The Global Literary Treasure Hunt, II: Peru!
(Maria Vargas Llosa: The Storyteller, Death in the Andes)
Pre-amble:
I’ve taken a travel year with my family, heading more or less East until we find ourselves back in Quebec (or prove the Flat-Earthers correct!) I’ve always liked to read something from the places I travel to, and I thought it would make a fun quest to explore the world simultaneously through the books of each country we visit. Like a literary Anthony Bourdain.
Of course, we can’t pretend to understand a culture from a few books; we aren’t going to catalyze a series of epiphanies and insights here… …no, OK, we can pretend. And pretending is fun. And cultures are different. Arts are different. Sensibilities and worldview differ. What a boring world it would be otherwise!
And if this project doesn’t turn up any cultural insights — which I’ll be honest, insights are pretty far between for me — it will still be fun. So let’s go.
Amble:
Peru: land of mystery!
The biggest of which is: who to read? It turned out, Peru has it’s own literary giant, almost comparable to Colombia’s Gabriel Garcia Marquez in terms of world and domestic stature, and poetic-polysyllabic nomenclature: Maria Vargos Llosa! That name just tastes great, doesn’t it? Say it out loud. It also doesn’t rhyme with anything. The closest are bossa nova, cosa nostra and Operation Barbarossa. And so, I gave up on my plans to write this instalment as a ballad.
[Read more…]The Global Literary Treasure Hunt, part I: Colombia!
Pre-amble: I’ve taken a travel year with my family, heading more or less East until we find ourselves back in Quebec (or prove the Flat-Earthers correct!) I’ve always liked to read something from the places I travel to, and I thought it would make a fun quest to explore the world simultaneously through the books of each country we visit. Like a literary Anthony Bourdain.
[Read more…]Book launch at Toronto’s Yonge&Eg Chapters: July 30
Book Launch at Ottawa Downtown Chapters: May 13
Come join me!
RSVP on the FB page here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/426069631095743/
***
“Tragically Hip, Twisted: Illustrated stories inspired by Hip songs” is a collection of nine fictional ‘covers’ of classic Hip songs from author David Sachs. The stories were written as a hobby over a fifteen year period, and published as a collection along with pictures of the band and Canadiana as a tribute to the band after their final tour. Sales from the book help the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.
David is a Chelsea, QC resident, and author of the bestselling thriller, The Flood. He is an award-winning non-fiction writer, and is active with social service, international aid, and political organizations.
Ottawa native Matthew Chaffey will be performing his own Hip interpretations for the event. Matthew fronts neo soul group the Split and has a large presence in the local music scene. Along with his own group, he performs with a number of other acts and is deeply involved with music education through a number of charities throughout the city.
Chapters Launch for Tragically Hip, Twisted
Front Cover, Tragically Hip, Twisted
I am very proud to announce that Chapters-Indigo bookstores across Canada have launched Tragically Hip, Twisted. Outside Ontario, it may not be available in every store – just ask, and the store can order for you. It is extremely rare for a self-published book to get picked up by Canada’s pre-eminent book chain. I hope we’ll reach some more readers and raise more funds for the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.
Stories Based on Themes from the Music of the Tragically Hip
Update: I have a web page for my Tragically Hip-inspired ebooks, and my new hardcover illustrated collection, Tragically Hip, Twisted. Check it out here. But if you still want to read this post, by all means, read on…
Over a decade ago I began a hobby that I’ve still not given up, though I get to play at it seldom. I write short stories based on Tragically Hip songs. Not the songs that tell a story – because they already tell a story. But the songs that don’t quite, on their own. I’ve always found the Hip’s music expressionistic and evocative. Their music put stories in my mind, even when the lyrics don’t tell one directly. They tell story snippets. The listener can piece together a multiplicity of possible stories from them.
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The Flood: Finalist for Indie Thriller of the Year
I am late with this announcement, but very proud to make it: My debut novel The Flood has been named a finalist in the thriller category for Foreword Review’s annual IndieFab book awards.
New article: My National Post op-ed on the stabbing intifada and the myth of ‘proportionate response’
My new op-ed in the National Post on the much ignored Stabbing Intifada and how it demonstrates the absurdity of using death toll ratios to condemn Israel.
Nut sentence:
When a society worships death, honours suicide attackers and forces civilians to serve as human shields, they are going to have a high death count.
Support a medical mission in Tanzania
My man Joseph and me, at Kilema Hospital, Tanzania (2007?)
I’ll be volunteering in support of a medical mission to rural Tanzania in February. The mission is organized by Canada-Africa Community Health Alliance (CACHA-ASCCA) , a very grassroots Ottawa NGO that has been doing great work abroad for more than a decade. (For those worrying I’ll do more harm than good, I won’t actually be doing medical work personally.)
If anyone is interested in donating to support the mission, as well as the long term projects in the communities we’re visiting, please go to this web page for more info:
http://www.cacha.ca/volunteers/david-sachs
Thanks, and thanks to those who have already donated! I encourage you to find out more about CACHA.
New article: Ottawa whitewater canoeing
I love whitewater canoeing. Having a chance to contribute to the fantastic Ottawa Outdoors Magazine on my favourite subject was great. Basically, a primer to get readers out onto the plentiful whitewater rivers of our region.
On the Lower Madawaska with friend Geoff
Always a great spring evening planning summer fun
Fathers, Sons and Books
My father, the comic book reading storyteller
Handling Sin: The family book
This year, a miracle has been unfolding before my eyes.
My son is becoming a reader. Yes, Grade One: Where miracles happen! [Read more…]
Institutionalized Gang Rape in England: The Worst Story
Cheer Up, Jews!
Chaverim! Jews! Lantzmen!
Chillax.
I know there’s a lot going in the world today. Sure, there was a war, and most of the world sided with the jihadi death cult over Israel. Now there are anti-Jewish riots across Europe, synagogues attacked, old ladies punched, children threatened.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before! [Read more…]
A silly political dig, an anti-Semitic trope, Adam Goldenberg and the Canadian Jewish News
I wouldn’t normally re-publish a comment on an article website, but the Canadian Jewish News actually deleted my comment, so I thought I’d repost it here.
A CJN op-ed by an off-and-on Liberal operative named Adam Goldenberg caught my eye because of its provocative headline, on one of the news aggregator sites:
I don’t know anything about Mr. Goldenberg, but I have seen his articles before, trying to move Jewish voters away from the Conservatives.
This article is basically a Trojan horse for that mission. The putative story “Jews Will Know First” is silly, and I think the author knows this, but he uses it as an excuse to get a few digs in at Harper for a Jewish audience.