Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
-
If You Liked x, Read Y: 2018 Oscar Winners Edition
Confession time: we may not have been able to stay up through the whole of Sunday’s Oscars broadcast, but we sure will be up late reading these three literary follow-ups to three of the winningest films at this year’s ceremony.
-
Do-Lit-Yourself: March Break Bookplates
We’re anticipating that March Break-life next week with a printable colouring sheet of parts-of-speech bookplates – for kids and kids-at-heart alike.
-
In Review: The Week of February 26th
This week we wished away winter with our staff spring preview, shared thoughts from author Adam Pottle on disability and writing satire, and learned more about a displaced Vancouver community in an essay from Chelene Knight.
-
On Disability and Satire (or, How I Learned to Use My Circumventive Presence to Write a Circumventive Story)
I’m a natural contrarian, a born shit-disturber. My first instinct is always to contradict: if everyone else says yes, my first thought is no. Out of politeness—an overrated Canadian quality—I don’t say these things. Instead, I save them for my writing.I take great pleasure in provoking people through my stories. I was born deaf, and…
-
Spring Preview: Staff Picks
Our denim jackets are in-waiting, allergy meds are in reach, and our TBR spring books are heating up ALU HQ. See what books we’re picking up first this season.
-
Bring Me Back Home
Riding down Main Street on a crowded bus in Vancouver, I pass under the Georgia Viaduct and my thoughts immediately drift to the almost forgotten, foggy, and distant memory of Hogan’s Alley—Vancouver’s only real black neighbourhood. A thriving place with bustling shops, family-owned businesses, and a real sense of community and an I-got-your-back attitude established…
-
Writer’s Block: Elizabeth Langridge and Life at War
2018 marks the 100th anniversary since the end of the First World War: a devastating conflict whose end was supposed to bring everlasting peace. With another global war to follow, and times today looking no less certain, we interview author Elizabeth Langridge, a survivor of the Blitz of London and whose father fought in WWI.…
-
Do-Lit-Yourself: Dust Your-shelf Off
As anyone with a sizeable book collection knows, keeping your bookshelves clean and free of dust can be a real pain in the spine. We’ve rounded up four preventative methods and cleaning tips to keep your shelves in ship-shape.
-
In Review: The Week of February 19th
This week we read some poetry, learned about feminist festivals, and tons more In Review.
-
First Fiction Friday: A One-Handed Novel
Kim Clark inspires humour and sex appeal in her latest A One-Handed Novel (Caitlin Press), fiction channelled by her own experiences with disability. The novel follows protagonist Melanie Farrell, a fortyish woman living with Multiple Sclerosis, as she comes to learn of her seemingly unreal prognosis: she only has six orgasms left.
-
Under the Cover: Narnia for Ghost Animals: the Story Behind My Poem “Winterhill”
Poet Catherine Graham’s latest collection The Celery Forest (Wolsak & Wynn) is a revisiting: the poet reassesses themes and issues from her previous work in light of her breast cancer diagnosis. Catherine shares the surprise and delight of having a child fan of her work – a fan that inspired The Celery Forest’s “Winterhill,” excerpted below.
-
Remembering Sharron Proulx-Turner
Poet Sharron Proulx-Turner who sadly passed away in November 2016 wore many hats: she was a Nokomis (storyteller), community worker, mother, aunty, and member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Her posthumously published collection of poetry, creole métisse of french canada, me (Kegedonce Press) touches on her experiences as a two-spirited woman and the role…
-
Jules’ Tools for Social Change: Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
This edition of Jules’ Tools talks Scarborough (the city) and Scarborough (the novel) with debut novelist and award-winning playwright Catherine Hernandez.
-
Field Trip: Growing Room Festival 2018
In 2017, Canada’s oldest feminist literary journal, Room magazine launched the literary festival Growing Room as a space to celebrate diverse Canadian writers and artists run entirely as a labour of love. And this year is no exception. Running from March 1 – 4 in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, the festival is set to feature 18 panels…
-
In Review: The Week of February 12th
Catch up on our love fest this week and our top reads.
Got any book recommendations?