Miz Moffatt Recommends...

Regular reader (known to the Blogoverse as A Strange Boy) asked me for some reading recommendations earlier this week -- since I am tackling a stack o' literature at the moment, and since I've left strange posts regarding recent discoveries on Can. lit. scene, it seems I might have a few opinions on books.

Alas, I do not have any recent queer titles under the belt at the moment -- that's a personal (albeit neglected) reading goal all on its own. Queer ladies + local library + books = a fine combination.

Anyhow, I am getting off topic.

Here are a few titles from the archive for keen readers to check out, should the genre strike 'em:

The Stories of Ibis, Hiroshi Yamamoto

(Haikasoru)

The Stories of Ibis offers a sparkling, fresh stance on man vs. machine science fiction, proving that the lines between both camps are not so simple to discern. Quite enjoyed the more heady philosophical debates on the role of machines in human lives and vice versa, how both parties rely on one another for companionship, purpose, and evolution. In particular, the idea of death as discussed between the nameless Storyteller and the android Ibis is a compelling one that will linger long after the book is closed. Also, loved how vital the act of storytelling is to this novel. Hiroshi Yamamoto places the writer in a central role as the preserver of human culture and the bonding link between disparate civilizations. Meta-narrative at its most sci fi - delicious.

Some readers might be turned off by the dense technical writing that accompanies a couple of the short stories. Remember: this is science fiction. Science is a large part of said fiction. Understanding the physics behind the fiction is vital at times and Yamamoto explores it with great depth.

Ideal for: sci fi lovers who need a sharp jolt from the genre; current or former philoso-philes who like a good android debate; amateur or professional writers who love to speculate on their influence over the creation of narratives; physics nerds who like reading technical jargon in their spare time.

Remainder, Tom McCarthy

(Vintage)

Tom McCarthy spins an outlandish, addictive thread to please readers with a penchant for the anti-hero. In his debut novel, Remainder, a nameless survivor of an unnamed accident receives an £8.5 million settlement on the condition that he remains silent on the event. The problem is "fixed" through no fault of his own -- our narrator suffers from memory loss and cannot recall the details of his injury. After stumbling through his initial post-rehab world, the narrator fixates on the idea of rediscovering the fluid, uncalculated movements he once took for granted. With his newfound riches, he enlists the help of a bizarre agency to furnish his fantasy. The narrator invests his time and resources into "re-enacting" real or imagined moments, both mundane and violent. What begins as a bizarre past-time builds toward a tragic end for all those closest to him...

McCarthy is an expert with convincing, first-person narration. This nameless narrator is relatable and has a simple sort of charm to him. For fans of Torchwood out there, all I could picture was Rhys Williams (played by Kai Owen) inhabiting this role. Excellent choice, I should think.

Ideal for: Fans of first-person anti-heroes; Kids who like ample experimentation in their fiction; People who love the smell of liver and the constant repetition of piano music (and also hate cordite).

Where We Have To Go, Lauren Kirshner

(McClelland & Stewart)

Where We Have To Go sparkles in its sad revelations on the life of one young girl stuck in one dysfunctional family. Lauren Kirshner marks her debut with a fine-tuned novel filled with ample quirk, a touch of spunk, and a whole lot of tragic circumstances. As the novel opens, the eleven-year-old Lucy dreams of freedom in the shape of a bicycle. Her vision dissipates when she receives a pair of second-hand roller skates for her birthday, and when she becomes conscious of her parents' marital troubles. Lucy then embarks on an odyssey toward adulthood, an adventure riddled with toxic friendships, anorexia, and anxieties connected to her changing environment. Even as she wades through her own confusion, Lucy maintains her charm and presses on.

Set in Toronto in the nineties, the novel invites young readers to re-live their past through a literary lens. Kirshner adds delightful touches of pop culture to her text, most notably in little Lucy's admiration of ALF. Sweet, complicated, and entirely addictive -- finish the novel in one sitting, then repeat.

Ideal for: Toronto high schoolers needing proof of literature's relevancy; Twenty-somethings needing a hit of nostalgia; Coming-of-age junkies.

** Note: Readers will find an additional shot of queer subtext in this novel, particularly between our protagonist, Lucy, and her friend, Erin. And no, I don't think I've invented the subtext, either. It is for real and is so excellent.

This Cake is for The Party, Sarah Selecky

(Thomas Allen Publishers)

Sarah Selecky dazzles with ten taut, smartly searing stories in her first published collection, This Cake is for The Party. Selecky levels her gaze upon a younger generation whose best intentions unravel in the face of hidden truths, betrayal, and unsettling tensions riding just below the surface.

Stand out pieces include "Go-Manchura," in which a lonesome introvert embroils herself in a health food pyramid scheme, and the heartbreaking "Where Are You Coming From, Sweetheart?", in which a young girl struggles to free herself from her father's religion and finds an unexpected lover on a Greyhound bus. Additional accolades go to "Prognosis," written as a rather biting letter to a dying mother-in-law in which the writer is gifted with a certain aural oddity. Selecky shines in her first-person prose, and creates characters with distinct, relatable voices that are sure to startle and delight.

Ideal for: Short story junkies; Readers in the twenty- to thirty-something age bracket; Commuters prepared to shed a tear or two in public.

***

Now, I turn to you, dear reader -- what are you reading at the moment, and how are you liking it? What's coming up on your reading list? Despite the stacks I have at the moment, I would love some recommendations, too! My library's not going to stack itself, you know.

Lit. Lover in the Making

Well, perhaps "current-and-forever-book-lover" is a touch more accurate, especially if ladies like the one pictured above are doin' the readin'. *End lechery*

Again, mass apologies for another stretch of silence here at Cute, Queer, Canadian. Life in the literary world has spiked, to put it lightly. Free time is coming at strange hours, now. And, starting next week, those hours will queer themselves up even further.

To take stock:

• I am three weeks into the publishing certificate program and am loving it. What a new world from those undergraduate days. I am learning practical, hands-on knowledge! I am learning from people in the publishing industry! I am in a classroom with people who have a clear picture of where they'd like to go with these skills! Stunning. This is the first time I've been all jazzed about group work which is a revelation all its own. It's been a good run so far, especially since these will be people I'll work with in the real world afterwards.
• I got me a seasonal job at Chapters! For kids outside of Canada, Chapters is the one-and-only national book chain here. As in, Chapters is responsible for 60% of book sales in Canada. Yeah. It's a big deal. While I am thrilled at the prospect, I am a touch nervous as to how this month will turn out for me. I am on the stocking shift which means I work 5 AM - 9:30 AM. And, given the commute back from school, I will not get home on most nights until 11:43 PM. Hmm. Problematic. But, it's a short term situation and did I mention THERE ARE BOOKS??!
• The International Festival of Authors is fast approaching and I will more or less live there on all available days. I have four volunteer shifts booked at the moment and, depending on the Chapters schedule, there might be more to follow, muahaha.....

I am on a one-woman mission to dominate Toronto's book world in the next month. Not to mention I have made it a personal goal to read:

• The shortlisted books from the Man Booker Prize
• The longlisted books from the Scotiabank Giller Prize
• The shortlisted books from the Toronto Book Award

... That totals 24 books alone. Well, technically 23 since I finished one book listed for the Toronto Book Award. It was a good read, but I was a little put off given how often penises were mentioned or described in vivid detail. Yeah, I've noticed there's this weird obsession with male anatomy that runs throughout Canada literature. I don't get it. But, then, I am a queer woman, so that might explain the general aversion. Ah well, I brought this reading challenge upon myself, so I must accept these award-nominated books for the next few weeks.

So, BOOKS -- I am re-nerding myself and polishing that ol' vocabulary this month. I also sort of want to re-read Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes because it is October and Hallowe'en is approaching and it's been far too long since I last read it. Plus, I always wanted to re-read it in October. And HEY! Check out the month. How convenient.

Did I mention I also have school assignments to finish throughout all this?

I know, I am chock full of crazy. But that's what you love about me, am I right?

Lesbian Lit.: Suburban Style

I might have just stumbled across a new side project for myself -- and I have the local library to thank for it.

I was reflecting this evening on the utter awesomeness our local library has added to their collection. This awesomeness is known in the vernacular as "MANGA." I realize I've been hammering this point home for quite a few weeks now, but I cannot stress how progressive this is for a proper, buttoned-down town to list manga on its public library records.

I mean, if you have even a passing interest in graphic novels and manga in general, the collection is impressive. Titles include massive hits like Nana and Bleach, Naruto and Death Note. Heck, I even saw that the first 20th Century Boys title is on order. Whoever became the head librarian here gets MASSIVE points from me, let me tell you.

I let my thoughts wander and lo, I arrived at the inevitable: What about their lesbian-themed literature? How do those titles measure up?

The keyword "lesbian" yields 118 titles. Huh. It's quite the improvement from the ol' high school days. Can you imagine it? In the first few years of the 2000s, our local library had FOUR titles. Yeah. FOUR. All of them were books written for parents of queer youth (the whole "Your kid just came out, take a deep breath because it's all going to be alright" vibe).

I'm so glad that diversity reigns in the year 2010.

So yes, I propose a new challenge for myself -- I'd like to read and review a number of those texts for the purpose of said blog. Seems fitting. I'm a former English major, I've just been bitten by that reading bug again (I've got four books on the go at the moment -- it's like I've returned to the undergrad years), and I've now got a platform where readers could benefit from learning about the titles.

Book-induced coma, here I come.

Flash Fiction, Queer Style

Nothing is more refreshing and satisfying than an overcast Sunday dedicated to reading. There's something about those looming grey skies that induces the need to brew some tea and settle down with a new novel or a collection of poetry.

I would argue there is no bliss sweeter than disappearing into another world and intertwining yourself with an exciting narrative. But hey, I know I'm a little bit biased what with that degree in English hanging on my wall...

This weekend, I have thrown myself into the tight, breathless, electric world of Flash Fiction and all its subgenres. I've known about this form since about 2005, but I realize now that my knowledge was superficial at best.

Oh, Flash Fiction? Yeah, those are the stories written in 100 words, right?

I had assumed that. Oh, so naive. Turns out the 100 word maximum is just the beginning.

There's short-short, sudden, postcard, minute, furious, fast, quick, skinny, smoke-long, and micro fiction. There's 55 Fiction, 100 Word Drabbles, 69ers (the word limit, not the... position), and more. Some argue the absolute maximum is 75 words while others are lenient and view 1,000 words as the limit.

It's enough to make a writer's head spin.

I was assigned this research assignment by the writing group I belong to. Ladies in Writing is experimenting with its format a touch and we're trying to lure our peripheral members back with this informal lessons. I am the first to take on the task of teaching, hence all the notes on this genre. I have to say, though, as a writer, this form offers an amazing opportunity to render meandering prose to its most basic and vital elements. I love how quickly a story can materialize and I'm sure readers appreciate the abrupt nature of the narrative. Both sides are left satisfied -- the writer feels accomplished and polished, the reader finds an intense and condensed story to delve into during the spare hours of their day.

Mutual, creative fulfillment -- none too shabby.

For this Sunday, I will leave you all with a flash fiction I wrote back in 2005 for an alternative magazine published at our campus. Similar to the poem Efflorescence, this was published for their annual Queer Issue (coinciding with October's Queer Identities Week). Hope you enjoy and I hope you have an excellent Sunday evening, ladies.

***

The Dandelion

*Published in 2005.

We were only seven-years-old.

We sat in a field of prickly grass dotted with the brightest dandelions I had ever seen. My new skirt was already stained green at the hem. My friend thought it looked better that way. She picked a dandelion by her ankle and held it beneath my chin.

"If your chin turns yellow, it means you eat a lot of butter."

My skin stayed pink. I did the same for her and her face lit up. The flower left a yellow smudge that stained her for a whole week, much to her mother's chagrin.

That was the day I fell in love with her.