Canada’s largest book distributor, H.B. Fenn and Company, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday. The move caught most everyone in the Canadian publishing industry off-guard. I also spoke to members of the Toronto-based illustration collective Sketchkrieg! about their latest project, Paper Trail.
A ton of things in Saturday’s National Post: I take a look at the conflict of interest question arising from this year’s Giller Prize; talk to Claudie Dey about her sex guide How To Be A Bush Pilot; visit George A. Walker’s studio to discuss his new wordless novel, Book of Hours; and check into the Royal York for a chat with author (and hotel resident) Christopher Heard.
Embattled former president of Penguin Canada gives his side of the story.
It screwed Alexander McCall Smith, but at least Justin Bieber got home safely.
In today’s National Post I take a look at Fakes & Forgeries, a new exhibit opening at the ROM next week.
In today’s National Post I talk with actor Jon Voight about his letter blasting opponents of the Toronto International Film Festival’s spotlight on Tel Aviv.
In today’s National Post I look at the controversy brewing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which started when filmmaker John Greyson withdrew his short documentary, Covered, from this year’s festival as a protest against their City to City Spotlight on Tel Aviv.
In today’s National Post, I try and make sense of the Google Book Settlement.
In today’s National Post, I profile sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay — there’s a longer version of the piece over on The Afterword. Watch for my review on The Ampersand on Friday. I also take a quick look at the battle that unfolded on Twitter this past between between staff writer Susan Orlean and ex-staffer Dan Baum.
In today’s National Post I take a look at the new partnership between Luminato and The Atlantic — and where that leaves The Walrus — and examine the buzz around Leonard Cohen’s two old novels, which a couple of countries are bringing back into print (the original blog post can be found here.)