tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post3101060398125115142..comments2024-03-28T09:38:23.219-05:00Comments on Book Chase: Canadian Writers and U.S. SalesSam http://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-58092977493303128242007-07-02T22:20:00.000-05:002007-07-02T22:20:00.000-05:00Interesting editorial, Sylvia...but I think I'd dr...Interesting editorial, Sylvia...but I think I'd draw the line at Shania Twain if I were you guys. I use here name in kind of a negative way every time that I introduce our country music internet station. :-)<BR/><BR/>I'll check out Pierre Burton since I'm not familiar with his work. I do seem to get a better feel for a people's "personality" from fiction for some reason, but I'm willing to trySam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-49510491361014713532007-07-02T12:40:00.000-05:002007-07-02T12:40:00.000-05:00Well, here's a little editorial. that pegs Canada ...Well, <A HREF="http://www.canada.com/scripts/topics/travel/canadaday2007/story.html?id=a548a53f-f7d9-451f-8943-0b4621cd4702" REL="nofollow">here's a little editorial</A>. that pegs Canada pretty well. And I wonder if fiction explains Canada best. We are calm, sensible people. Nonfiction might be the way to go, and you can do no better than Pierre Burton.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-70302925599740826542007-07-02T09:32:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:32:00.000-05:00Interesting thoughts, Sylvia. I, for one, would l...Interesting thoughts, Sylvia. I, for one, would like to have a more complete understanding of Canadian culture just so that I could see what the differences are between Canadian and American culture. Fiction usually is the best way for me to get a feel for another culture and I'm always on the lookout for new Canadian writers for that reason.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-49747644698964897622007-07-01T12:36:00.000-05:002007-07-01T12:36:00.000-05:00Cloyce brings up an interesting point. We don't ha...Cloyce brings up an interesting point. We don't have as definite a national identity as Americans do so we are more free to draw on our ethnic backgrounds (even Anglo-Saxon). We can be Canadian *and* Indian or Scottish or Nigerian or whatever. There is no conflict, no doubts about loyalty.<BR/><BR/>We are also far more aware of and interested in the world than Americans, so literature with an Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-28839320039934098032007-06-29T13:32:00.000-05:002007-06-29T13:32:00.000-05:00I can only remember a very few Australian writers ...I can only remember a very few Australian writers that I've ever read, Dewey. That's another whole world of writers that remains largely a mystery to me.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-81198212179502820192007-06-29T13:31:00.000-05:002007-06-29T13:31:00.000-05:00bybee, let me know, please, if you find something ...bybee, let me know, please, if you find something that you particularly like but that seems to be a secret in this country. I'd appreciate that.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-85722940467794168322007-06-29T13:30:00.000-05:002007-06-29T13:30:00.000-05:00John, there's certainly something to be said for q...John, there's certainly something to be said for quality over quantity, I agree. When I look at the bestseller lists in this country (and even in the U.K., usually) I have to wonder if the list really represents the reading taste of this country as a whole. If so, we are in big trouble.<BR/><BR/>I actually do make an attempt to read writers from as diverse a group of countries as possible. I Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-59667952817814888272007-06-29T13:27:00.000-05:002007-06-29T13:27:00.000-05:00Wow, thanks for all of that good information, Cloy...Wow, thanks for all of that good information, Cloyce. I never thought to check Wikipedia for that kind of list.<BR/><BR/>You're right about most of us reading more from Canadian authors than we realize because it's not always pointed out in the author's blurb. And, as you say, which country claims an author born in one country but who spends the bulk of his productive career living in another..Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-16954417781891586982007-06-29T10:54:00.000-05:002007-06-29T10:54:00.000-05:00I've been more interested lately in Australian aut...I've been more interested lately in Australian authors for similar reasons. It started when a friend who lived in Australia for a couple years recommended a book to me and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. So she lent me hers. Then I saw someone talking in a blog about an Australian prize, very prestigious, like our National Book Award, and again, I couldn't find the book ANYWHERE. Now I try to be Deweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00395712971920800717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-32976314122549712742007-06-28T23:22:00.000-05:002007-06-28T23:22:00.000-05:00More Canadians than any other nationality work at ...More Canadians than any other nationality work at my university, so I feel really lucky to be learning more about books, music and movies made by our neighbors to the north. O Canada!Bybeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10061186489010154661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-71336051812311950112007-06-28T23:10:00.000-05:002007-06-28T23:10:00.000-05:00Hey, I left a LONG reply here today and it's gone!...Hey, I left a LONG reply here today and it's gone! Anyway, I won't repeat it all, but I will say, our population- despite our large geographic size- is but a fraction of the U.S., and only near half that of the U.K., so the fact that any Canadian authors find success outside the border is an accomplishment. As well, there's something to be said for quality over quantity- we don't have Canadian John Mutfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730205221787092204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-6545174893682332282007-06-28T21:12:00.000-05:002007-06-28T21:12:00.000-05:00A surprisingly good list of Canadian authors can b...A surprisingly good list of Canadian authors can be found at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_authors). Scroll down for links to poets, playwrights, sci-fi writers, and short story authors.<BR/><BR/>I bet you've read more Canadians than you realize. Some who I've read in recent years are famous (Robertson Davies, Atwood), some almost famous (A. E. Van Vogt, Yann Martel, W. P. D. Cloyce Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12017407200533790119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-68020583092260621482007-06-28T18:47:00.001-05:002007-06-28T18:47:00.001-05:00Thanks for the two ideas, Sylvia...we know you exi...Thanks for the two ideas, Sylvia...we know you exist...we want more from you. :-)Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-31560468376945965272007-06-28T18:47:00.000-05:002007-06-28T18:47:00.000-05:00Matt, the country of origin is really not importan...Matt, the country of origin is really not important...and that's the point. But we get shut out on some potentially great stuff because it's just too expensive to get it to us here. The better known Canadians and Brits are published in the U.S. but it's the others I wonder about. I want to see what the small publishers are doing and I like the adventure involved in discovering new writers.<BR/Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-69526529518519442072007-06-28T18:44:00.000-05:002007-06-28T18:44:00.000-05:00It's funny that it has to be that way, Jenclair......It's funny that it has to be that way, Jenclair...I wish it were easier.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-80175483904336925372007-06-28T18:43:00.000-05:002007-06-28T18:43:00.000-05:00Danielle, I know we have to be missing out on some...Danielle, I know we have to be missing out on some good books simply because they don't cross the border due to economic considerations...that bugs me. Of course, there are Canadian and Brit authors who are published in this country, but I wonder what else I'm missing. Having lived in the U.K. for several years, I know there's plenty that we never hear of...Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-43647766676638452032007-06-28T13:02:00.000-05:002007-06-28T13:02:00.000-05:00Hey, we're just happy if Americans know we exist! ...Hey, we're just happy if Americans know we exist! ;)<BR/><BR/>As for sources, I'd check booksincanada.com and the <A HREF="http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ggla" REL="nofollow">GG's</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-79214954083306192682007-06-28T08:35:00.000-05:002007-06-28T08:35:00.000-05:00I'm not familiar with many Canadian authors either...I'm not familiar with many Canadian authors either, but I also don't pay attention to the nationality of the authors I read. The only requirement I have for a book is that it be in English, and that's only because I can't read any other languages. I've seen Canadian literature discussed a lot lately, and I must confess I don't understand this emphasis on the country of origin. Am I unique in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-4927505288250306682007-06-28T07:29:00.000-05:002007-06-28T07:29:00.000-05:00Good point, Sam. With the exceptions that Daniell...Good point, Sam. With the exceptions that Danielle mentions, I'm not familiar with many Canadian authors.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-30607499652031586562007-06-27T21:29:00.000-05:002007-06-27T21:29:00.000-05:00I feel like I don't read many Canadian authors eit...I feel like I don't read many Canadian authors either--just the biggies like Atwood and Munro--not lesser knowns (to myself anyway). I think Canadian Amazon has a Canadian fiction section, which I have looked through. I wonder if there are some particular small presses that publish lots of Canadian works? I will have to check back to see what responses you get. I have lots and lots of BritishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com