Mavis Gallant is sitting “in her apartment on Rue Jean Ferrandi” when, in a “voice gentle yet commanding”, she says “There are two kinds of writers to me, the Tolstoy and the Dostoevsky.” With this Russian project underway, I sat up a little straighter. “And they’re both extraordinary,” she
Over the weekend, I’ve been reading Ananda Devi, recipient of the 2024 Neustadt Prize (which some call the American Nobel). Three of her books have made their way to me via various Ontario libraries this month: Eve Our of Her Ruins from Don Mills Library in Toronto, Manger L’Autre
Last month’s discussion of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, on February 15th, was dedicated to the first Chekov story (1897). My post is here, Bill’s here, and Bron’s here. Rebecca U. is unsure just how long she will be spending on page 3 (in the various
In recent Januaries, Bill @ The Australian Legend has been hosting weeks dedicated to Australian women writers for so long that he finally invited the fellas to have a week too. My own interest in Australia was initially sparked in the fourth grade when I was assigned the Platypus
Midway through 2024, I enthused about Casey Plett’s On Community which includes a discussion of how Plett often feels the term is too slippery but it’s hard to find a suitable replacement. Sometimes I feel as though it means the opposite of what I want it to mean, or
