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The writer, comedian and musician Dave Hill discusses his new book The Awesome Game: One Man’s Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey (Doubleday Canada, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Awesome Game

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Dave Hill joins me again. As we learned in his previous book Parking the Moose, which he was on the podcast with back in 2019, Dave’s grandfather was born and raised in Canada. So, it makes sense that Dave has always been fascinated by hockey. He explores his obsession with the sport in his latest book, The Awesome Game: One Man’s Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey. It’s a fascinating book that has Dave wondering why hockey isn’t as popular as it should be in the United States. He also looks at his own experience with hockey, as a child, as well as a fan today. Cleveland, where he was born and raised, had an NHL team briefly, and today he doesn’t root for Ohio’s Columbus Blue Jackets. I’ll ask him about his allegiance to his hometown team, the New York Rangers. In one chapter of the book, he takes us to an evening watching the Rangers and Blue Jackets facing one another at Madison Square Garden. He also takes the reader to Poland and to Kenya, where he finds hockey stories and experiences that are just delightful to read. And he writes about hockey hilariously that this book will be fun for all sorts of readers, even those who think that there are four quarters to a hockey match. Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, and musician. He has written for sundry publications including the New York Times, the Paris Review, Salon, GQ, McSweeney’s, and many more. He is a regular contributor to This American Life, and the host of his own radio program, The Goddamn Dave Hill Show on WFMU in Jersey City. This new book is published by Doubleday Canada. We spoke eight days ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Dave Hill; Mr. Hill, good morning.

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The poet and educator Renée Sarojini Saklikar returns in person to discuss her latest book, Bramah’s Quest (Nightwood Editions, 2023), the second installment in her epic fantasy The Heart of This Journey Bears All Patterns (THOT J BAP), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Bramah’s Quest

(Interview taped 10 September 2023)

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Renee Sarojini Saklikar joins me again. It’s not been too long since she was last on to discuss her new book Bramah’s Quest. But we’re in person this time to continue the conversation, as well as reflect on other things; she’s a good friend of the podcast, and it’s always good just to chat. The book is the second installment in her epic fantasy in verse, The Heart of This Journey Bears All Patterns. The website for more on this book as well as the first book in the series, Bramah and the Beggar Boy is at https://thotjbap.com/. The books are published by Nightwood Editions. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Renee Saklikar; Ms. Saklikar, good morning.

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The distinguished poet and writer Lorna Crozier discusses her new collection of poetry After That (McClelland & Stewart, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: After That

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Lorna Crozier joins me again. She has just published a new collection of poetry, After That. These poems, written in the aftermath of her partner Patrick Lane’s death, illustrate and illuminate for the reader the depths of grief following the loss of a loved one, somebody she lived with for over forty years. As she processes her loss, we see how she copes, what memories provide comfort and solace, and which ones are filled with mixed emotion. We see very intimate scenes in their life together, as well as soon after Patrick’s death. I’ll ask Lorna about writing, finding her voice again, and about this fascinating journey we all take at death, whether it’s ourselves or others. Perhaps she’s gleaned some insight or wisdom from her loss. Lorna Crozier is the distinguished poet and writer, who has published eighteen books of poetry, as well as two memoirs, both of which she appeared on the program with Small Beneath the Sky, and Through the Garden. Her books have been finalists for all the major awards in British Columbia, and Canada. She is a recipient of the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, and the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award. She is professor emerita at the University of Victoria, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Visit www.lornacrozier.ca for more information. This new book is published by McClelland & Stewart. We taped this interview two and a half weeks ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Lorna Crozier; Professor Crozier, good morning.

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The acclaimed and bestselling author and poet Michael Crummey discusses his new novel The Adversary (Knopf Canada, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Adversary

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Michael Crummey joins me again. The acclaimed writer recently published his latest novel, The Adversary. It’s about a man and a woman who hate one another, who happen to be brother and sister. I’ll get Michael to tell us as much as he’d like about the story, about the rich setting he places his characters, not just in this book, but in his other works that evoke the isolation and darkness of an outport on Newfoundland’s northern coastline, a couple of hundred years ago. I’ll ask Michael about the dynamics between the two central characters in the book, and the themes of hatred, power, family, and corruption, and how what’s happening around us today might have influenced this book. I’ll ask him about the role of faith, and organised religion has in this book, and how each of the characters feel its influence in their lives and how they express their power. The book has gotten a lot of good notices already, and is a bestseller. Michael Crummey is the author of seven books of poetry, and five previous novels, including River Thieves, Galore, and Sweetland. His work is always highly regarded, and finalists for the major book prizes here as well as abroad. This new book is published by Knopf Canada. We taped this interview late last month, with Michael joining me from Toronto. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Michael Crummey; Mr. Crummey, good morning.

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The award-winning, bestselling author, and Globe and Mail writer-at-large John Ibbitson discusses his new book The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson, and The Making of Modern Canada (Signal, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Duel

Introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

John Ibbitson joins me again. He’s just published one of the more fascinating books of the season, The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson, and The Making of Modern Canada. It looks at not only the political careers of John George Diefenbaker and Lester Bowles Pearson, Canada’s 13th and 14th prime ministers respectively, but how they came to public life. They’d come from similar backgrounds, born in late nineteenth century, in what was called the Dominion of Canada. Diefenbaker has a fierce loyalty to England and Empire, while Pearson evolves and realises later in his career, that to be taken seriously as a country, Canada needed to develop a stronger sense of self. We see how they come to politics, and the issues that divided them, but also the fundamental views they shared. What Mr. Ibbitson has done in the book is give the reader a sense of the men and their times, but also how they react to the changing Canada, one adapts as the country changes (that’s Mr. Pearson), while one doesn’t (that’s Mr. Diefenbaker). What John also does is reframe how both men are seen. Diefenbaker is seen in history as somebody who squandered the largest majority, or who screwed it up badly, while Pearson was seen as able to get a lot done despite a minority. I’ll also get John to give us a sense of the personal feelings each man had for the other, and I’ll ask John about the Canada of today versus that of just over fifty years ago when these two men were engaged in a fight for how each saw the future. John Ibbitson is writer-at-large at the Globe and Mail, a position he’s been in since 2015. Before that he served as Washington bureau chief, Ottawa bureau chief, and chief political writer. He’s co-authored Empty Planet, and The Big Shift, with Darrell Bricker. And the bestselling and award-winning biography of Canada’s 22nd prime minister Stephen Harper, aptly titled Stephen Harper. This new book is published by Signal, which is an imprint of McClelland & Stewart. John joined me from Ottawa last Thursday. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, John Ibbitson; Mr. Ibbitson, good morning.

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The comedian and educator Nick Marino discusses his debut memoir East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE (Robin’s Egg, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: East Side Story

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

A fascinating book came out this past summer, East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE. It’s a fun memoir about the comedian and educator Nick Marino’s experience working at, and now as a father, attending the Pacific National Exhibition. He joins me to talk about his own experiences at the fair, as well as why it matters to a lot of Vancouverites, not to mention British Columbians. I’ll ask him about the unique people he’s encountered over the years there, as well as the sort of kids like Nick that work the rides and concessions, not to mention the folks who work the fair circuit, either selling products or travelling with exhibits, animals, and the various amusements that have beguiled PNE attendees for over a century. I’ll ask Nick about the good times, as well as the dark history of the fairgrounds, especially the period during the Second World War when Japanese Canadians were interned. Nick’s also interviewed a lot of people who share their experiences at the PNE. Nick Marino is a writer, comedian, and elementary school teacher. He has performed at Just for Laughs Northwest, and curated a series of comedy and music shows called Bite of the Underground. This new book is published by Robin’s Egg, which is an imprint of Arsenal Pulp Press. We taped this interview just over a month ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Nick Marino; Mr. Marino, good morning.

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The artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest Leslie Hurtig previews this year’s festival which begins Monday, 16 October 2023 (and runs until Sunday, 22 October 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

It’s always good to have Leslie Hurtig on the program. The artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest is back to preview this year’s festival, which starts Monday, 16 October 2023. There are all sorts of events for all sorts of readers, and I’ll get Leslie to tell us some of the things she’s looking forward to. And I’ll do the same, what with all the authors who’ve come through the podcast over the year, who’ll also find themselves in Vancouver between Monday and Sunday, 22 October 2023. And as ever, there are some events that are sold out, but always call the box office because tickets usually come up for sale. I’ll ask Leslie now about the role of artistic director, and the part the guest curator has in the programming of a festival. This year, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is on board, while Jillian Christmas is back curating the spoken word programming. We’ll talk about the digital component to the festival and more. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca for tickets and information. We taped this interview a week and a half ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Leslie Hurtig; Ms. Hurtig, good morning.

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The writer, community worker and mentor Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio discusses her debut novel Reuniting with Strangers (Douglas & McIntyre, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Reuniting with Strangers

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio joins me now. She has just published her debut novel, Reuniting with Strangers. It’s an engaging book that follows the reunification of Filipino families in Canada. The book is a series of stories, that link together surrounding a mysterious child, Monolith, who appears and disappears in the lives of the characters in each story. The book is particular in not telling the stories of Filipino caregivers and immigrants from the lens of Canadian employers or those, say born in Canada. These are stories of people who are separated by distance, physically or psychologically, with say, a parent leaving the Philippines to make a living in a place like Canada, and their child or children coming to Canada later on. These are often complicated reunions, and the stories that Ms. Austria-Bonifacio bring to life reveal the complexities surrounding forced emigration, colonial mentality, labour export culture, misogyny, and emotional abuse in the diaspora. Jenilee also illuminates the isolation of a lot of places that Filipinos find themselves in with the places themselves like Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, Osoyoos, as well as Toronto’s Little Manila, and places in Manitoba and Nunavut. It’s refreshing to see the spread of Filipinos, and not just in the main cities in the country. Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio founded Filipino Talks, and holds a Masters in Immigration and Settlement Studies, as well as a post-graduate certificate from the Humber School for Writers. She also completed a writing residency at the Banff Centre. She is a Toronto-based community worker, youth mentor, and Little Manila tour guide. She will also appear in the forthcoming Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing. Visit www.jennileeaustriabonifacio.com for more. This new book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. There is an event this Thursday, 12 October 2023 at the Massy Arts Centre, 23 East Pender Street. That’s at 6.00 pm with Jennilee and other guests. We taped this interview nearly one month ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio; Ms. Austria-Bonifacio, good morning.

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The artist David Wilson discusses his new exhibition The Ground Beneath My Feet at VisualSpace Gallery (3352 Dunbar Street), with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

David Wilson joins me again. The artist has a new exhibition in town, his first in three years: The Ground Beneath My Feet. It opens Thursday, 12 October 2023 at VisualSpace Gallery, 3352 Dunbar Street. It runs until October 28th, and I’ll ask David about the breathtaking natural landscapes and the manmade structures that he depicts in his often breathtaking, exciting work. I’ll get David to tell us about the pieces in this exhibition, the art that he commits, and what the city and the various neighbourhoods that he paints mean to him, and his mind’s eye. At once the images are warm and familiar, and at another it can look cold, foreboding. The city feels like that sometimes, and all at once too. I’m a fan of the way David sees this city, so it’ll be good to catch up on how the city’s changed since the last time he was on the program. Visit www.davidwilson.ca, and www.visualspace.ca for more. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, David Wilson; Mr. Wilson, good morning.

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The Biting School’s Aryo Khakpour discusses the world premiere of their production Suddenly Slaughter, Tuesday, 10 October 2023 at The Cinematheque, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

The Biting School’s Aryo Khakpour joins me again. He and his brother Arash Khakpour have a new production that will have its world premiere at The Cinematheque, Tuesday, 10 October 2023. I’ll ask Aryo about Suddenly Slaughter, a cinematic response to their 2019 interdisciplinary stage performance of the same name. It’s based on a prominent Iranian play written in 1971 by the noted playwright Abbas Nalbandian, Suddenly, This God Lover Died in the Love of God. Aryo performs in the piece, and he also co-wrote it, and directed it. We’ll talk about the themes in Suddenly Slaughter, like interpreting and reinterpreting art, how art that is considered foreign is received by an equally foreign audience. Visit www.bitingschool.com for tickets and information. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Aryo Khakpour; Mr. Khakpour, good morning.

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