I am posting this at Midnight on Halloween as the calendar page is turned to November. As the end of the year approaches, I find myself looking forward to reading books I have meant to read that have lingered on my shelves for a while, as well as books that are more recent additions.
The online event, Nonfiction November begins, and I can say that I have already started reading them, so here’s hoping I will actually finish a few books as the busy holiday season is about to begin.
Here are the books I have picked to read, and there will be more added to the list as my attention will most likely wonder.
It is October and I am here for the cooler weather, and more haunting atmosphere in these parts.
Here is a list of books that I would like to read in October. I will see how many I get to by the end of the month. There are sure to be more books I would like to read.
The 2023 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Awards will take place on Saturday, September 16 in Medicine Hat from 4 to 6 pm.
Her Honour Salma Lakhani will be speaking, along with the recipients of the awards – Mieko Ouchi, Michelle Thrush, and Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby.
Mieko Ouchi
Mieko Ouchi is an award-winning writer for the stage and screen. Her play The Red Priest premiered at Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary in 2003 and became a Governor General Award nominee.
“I am so excited to head down to Medicine Hat, to connect with the Lieutenant Governor, and award recipients,” Ouchi says. “With life in theatre and T.V. it is great to have the opportunity to create my own work, to write own plays and to write own T.V.”
Ouchi’s most recent play was Burning Mom, which had a theatrical production in April to May 2023 at the Royal Manitoba Theatre in Winnipeg.
It is a play about her mother Dorothy Ouchi who decides to make the journey to Burning Man a year after the death her father.
Along with each artist receiving $30,000 they also will have artist residency at the Leighton Centre, which is part of the Banff Centre.
“The award is impactful,” Ouchi says. “The financial prize lets me have time to take off work, and I write really well in writing retreats.”
Ouchi will be working on a new project during the retreat which involves an alternative history of Canada, and a young Queen Elizabeth.
Michelle Thrush is a Nehiyaw performing artist known for her work in television, film, and theatre stage. She is currently the artistic director of the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society, and is the founder of Southern Alberta Indigenous Youth Awards.
Her CV includes Arctic Air, Moccasin Flats, North of 60, Northern Exposure and Blackstone.
Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis are Calgary-based animators. Their recent short animation, The Flying Sailor is the latest of their works to be nominated for an Oscar in 2022. The animation was produced through the National Film Board, as were their previous works.
“The award is an exciting moment for us,” Forbis says on the phone. “We have travelled around the world, and the recognition is always more meaningful to be recognized by our own province.
The weekend for the award recipients begins on Friday, September 15 with a luncheon at the Medalta ceramic factory. At the award night on Saturday will be music, a jingle dancer, and each Distinguished Artist Award recipient will choose another artist to support with $3,000
On a Saturday September evening, take a trip to La Serenissima. It is the Fall fundraiser for the Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre’s ‘La Serenissima’: Harry Kiyooka 2023 Memorial Fundraiser
It is a night to honour one of the centre co-founders Harry Kiyooka.
Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe founded the art centre which has largest outdoor sculpture park located on a 20-acre botanical garden that is a rehabilitated wetland at the edge of Calgary’s limits.
“It is super exciting to learn from a prolific artist, and the lasting legacy that he has created with co-founded Katie Ohe,” says Alice Lam, board member for the Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre.
Harry Kiyooka has influenced many artists over the years as an artist and arts educator.
The highlight of the evening will be works from his Venetian series, along with displays of his books and sketches.
When planning the event, Alice says, “It is a delicate process to go through to curate for the event specifically and to see how different eras had an impact on what he produced. It is cool to look at something and imagine his impact on artists young and old.”
“I am floored by the response from the community,” she says.
Along with art, there will also be music, food from Lina’s Italian Market, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
A live auction will take place, as well as an open studio tour with resident artists showing their pieces.
It will be night for art lovers and art collectors.
The fundraiser will be on Saturday, September 16 from 5 pm to 8 pm.
The Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre is located at 244034 Horizon View Rd, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
It is September. That means it is time for my September TBR. This is not everything I want to read. It is to guide my reading as I have many more titles I can include. I could read one or two from this list, or I could end up not reading any of the books. It helps to build my excitement by setting down plans to read and the fun is to see where the reading takes me in the creative life that I have.
Thanks for dropping by.
Here are the titles for this month:
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Bunny by Mona Awad
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
Dancing on Our Turtle’s Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-creation, Resurgence and a New Emergence by Leanne Betasamosake
The magical readathon starts July 29 for all the eager scholars.
I have chosen Herbologist as my career path. There are three letter grades one can achieve: O for Ordinary, Q for Qualified, and D for Distinguished.
At this time, my requirements are to achieve Q in Alchemy and Q in Restoration.
Here are the books I have selected for Alchemy. I only have to read the first two,
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, to fulfill the prompt of the first book in a series for the Ordinary Grade
And Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee, to fulfill the prompt of a continuation of a series, for the Qualified Grade.
I can be ambitious and read Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson, to fulfill the prompt of the last book in a series, to achieve the Distinguished Grade.
For more information on the Readathon check out Book Roast on YouTube for the latest videos.
After spotting the show in the IQIYI show lineup, I have waited patiently for the show to begin airing. The air date was delayed a couple of times lately, but I finally was able to spot three episodes on YouTube starting on Sunday, July 23. I do not know how many episodes the company will be releasing at this time.
It is wuxia drama that involves different sects. Li Lian Hua is a doctor who travels around the countryside. He has a secret. Ten years ago, he was the master of the Sigu Sect, who excelled as a swordsman and was a symbol of light in the martial arts world. Li Lian Hua draws attention to himself and gets pulled back into the pugilistic world.
The 30-year-old Cheng Yi has the main role, along with Joseph Zeng, and Xiao Shun Yao.
Lost You Forever
The drama became available on Monday, July 24 with the first two episodes on YouTube from Tencent Video. It involves a demon Jiu Yao who has lost her identity and settles in a human town and takes up a new name. In her new role, the prince is her cousin, and she saves the life of a man named Tu Shan Jing.
Yang Zi performs in the lead role, with Zhang Wan Yi as the prince, and Deng Wei as the love interest.
The drama was adapted from the third novel in a series called “The Book of Mountain and Sea” by Tong Hua. The name is a pen name for Ren Haiyan who graduated from the Peking University and currently lives in New York City.
Seems like the summer is going by at a nice pace. At my vantage point, things are pretty good, but could have been better or could have been worst based on some of the news I am hearing. I am not paying attention as much as I should, but I am having an okay time getting through the days and weeks. I am busy enough that I have enough to keep me occupied and not get pulled into stressful drama. I like the little bubble I live in, but I wonder how long before the troubles of the world reach these shores.
