The suspense was high, but at last, the votes have been tallied. And the winner is... Urban Meltdown, by Clive Doucet!
Thanks to everyone who helped out, attended, voted, participated and read. Watch this space for more exciting events throughout the year. And, let us know if you'd like to be involved by writing guelphreads@gmail.com.
The discussion is just beginning...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
What's next?
Guelph Reads is not over for 2008! There is much more to come. Plans for the next few weeks include:
- A radio show on CFRU 93.3 FM, featuring the panelists reading from their nominated books and reiterating their pitches, an interview with "Urban Meltdown" author Clive Doucet and more. Listen at 8 AM, Tuesday May 13th or check guelphreads.org shortly thereafter.
- An online book club in partnership with the Guelph Public Library's Book Club Blog
- Ongoing opportunities to talk about books and social change. This blog could be a hub for ideas about reading and social change. How can we encourage Guelph to read these books? What kinds of changes would come from this? What should we do to make these things happen?
Please participate by commenting on this post. If you'd like to be more involved with Guelph Reads, drop us an email at guelphreads@gmail.com.
- A radio show on CFRU 93.3 FM, featuring the panelists reading from their nominated books and reiterating their pitches, an interview with "Urban Meltdown" author Clive Doucet and more. Listen at 8 AM, Tuesday May 13th or check guelphreads.org shortly thereafter.
- An online book club in partnership with the Guelph Public Library's Book Club Blog
- Ongoing opportunities to talk about books and social change. This blog could be a hub for ideas about reading and social change. How can we encourage Guelph to read these books? What kinds of changes would come from this? What should we do to make these things happen?
Please participate by commenting on this post. If you'd like to be more involved with Guelph Reads, drop us an email at guelphreads@gmail.com.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Stillness
Guelph Reads was born to decide which book, if read by everyone in Guelph, would bring about social change.
Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, is entering Year Two of a project that, in some ways, is rather similar, and in others, rather opposite.
After a lacklustre audience with the PM a year ago in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts, Martel decided to send Stephen Harper a book every two weeks.
A portion of how he explains his project: "Who is this man? What makes him tick? No doubt he is busy. No doubt he is deluded by that busyness. No doubt being Prime Minister fills his entire consideration and froths his sense of busied importance to the very brim. And no doubt he sounds and governs like one who cares little for the arts.
He got one response, to Ivan Ilych. Since then, he's heard nothing. But he persists. It's his way of making social change, of trying to convince a busy man that he needs to slow down and appreciate life's stillness.
But in interesting ways, it's opposite to Guelph Reads. We're taking a group of people and asking them what book all their friends, family and neighbours should read. Martel is focusing on a single person, and asking him to browse an ever-growing reading list. Here's wishing him luck.
Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, is entering Year Two of a project that, in some ways, is rather similar, and in others, rather opposite.
After a lacklustre audience with the PM a year ago in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts, Martel decided to send Stephen Harper a book every two weeks.
A portion of how he explains his project: "Who is this man? What makes him tick? No doubt he is busy. No doubt he is deluded by that busyness. No doubt being Prime Minister fills his entire consideration and froths his sense of busied importance to the very brim. And no doubt he sounds and governs like one who cares little for the arts.
"But he must have moments of stillness. And so this is what I propose to do: not to educate—that would be arrogant, less than that—to make suggestions to his stillness."
Martel started with The Death of Ivan Ilych. Over the year, he's sent Candide, To Kill a Mockingbird and Le Petit Prince. Just today, he sent To The Lighthouse.He got one response, to Ivan Ilych. Since then, he's heard nothing. But he persists. It's his way of making social change, of trying to convince a busy man that he needs to slow down and appreciate life's stillness.
But in interesting ways, it's opposite to Guelph Reads. We're taking a group of people and asking them what book all their friends, family and neighbours should read. Martel is focusing on a single person, and asking him to browse an ever-growing reading list. Here's wishing him luck.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A busy guy
Clive Doucet, author of Urban Meltdown, seems like he finds ways to keep busy. Check out his blog/website, www.clivedoucet.com.
The globalized city
Clive Doucet argues in Urban Meltdown that cities have become the real agents of global change, that it's on that level that we consider ourselves citizens of the world while nations are dinosaurs concerned mostly with raising taxes and supporting the military-industrial complex.
As proof, he points out the so-called wars on terror in the US, England and Spain, contrasted with the giant protests against the Iraq war in New York, London and Madrid, and the horrible terror attacks on those cities. He argues the countries were acting like dinosaurs while people in the cities were acting as global citizens, and it was the cityfolk who payed the price.
He's an unlikely politician -- a poet elected to Ottawa city council rather unexpectedly. His perspective about cities surprises me -- I think expect that if I were in his situation, I would feel overwhelmed and uncertain of how to bring about change, but he clearly feels empowered. I'm impressed that instead, he feels like he's working in the most important layer of government.
As proof, he points out the so-called wars on terror in the US, England and Spain, contrasted with the giant protests against the Iraq war in New York, London and Madrid, and the horrible terror attacks on those cities. He argues the countries were acting like dinosaurs while people in the cities were acting as global citizens, and it was the cityfolk who payed the price.
He's an unlikely politician -- a poet elected to Ottawa city council rather unexpectedly. His perspective about cities surprises me -- I think expect that if I were in his situation, I would feel overwhelmed and uncertain of how to bring about change, but he clearly feels empowered. I'm impressed that instead, he feels like he's working in the most important layer of government.
Monday, March 31, 2008
"Where's the Da Vinci Code?"
When I gave the list of books to the debate's moderator, Mercury editor Phil Andrews, he asked where the Da Vinci Code is on the list.
Point taken. There's little light reading. In fact, with a book about AIDS, one about climate change and one about apartheid, we seem to have covered off a good chunk of the world's problems.
The books were chosen by the panelists as books they think can change the world. And if they feel like a slog, the panelists assure us it's worth it.
Point taken. There's little light reading. In fact, with a book about AIDS, one about climate change and one about apartheid, we seem to have covered off a good chunk of the world's problems.
The books were chosen by the panelists as books they think can change the world. And if they feel like a slog, the panelists assure us it's worth it.
Having a hard time getting the books?
28 and Walden are available at the Bookshelf. The other two are on order. 28, Walden and Urban Meltdown, are avaible at the GPL, and all the books are at the UG library.
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to the Guelph Reads blog. Guelph Reads is a public debate that sets out to answer the question "which book should everyone in Guelph read?" We've picked four prominent Guelphies, who picked four books. On April 26, they'll be arguing why you should read their book.
In the running:
28: Stories of AIDS in Africa, defended by AIDS activist and doctor Anne-Marie Zajdlik
Walden, defended by chief librarian Norm McLeod
Urban Meltown: Cities, Climate Change and Politics as Usual, defended by writer and politician Tom King
I Write What I Like, defended by novelist Rozena Maart
In this space, we'll discuss (hopefully with your help) each of these books and how they can act as an impetus for social change.
So, happy reading.
In the running:
28: Stories of AIDS in Africa, defended by AIDS activist and doctor Anne-Marie Zajdlik
Walden, defended by chief librarian Norm McLeod
Urban Meltown: Cities, Climate Change and Politics as Usual, defended by writer and politician Tom King
I Write What I Like, defended by novelist Rozena Maart
In this space, we'll discuss (hopefully with your help) each of these books and how they can act as an impetus for social change.
So, happy reading.
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