| Celebrating the Written Word Is protected by copyright. It can be downloaded or printed out for personal use. Should any publication or reproduction media have an interest in publishing any issue please contact me to discuss price and rights purchase details CLICK TO: CONTACT FRANK WESTCOTT |
| CELEBRATING THE WRITTEN WORD! ...a periodic forum by Frank Westcott |
| CELEBRATING THE WRITTEN WORD!
...a periodic forum Summer 1997 by Frank Westcott Instead of critical analysis, Frank writes his celebration of the written word. He takes this approach because, in his view, this is what writing is all about. Besides, he likes to write about new or old books and scripts by his friends and colleagues. To him, these ARE cause for celebration! News, Noteworthy, & Gold Nibs To 1920! Yes! What a year! A year that gave us two of Canada's most important literary figures, Pierre Berton and Farley Mowat. Wish them Happy Birthdays folks! Pierre's born date is July 12, 1920. And Farley's May 12, 1921. Same day number! Only two months apart! And the same.... Whoops...! Well, you know Farley! 1920 W-A-S a big year for him too! He'll tell you straight up and straight faced that was the year he was conceived. And it was! So Gold Nibs to 1920 and a H-U-G-E thank you! Both men have been heroic in what they have done in and for Canadian letters. Farley is in more languages than a pack of wolves has toenails and Pierre has been an impeccable ambassador for what is truly Canadian... our history... our time, our place, and our space in our collective modern psyches and in the eyes of the world. It is fitting that these two men came to us, one in the spring of the year and one in the summer. By their existence and through their work, these men helped shepherd Canadian writing into its own spring time and the glorious summer it enjoys on the international stage today. Now for personal info buffs, Pierre's all-time favourite book that he wrote is The Secret World of Og, his all-time favourite by someone else is the trilogy U.S.A. by John Dos Passos, and his favourite animal is... the cat. Last April at the PEN Canada Benefit, Farley stood on the John Bassett Theatre's stage to speak and read. As he did this, I noticed how the house lighting made one clasp on his shoe shine and reflect beautiful colours as if from a rainbow. The Chimmesyan Indians have a legend. The legend says that any time creatures, humans, or humans and creatures share an experience strengthening the bond between them, the participants have walked in the shadow of a rainbow. Well Farley, well Pierre, through your work many of us have been able to walk in the shadow of a rainbow. Two rainbows to be exact. * Friendly Nib Notes, Summer Reading Goodies For The Kids, & Gold Nibs to Andrea Wayne von Konigslow and Claire Mackay. Andrea's new picture book Would You Love Me? (Annick) is a perfectly delightful item to sit and read over-and-over-and-over to young ones at the beach, in the car, or before bed. And Claire's new book Laughs (Tundra) is a collection of funny stories, poems, and bits by some of Canada's best writers for young people. If you know Claire, you're smiling and chuckling already. That's her! And that's Laughs! Old & Recently Read: The comedic, three hundred plus years old, seventeen scene play by Jean-Baptiste Moliere The Ridiculous Precieuses. Great fun! * Summer Reading For You! A Gold Nib to Exile Editions and Barry Callaghan for This Aint No Healing Town (Exile). Treat yourself to short stories by writers like Margaret Atwood, Joe Rosenblatt, Timothy Findley, Katherine Govier, Austin Clarke, Barbara Gowdy, Sean Virgo, Barry himself, and one of the finest writers to ever call Canada his birthplace and the world his home, Barry's father Morley Callaghan. * Celebrating the Written Word! Is protected by copyright. It can be downloaded or printed out for personal use. Should any publication or reproduction media have an interest in publishing any issue please contact us to discuss price and rights purchase details.
CLICK TO: CONTACT FRANK WESTCOTT
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