Cynthia Flood ~ Writer » English Stories

subTerrain review

admin — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:17:37 +0000

17 September 2010

What a fine birthday present! subTerrain #56 arrived, with a good review of The English Stories on page 56.

Reviewer Kevin Donovan describes the book as “a lyrical gem,” and says that “Flood’s skill in recreating a world long vanished, and her ability in bringing to life characters that are both original and vital, are exemplary.” The review focuses on the book’s political content — I’m glad to see that.

From a couple of his comments, I’d guess that KD’s age is somewhat less than mine, and that he was a tad surprised to find himself admiring the collection so much. Good! Cross-generational connections can be a pleasure, and this review was that for me.

Being Interviewed

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:22:21 +0000

Another recent publication is in the Winter/Spring 2010 issue of WordWorks, the newsletter of the Fed of BC Writers. It’s a 3-page interview with poet Lynda Grace Philippsen, who reviewed English Stories in the Globe online in June 2009. Rather than using a standard structure of Bio, Works, Quotes, and Comments, Lynda has woven all together. The integrated effect is smooth and easy to read.

In recent years I’ve been interviewed several times by young feminist academics writing the history of the women’s movement in BC/Canada. That’s disconcerting — now I am history? all that we did is history? But it’s energizing to be with scholars for whom those past days are so interesting, in a new way, and similarly it was a pleasure though a tad disconcerting to be with Lynda and to answer her questions.

Beginning Again

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:27:35 +0000

After a long gap, this blog starts up once more with some good news.

A special double issue of subTerrain (Nos 54-55), titled “Vancouver’ s Literary Landscape,” includes a two-page spread on my work. It focuses on my novel Making A Stone Of The Heart, including an excerpt, but also comments at some length on English Stories. The critique is highly favourable throughout, and to my pleasure is by Bart Campbell. In 2002 we were both finalists for the City of Vancouver Book Prize, I for Making A Stone and he for a fine and unique book called The Door Is Open (Anvil Press), about his work at a soup kitchen in the Downtown East Side. (The award went to Stolo: A Coast Salish Historical Atlas, from D & M.

This special issue of subTerrain, like most such, will annoy as much as it pleases. Why is X here? Why on earth isn’t Y here? Etc. I was surprised that so many writers of roughly my generation appeared — seemed like rather a shortage of young people — but reasonably okay with the numbers of women represented. And the feeling, the ambiance of Vancouver did come through intensely.

Another recent appearance, in WordWorks, I’ll address soon.