Browsing “Vancouver Book Club”

We all love a good celebrity name change. From Prince, to P. Diddy to Cat Stevens, er… Yusuf Islam, changing names signifies a fresh start.

A key member of Vancouver’s robust magazine community, one cool word is exchanging its full name for simple initials – OCW. The new name is like your dapper grandfather’s monogrammed shirts or the way your mom tagged your undies before you left for summer camp, only cooler. But unlike those celebrities listed above, the lovely people behind OCW aren’t re-branding for record sales or new lines of energy drinks. They’ll continue to showcase the artistry and innovation of this city.

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Hello friendly Vancouver Is Awesome readers,

My name is Lizzy Karp and I am a book lover.

I don’t wear glasses, but I’ve got the credentials: I know all the words to the Reading Rainbow theme song, lose hours in the basement of MacLeods Books, and flash my library card on a weekly basis. I studied books at University, mostly for the promise of an excellent book collection, but also for the elbow-patched professors. I’ve worked at a bookstore. I’ve dragged boxes of books across the country when I moved from another Canadian city to Vancouver, picking up more for my collection on the way. And the books I love the most I give away to friends, hoping they will devour and enjoy them as much as I did.

I’m thrilled to put my bookishness to use as the new editor of Vancouver Is Awesome’s Imprint and Vancouver Book Club!

VIA’s Imprint is a celebration of all things in print that have something to do with the city we love most. Alongside book reviews, we’ll be talking about local magazines, publishing houses, bookstores, literary events, and writers from around here.

And since I’m not the only one who is proud of their book lust, we’ve started the Vancouver Book Club! In the next few weeks we will be announcing our first Vancouver Book Club Book and event details. All reader-types are welcome – from casual beach readers to librarians.

If you’ve got some favourite local writers, books, magazines or festivals let us know! Email us at books@vancouverisawesome.com or post in the comments below. We are also on Twitter @VIAReads and have a fresh Facebook page that you can join right here.

The Vancouver Public Library is hosting its quarterly book sale. If you haven’t been before you’re in for a real treat! Good fiction (and I’m NOT talking yellow, smelly romance paperbacks here!) are…wait for it…$0.55! Most expensive book (ex: hard cover cookbook) is only $2.25! Bring cash and your own bags. The sale is located at the Central Branch on the lower level. Hours are Thursday the 8th from 10:00am-9:00pm and Friday the 9th from 10:00am-6:00pm. Be prepared to (possibly) wait in line. Totally worth it though! Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. Click here for more info!

As the publishing industry evolves, smart folks like our friends at D&M Books continue to change with it as is plainly evident by this trailer for a book posted on Youtube, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Fitting to the subject at hand, the book is called Darwin’s Bastards and it’s made up of short stories from a group of incredibly fine writers. Have a look…

While I’m on the subject I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know that we have a new Books editor! Lizzy Karp, of the Rain City Chronicles, is now heading up all things bookish (reviews of books like Darwin’s Bastards, features, etc) and is working on our upcoming book club that we’re launching later this month.

Welcome, Lizzy! And stay tuned, readers!

Ever since my buddy Scott blew his knee out, he’s been on a creative tear.

He has recently written a book of short stories which is guaranteed to make you wonder.

You can pick up a copy through Anteism.

Nice one Scott….

Did you know that at Bookmark, the store at the VPL main branch, they have a pretty deep selection of used books that they sell? I didn’t.

What I did know is that Read more

You may already be familiar with the Vancouver Public Library’s very cool “One Book, One Vancouver” program (if not, click here for the 411) but did you know that this time round you can vote for the winner! Once selected, the VPL will host various “programs and events to bring the winning title alive for readers”. There are three titles to choose from. Voting closes June 24th. Click here to vote!

If you attended the first volume of our live talk show, A Night at MOV with Conor Holler, you got the inside scoop from Grant Lawrence on his upcoming book entitled Adventures In Solitude which is coming out on Harbour Publishing in the Fall. Today Grant announced the release on his blog and linked to the press release that has all of the info as well as a brief excerpt for you to chew on.

Being a CBC Radio 3 personality and former frontman of The Smugglers you might expect Grant’s first book to be about… well… music. Right? Not so! According to Grant “…while it is filled with music references (including the title) [inspired by a New Pornographers song], Adventures In Solitude is not a music book. It’s a book about the Canadian cottage experience from my perspective, both as a nerd kid and an adult, set on the wild west coast beyond the end of the road in Desolation Sound, BC. Desolation Sound is the central, bi-polar character of the book. The supporting characters are myself, my family, friends, and all the salty Beachcombers-come-to-life inhabitants of this lonely stretch of coastline where no roads lead in or out.”

The last time I was this excited about a book release was when David Sedaris‘ When You Are Engulfed In Flames was announced. Stay tuned for my review of Adventures In Solitude this fall… or earlier if I can get my greasy hands on an advance copy!

grant lawrence at a night at mov volume 1. photo: lindsay dianne

I found out about this super interesting Douglas Coupland project via Lisa Christiansen from CBC Radio 3. Penguin Books just turned 75 years old so to celebrate Douglas created 30 original Penguin book covers telling people in 1935 about life in the year 2010. Click HERE for the rest of the images in his series along with some words that accompany them…

And a few more of my favourites from the series… Read more

Cameron Macleod produced this amazing video to accompany Grant Lawrence‘s interview during A Night at MOV Volume 1! “I understand you brought a clip?”…

A “HOW TO” video guide for young writers. Grant lawrence shares his wisdom on focus, commitment, and what it takes to be a published writer.

Joey S**thead of D.O.A., that is [read our interview with him HERE]. Enjoy the latest (and quite hilarious) video from CBC Radio 3, as Joe Keithley reads some classic literature aimed at young girls.

Beyond the funny intro are interviews with some of Canada’s best independent musicians talking about their favourite books. Clean your brain out with Emily Haines from Metric, K’naan, Odario Williams from Grand Analog, two dudes from The Stills, Sam Roberts, Dan Mangan, Stephan Ramsay from Young Galaxy and Max Kerman of the Arkells…

After Bob made a mention of MacLeod’s (455 Pender Street West) I thought I’d dig though some of the pics I have of this treasure trove of books.

There are always a great selection of books in the window, but it doesn’t even compare to the jems hidden inside.

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