Book news | The Press

News, novelties, meetings with authors, interviews… The Press informs you of what is happening in the world of books.

Laila Maalouf
The Press

Veronique Larocque
The Press

A first Quebec audiobook platform

Entrepreneurs Joanie Tremblay and Sandra Felteau have launched a new application for listening to and purchasing audio books with the aim of promoting Quebec literature. Called Narra, the platform has a collection of nearly 10,000 French-language books, including 1,500 Quebec and Canadian titles, and is an alternative to the digital giants. “To date, a lot of effort has been invested in the production of audio works from here, but very little in marketing and sales; there was a missing link to create a real enthusiasm around the audiobook”, affirms Joanie Tremblay, co-founder and director of communications of Narra. The project was made possible in part with the support of the Canadian and Quebec governments and falls within the context of Quebec’s Digital Cultural Plan.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

Several novelties for Louise Penny

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, created by Louise Penny, is making a lot of noise these days… We learned this week that the eight episodes of the series The Village of Three Pinesadapted from the novels, will be broadcast from December 2 on Prime Video, while its 18^e investigation (A World of Curiosities) will hit bookstores — in English — on November 29. The release date in French remains to be confirmed, but French-speaking readers can fall back on The hanged mana 128-page novella published in English in 2010 and finally translated by Lori Saint-Martin, who died recently, and Paul Gagné.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

A Quarto edition of Réjean Ducharme’s novels

Gallimard’s prestigious Quarto collection has undertaken to bring together all of Réjean Ducharme’s novels in one volume. This special edition sheds new light on the writer who died in 2017, who has always preferred to remain in the shadows since his entry into literature with The swallowing of the swallowed, written at the age of 25. The book (edited by Élisabeth Nardout-Lafarge, with the collaboration of Monique Jean and Monique Bertrand) also reproduces the author’s personal documents as well as unpublished intimate writings. Release is scheduled for November 30 in Quebec.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

An encyclopedic essay on feminicides

This is an ambitious new title, which examines a contemporary issue from a historical point of view and is a real reference in the field. The French historian Christelle Taraud brought together in Femicide – A Global History (La Découverte) the work of specialists on violence committed against women at all times, all over the world. This over 900-page book analyzes in depth the “crime of feminicide” from a global perspective, as the word continues to resonate in the news.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

An audio thriller with Patrick Labbé and Patrice Robitaille

The fans psychological thrillers are entitled to a brand new audiobook that has just been released on the Audible platform, Oracle 2: Dreamland Murders. This thriller that follows the audiobook Oracle, by Andrew Pyper, stars Patrick Labbé as Nate Russo, a psychic who helps the FBI solve kidnappings and homicides. Patrice Robitaille and Ariane Castellanos embody his FBI acolytes and accompany him in the hunt for a diabolical serial killer.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

A first children’s book for the singer Pomme

Time of day dreaded by some children, nap time is honored in the first children’s book by the French singer Pomme. In Under the eyelids, Claire Pommet, whose real name is, leads young readers into Sofia’s dreams. “Every day, by closing her eyes, she opens the door to a tiny magical world. A world populated by elves and elves, where mushrooms are houses, where otters are boats and pumpkins are hats”, can we read in this benevolent album which speaks of friendship and self-acceptance and others. The author as well as the illustrator Pauline de Tarragon will be visiting two Montreal bookstores for signing sessions next month: at L’Euguélionne, on December 9, at 6 p.m., and at Port de tête, on December 10. , at 14h.

Veronique Larocque, The Press

Under the eyelids

Text by Claire Pommet, illustrations by Pauline de Tarragon

The city is burning

From 3 years old

TD Prize Finalists Revealed

The TD Prize for Canadian Children’s and Young People’s Literature recently announced its finalists. Five French-language titles are in the running for this distinction which, for 18 years, has rewarded the jewels of children’s literature in the country: In my wardrobeby Aimée Verret, Edmond’s homeworkHugo Léger and Julie Rocheleau, Bubble wrapby Simon Boulerice and Eve Patenaude, baby warCarole Tremblay and Élodie Duhameau, as well as The end of lice?, from Orbie. A $50,000 scholarship will be awarded to the author and illustrator of the winning book on November 15 during a virtual ceremony. This will be presented live on the Communication-Jeunesse Facebook page at noon.

Veronique Larocque, The Press