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Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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In Review: The Week of October 14th
This week we discovered what an ice pack can do to a book cover design, read some thoughtful words about home by former civil rights activist Douglas Gary Freeman, learned an off-grid living motto, and more.
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On living and writing off the grid: Interview with Andrea Hejlskov
When author Andrea Hejlskov realized she wasn’t living her most authentic life and the life she’d pictured for herself, she took her family and moved closer to nature. Publisher Caitlin Press interviews Andrea about living off the grid, the rewilding movement, “toxic positivity,” and her memoir Escape to the Wild.
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Quoted: Exile Blues
American-born civil rights activist Douglas Gary Freeman grew up in the segregated city of Washington, D.C. during the civil rights movement. Later, when he shot and wounded a Chicago police officer in self-defence, he fled to Canada to live a peaceful life. In his new novel Exile Blues (Baraka Books), Douglas tells the story of a young man…
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Beautiful Books: Arctic Smoke
When we learned that Michel Vrana’s design process for the cover of Randy Nikkel Schroeder’s Arctic Smoke (NeWest Press) involved disposable biodegradable ice packs, we wanted to know more. Below Michel chats with us about capturing the personality of this psychedelic, cyberpunk novel, outtakes from the process, and why there’s nothing more he’d rather do…
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Where in Canada: Land Beyond the Sea
Land Beyond the Sea (Breakwater Books) author Kevin Major breathes life into the cold statistics of war by taking us deeper into the story of the SS Caribou, a Nova Scotia to Newfoundland Ferry, sunk by German U-boat during World War II, resulting in the death of 137 passengers and crew.
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In Review: The Week of October 7th
This week we dreamed up a Greta Gerwig-directed film adaptation, chatted with activist carla bergman, tried our hand at two fall-inspired recipes, and more.
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First Fiction Friday: Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian)
A playful and poignant novel Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) (Metonymy Press) is a love letter narrated by a queer trans woman whose working through the unrelenting grief of losing her straight trans friend Vivian and the unrequited love she feels. Author Hazel Jane Plante says in an interview with publisher Metonymy Press: “I really didn’t…
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Test Kitchen: East Coast Keto
We’re serving up two surefire hits for the season: bacon-wrapped baked brie and a pumpkin pie spiced latte from Bobbi Pike’s East Coast Keto (Breakwater Books). Whether you’re into the ketogenic lifestyle or just love a good hearty meal, East Coast Keto takes traditional meals and re-imagines them as low-carb and ketogenic staples with an…
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Character Study: Fanny and the Mystery in the Grieving Forest
When 17 year old Fanny loses both of her parents in a car accident, she settles into a solitary life in her family home on the outskirts of a small Norwegian town – a place where her grief is slowly transformed into fairy tale. Author Rune Christiansen imagines a stunning cast to deliver an adaptation of…
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On activism and writing: Interview with carla bergman
Writer and activist carla bergman who co-directs the women-run speakers’ series EMMA Talks chats with us about standout moments from her work on Radiant Voices: 21 Feminist Essays for Rising Up Inspired by EMMA Talks (Brindle & Glass Publishing), how activism was one of her earliest memories, and what books she’s reading now.Photo credit Jamie-Leigh…
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In Review: The Week of September 30th
This week we cheered on the GG finalists, admired some book-cover eye candy, celebrated Women’s History Month with an essay on women and art, and much more.
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First Fiction Friday: The Inquirer
Writing with both humour and depth, Jaclyn Dawn brings us her debut novel The Inquirer (NeWest Press) about one woman’s fraught relationship with her own small town home, where parents, neighbours and the local press know a little more than they should about each others lives and her own secrets…
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Poetry in Motion: Renaissance Normcore
“Would you rather be the sun or the moon?/Would you rather sing like Jenny Lewis/or Fiona Apple?” begins Adéle Barclay’s reading of “You Don’t Have To Choose But You Do,” a poem from her latest collection Renaissance Normcore (Nightwood Editions). Read on for two poems from the collection, performed by the poet herself.
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The Treasures and the Damage
I came to explore the wreck.The words are purposes.The words are maps.I came to see the damage that was doneand the treasures that prevail.—Adrienne Rich, “Diving into the Wreck”I think you can hardly be a poet and a feminist (at least of my generation) without holding onto Adrienne Rich’s poem, “Diving into the Wreck” to…
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In Review: The Week of September 23rd
This was an awards-happy week with shortlists announcements for the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, City of Vancouver Book Award, and Ottawa Book Awards, as well as a week of ’90s tunes, chats with Gladstone Press publisher Ingrid Paulson, and much more.
Got any book recommendations?