points for his novel kukum, published in Quebec in 2019 (by Libre Expression). The Quebec edition has so far sold more than 178,000 copies, in addition to having been translated into English, German, Spanish, Croatian and Russian. Roxanne Bouchard won the Compagnie des Pêches prize at the Étonnants Voyageurs festival, which is held annually in Saint-Malo. She was awarded for her novel We were the salt of the sea, the first investigation by Inspector Moralès published in Quebec by VLB, in 2014, and in France in 2022 by Éditions de l’Aube. The author of detective novels Richard Ste-Marie received the prize for the best detective novel in French, awarded by the Crime Writers of Canada association, for Mr Hammerlipublished by Alire in 2022.
Laila Maalouf, The Press
New things to discover
Among all the publications arriving in bookstores these days, here are a few that caught our attention.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE EDITOR
One of the most prolific authors of the past 50 years, Stephen King already has a new – terrifying – novel for fantasy lovers, just in time for summer. In Fairy tale, he imagined a parallel universe where his 17-year-old hero must face a dark evil. (Albin Michel, 728 pages)
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Writer, screenwriter and musician Tristan Malavoy returns to poetry with What the night will place in your hands, an airy collection that explores the borders that separate us and the sensations that emerge from our relationship to the universe. (Hands-free, 78 pages)
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The “queen of suspense” Mary Higgins Clark had already combined her pen with that of the author of thrillers Alafair Burke, in particular to write the series Laurie Moran. In The children of the watchwe find the daughter of the heroine of his first bestseller, The watch house, in a story of child abduction that rekindles old traumas. A funny nod to fans of the famous author who passed away in 2020. (Albin Michel, 325 pages)
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The first novel by William S. Messier, Epic, the story of a memorable summer in the Eastern Townships, is once again offered thanks to this reissue which allows it to be reborn, 13 years after its publication, in a different format and with a new cover. (Leaf Merchant, 320 pages)
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Frenchman Thierry Wellhoff interviewed around fifteen personalities – from actress Julie Depardieu to writer Tahar Ben Jelloun – on “these little phrases that influenced their lives”. The confidences are sincere and the tone invites you to think for yourself about these innocuous words which, often without our knowledge, have left their mark on our journey. (Flammarion, 144 pages)
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A great specialist in Colette, Frédéric Maget has brought together in Our Colette letters, memories and testimonies around the French writer, written by such famous characters as Simone de Beauvoir, Marguerite Yourcenar, Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn. A moving testimony to his influence. (Flammarion, 272 pages)
1/6
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Met
PHOTO CHARLIE WILLIAMS, SUPPLIED BY ALTO
Emma Hooper
Albertan author and musician Emma Hooper is in Quebec this weekend, first for a happy hour around her new novel, Let’s not be afraid of the sky, this Saturday at Other Days. The interview (in English) will be followed by a musical performance inspired by the themes of his work. It’s free, but you have to register. On Sunday, she will be at the La Liberté bookstore for a talk, at 2 p.m., which will be simultaneously translated into French and followed by a signing session.
In Montreal, you can meet the authors of Éditions Monarque at the pub Chez Ernest – Comptoir de curiosities, on the Plaza Saint-Hubert, on Sunday, June 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., for a signing session and lively discussions.
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Literature goes to the living room
IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE HOUSE OF LITERATURE
Overview of the “Le Salon” platform
An interview with Kim Thúy, a poem by Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay or a reading by Natasha Kanapé Fontaine are just some of the digital content offered on the “Le Salon” platform, accessible on the Maison de la littéraire website. Launched a few weeks ago, this showcase aims to promote the literary arts by providing access, mostly free, to a host of videos, podcasts, interviews and performances highlighting authors and their writings. . Lovers of letters, here is a site to add to your favorites.
Veronique Larocque, The Press
A scholarship for manga lovers
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Manga at O-Taku Manga Lounge
Manga fans, to your pencils. For the second consecutive year, the Manga Grant, which aims to identify and encourage new talent in this field, will be awarded by O-Taku bookstores, in collaboration with the Montreal Comics Festival. Those interested have until August 16 to submit a short manga story to the competition along with a brief description. This year, the big winner will have the chance to fly to Japan. The winner will be announced in November, during the Salon du livre de Montréal.
Veronique Larocque, The Press
A “not flat” platform for Les Malins
IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE SMARTS
The Les Malins+ platform
“Reading isn’t boring,” proclaims the publishing house Les Malins. And to demonstrate this, the publisher this week launched a digital platform, both educational and fun, based on the different universes of the authors it publishes. On this site intended for children, but also for teachers, an escape game inspired by horror novels Anna Caritas rubs shoulders with educational sheets from youth series, such as Princess Beelzebub, Well Or Gameras well as excerpts from popular novels, including my cake life. Les Malins+ also offers an intriguing section devoted to… unicorns.
Veronique Larocque, The Press
Quebec writers in Morocco
Mylène Bouchard, Denise Desautels, Rima Elkouri, Gabrielle Filteau-Chiba, Daniel Grenier and Perrine Leblanc are among the thirty or so authors invited to the Moroccan International Publishing and Book Fair, which is being held until June 11 in Rabat. Quebec is indeed the special guest of this 28e presentation which will be an opportunity for talks, readings and talks about Quebec literature. Thirty publishing houses are also taking part in the project.
Laila Maalouf, The Press