ENJOY!
The Most Cherished Book on my Bookshelf is…
I thought it might be fun to show you one of the books closest to my heart on my bookshelf. It is a collection of short stories titled Victory Meat. Not only does it include stories from Lisa Moore, Christy Ann Conlin and George Elliott Clarke, but it’s edited by one of my favourite Atlantic Canada authors Lynn Coady. Oh and one more thing – the cover image was photographed by my Mother. That’s right, my Mom’s name is in print!
Back in 2003, when this collection hit the bookstores, I was in my first year of University. I was highly influenced by talented writers and creativity and the fact that my own Mother’s creativity was published, inspired me to continue to strive towards a career in the arts. Of course making it my favourite book on my shelf.
I’d love you to share with me your most cherished book. Leave a comment below or feel free to tweet it to me @reederreads
[Film Review] Gatsby? What Gatsby?
Last night at 6:55pm, I settled into a 3D theatre with three of my friends to finally watch The Great Gatsby. If you’re like me, you’ve been counting down the days to see this movie. I think it was around Christmas that they started showing the trailer of Baz Luhrmann’s movie adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s great american novel that had everyone chomping at the bit to see this film.
I’ll start by saying that in order to familiarize with the book, I reread it about two weeks ago. I may have forgot how infuriating Daisy made me and I forgot that the protagonist of the novel was named Nick Carraway, but I didn’t forget how much I loved Gatsby. I loved his innocence, yet powerful disposition. When I heard that they had cast Leonardo DiCaprio in the role, I automatically knew he would do the role justice. Even during my rereading of the book, I imagined Leo as Gatsby and I knew he’d have the acting chops to pull of this role. I wasn’t as impressed with Tobey Maguire’s performance. It wasn’t that he didn’t do a good job, it just didn’t feel as memorable as other characters. Which is odd, simply because I really enjoyed Nick Carraway’s character in the novel.
The movie itself, was a somewhat accurate portrayal of the book that was written in 1925 (minus the number of Jay Z songs in the film). There were some key points missing for me that I really wanted to see shown, but I also understand that you can’t please everyone. What did impress me was Baz Luhrmann’s amazing depiction of the roaring 20′s. Flapper dresses, cheap liquor and elaborate parties were captivating on screen (especially in 3D). There was no doubt you were watching a Baz Luhrmann film (please see Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge) and I think he did a fantastic job at creating the world of J. Gatsby.
It might not be getting rave reviews in the media, but it is getting one from this Gatsby lover. I’m giving it a 4/5 rating using floating Leo heads, because I clearly have too much time on my hands.
Oh and if you’re looking for a chuckle, check out this video that shows what people think happens in The Great Gatsby.
Publishing Students and Interns, This Post Is For You!
When I started out in the publishing industry, I quickly learned that it is a community filled with people just like me. People who’d rather stay in on a Friday night with a book than go out dancing. People who found solace in traveling to far away places in the comfort of their home. I also learned that there is an association with a group of people who put time and effort to ensure that our little publishing community has opportunities to meet new friends and to network. They go by the name of Canadian Book Professionals’ Association and if you’re not following them on Twitter, on Facebook or if you haven’t visited their website, there is no time like the present.
This is also a great time to promote their upcoming event. As the title of this post suggests, if you’re a publishing students and interns, you’re going to want to come out to this event. It’s called the Mentor Mash Event and yours truly will be one of the people present to answer your questions and help “mentor” up-and-coming publishing professionals. A description of the event is quoted below from the CanBPA website,
On May 21st, the Canadian Book Professionals’ Association will be hosting an evening event at the Cadillac Lounge, designed to facilitate introductions and networking opportunities for those new to the industry. In what can be best described as a “group speed date,” students, up-and-coming professionals, and individuals hoping to get a foot in the door of Canadian publishing will have the opportunity to meet with industry veterans and virtuosos.
We’ve recruited experts from as many fields within the publishing industry as possible. Below, our star-studded list of experts:
Production: Valentina Capuani (Random House of Canada)
Sales: Sarah Labrie (Scholastic Canada)
Agent: Ali McDonald (The Rights Factory)
Publicity: Evan Munday (Coach House Books)
Design: Ingrid Paulson (Ingrid Paulson Design)
Digital Marketing: Lindsey Reeder (Random House of Canada)
Editorial: Alana Wilcox (Coach House Books)
How it will work:
There will be 8–10 of tables with five people at each table. Attendees can settle in with a drink while our
Image from David Crighton’s Urban Landscapes Artwork Toronto
experts move from table to table, meeting with each group for fifteen minutes. Each of them will give a short talk about their area of expertise, followed by an informal Q&A session.
This event will cost $10. Pre-registration is necessary. To secure a spot, you must reserve a ticket through Eventbrite (http://mentormash.eventbrite.ca). Payment will be at the door on the night of the event (cash only).
For more information, please see our website or the event page, or email us your questions and someone will get back to you shortly.
Where: The Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen Street West, Toronto
When: Tuesday, May 21, 7:00–9:00 pm
Info: http://canbpa.ca
Email: info@canbpa.ca
Event website: http://mentormash.eventbrite.ca
REMEMBER This is just one of many fun events that CanBPA organizes, so be sure to keep up to date with them online for continued innovative and interactive events.
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you on May 21st.
[Infographic] Living In Gatsby’s World
*My thanks to Keith Patterson, as well as, Electric.com for providing this fun and interactive graphic. The original link can be found by clicking here: http://www.electric.com/great-gatsby.html
[Book Review] Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly
When is the last time I read a mystery novel… Never.
Okay, that’s not true, I’ve read a handful of them, but it’s not a genre I read often, mostly because I’m a wimp and I don’t like scary plot lines AND because I like having a big of an inkling knowing what might happen in the end. But in an effort to try new genres and plug away at my Reading Bingo Card, I picked up Paula Daly’s Just What Kind of Mother are You? After reading the premise, I had to read it, because it was that intriguing. I’m going to try really hard to sum it up for you, but I’m starting this post by saying you won’t know what’s going to happen on the next page and I’m guaranteeing you that you’re going to love the journey.
Like any Mother of three, Lisa is overworked, exhausted and feels as if she’s falling apart at the seams. Getting three lunches together is a major feat in the Kallisto household. With too many things on her to do list, Lisa makes a major fail when it comes to the world of parenting and in a moment of too many balls to juggle, she forgets the arranged sleepover her daughter was supposed to have with her closest friends daughter, Lucinda. When Lucinda goes missing and everyone looks at Lisa for answers, all hell breaks loose.
The reason I think I got so heavily involved in this story is because the narration throws you into the deep end on the first page. Your forced to think “what would I do in that situation” or you end up saying things like “well that would never happen on my watch.” A great story will make you ask questions, it will make you question your morals. I kept thinking about how awful Lisa would be feeling due to the circumstances and how tragic it would be for Kate, Lucinda’s Mother who obviously appears broken when Lisa sees her as soon as she’s discovered missing.
If you decide to pick up this novel, you’re opening yourself up to a story with twists and turns so consequential that it’ll have you on the edge of your seat. After reading Just What Kind of Mother Are You? I’ll definitely be picking up more books that take me out of my comfort zone. A brilliant debut by an author that’s sure to have a lifelong career in thriller writing!
This is a read that you’re definitely not going to want to miss!
[Book Review] Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
I wanted to start this review with something other than:
“I want to be BFF with Lauren Graham”
OR
“She will always be Lorelai Gilmore to me”
… But I can’t do it, I simply can’t do it. When I heard that Lauren Graham had written a novel, first I squealed with delight and then I thought, “Well she’s done it again. That Lauren Graham has found another way to capture my heart, she’s ventured into the world of publishing.”
In Someday, Someday, Maybe, you’re going to be heading back to the 90′s. A time when 
butterfly clips were cool and trying to make in the world of acting didn’t involve getting famous on YouTube or having the last name Kardashian. Franny, a twenty something woman is trying to make it in the “biz” the good ‘ol fashioned way, by going to countless auditions, only to be continuously disappointed. In an attempt to be realistic about her expectations and being mindful of her budget, Franny set a deadline when she moved to New York. She gave herself three years to get discovered and achieve her dream and if she doesn’t “make it”, she’s packing it in and heading home. With her deadline quickly approaching, Franny (like all twenty year olds) begins to question whether or not she made the right decision to follow this path in the first place.
Someday, Someday, Maybe is classified as fiction, but it does seem to be a reflection of the early days of Lauren Graham’s career. On Graham’s Wikipedia page it states,
After completing her education, Graham moved back to New York City where she became a waitress and aspiring actress, including her first paid work doing publicity appearances wearing the costume of Striker, the dog mascot of the US-based 1994 FIFA World Cup.[5] In 1995, she relocated to Hollywood, California. She appeared in various commercials for products such as Dimetapp and Lean Cuisine and hosted free preview weekends on The Movie Channel.
Lauren Graham
If you’re an author, sometimes you’re encouraged to write what you know and this seems to be the case when Lauren Graham put pen to paper, which I can appreciate, because I feel like she’s letting me get a glimpse into her life, but at arms length. I’m also a sucker for a good coming of age story and that’s exactly what you’re going to get when you enter the world of Franny and her charming two roommates. Celebrating a commercial debut with her friends is equally as important as attending a movie premiere in Franny’s world. She’s a character that’s funny, quick with a comeback and you’re immediately going to fall in love with her!
Whether you’re trying to make it as an actor, or any career for that matter, working towards a dream is always an uphill battle and Lauren Graham perfectly captures what its like to travel down the unknown path in trying to figure it all out.
It’s a sweet and charming novel that will have you reminiscing about first loves, first jobs and that feeling that someday, maybe, all your dreams will come true.
I had the opportunity to join a live video chat with Lauren Graham and let me tell you, she’s one funny lady. I got a little crafty using my iPod and took a video for all of you:
