Presentation Summaries

It’s Not Just You – Exploring the Works of Brené Brown

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On April 23, 2024 member Natashia H. gave an open presentation on the works of professor Brené Brown. Ms. Brown presents self help work that is grounded in her research in the areas of social work and psychology.

green leaf plant
Photo by Anton Atanasov on Pexels.com

Members were invited to participate through questions and discussion, as Natashia talked about what she has learned from Ms. Brown’s books: I Thought It Was Just Me, The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong and Atlas of the Heart. The most important message is that while seeking self improvement can have value, “you are more than enough”. It is not narcissism to honour yourself. Natashia finds that Brown excels in teaching readers self reflection. Atlas of the Heart reflects on the places we go in life. For many that journey is a lifelong struggle to manage shame and guilt.

Natashia asked: “Who will these books resonate with?”, but it was clear from the audience participation that this author is familiar to many in the group. In these challenging times (and when haven’t times been challenging) how do we find compassion for everyone – holding people accountable without blame?

Several members found The Gift of Imperfection to be impactful in their lives. Others found insight in Atlas of the Heart or through Ms. Brown’s TED talks and podcasts.

This was our last meeting of the spring session. If you want to join us for discussion of Irish Writers in fall 2024, watch for updates to our program (coming soon). If you would like to join us as a guest or a member, click on Contact Us.

First Presentation of 2024

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On March 5, 2024 member and Vice President Barbara R. presented on Métis author, Cherie Dimaline.  The presentation’s descriptions and analyses of her 10 books began with Dimaline’s children’s books, then young adult books, and finally adult books.  Barbara highlighted the impressive breadth of the author’s work.  The subjects of the books vary widely, including a futuristic dystopia, a horror story based on the Métis Rogarou legend, re-contextualization of two “classic” children’s and young adult books, a collection of short stories, and an autobiographical story about living with anxiety. 

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

In various online interviews and blogs, Dimaline explains her goals of writing relevant and realistic books about indigenous lives for indigenous readers, something missing when she was growing up, as well as writing for non-indigenous readers.  Barbara R. discussed her own concerns about her ability to understand, let alone critique, the literary works of a person belonging to another culture.  To help answer these concerns, she found guidance in various articles and online websites about literary criticism and culture.  Since she did not yet feel knowledgeable enough about traditional and contemporary indigenous lives and values to adequately use the cultural literary theory of critique, she chose other theories, such as formalism, reader-response and feminist theory when evaluating Dimaline’s work. 

Barbara highly commended Dimaline’s writing talents which include creative plots and settings, nuanced characters, clear and evocative writing, and inclusion of real indigenous histories, communities, and perspectives.  A lively discussion followed with many members contributing insightful questions and perspectives.

Barbara R. & Shawna M.

On March 12, we will be joined by guest speaker Francine Cunningham. Ms. Cunningham is currently the Distinguished Writer in Residence at the University of Calgary.

Interested in joining us as a guest? Click on Contact Us here or on the menu.

“I Feel a Tug…”

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Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

On March 10th, member Janet H. shared the work of Michael Crummey, with emphasis on his historical novels. She used the phrase “I feel a tug” to describe the longing we get to know the emotional and practical lives of those who came before us. Many of us are thus drawn to historical fiction- stories that make our sense of place come alive.

Michael Crummey is a Canadian poet and historical fiction author whose work brings to life the unique culture and history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Janet read from his early book, The River Thieves which looks at cultural loss as European fisherman and colonists encounter the last of the Indigenous Beothuk. Life in early Newfoundland is shown as an unequal struggle over minimal resources in a harsh land.

Next, Janet read from The Innocents, a story of two children who are orphaned and take on the adult world of subsistence fishing and agriculture in a remote settlement. The reading illustrated how even the harshest of circumstances can be faced with determination, love and occasionally humour.

Finally, Janet discussed Galore, Mr. Crummey’s novel using magical realism to blend NFL folklore and history. Janet recommends the following link to hear Mr. Crummey discuss Galore in person: https://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/2012/michael-crummey

I have yet to read the work of Michael Crummey, but Janet’s presentation has put him on my must read list.

To see the beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador, Janet presented this link:https://www.facebook.com/NewfoundlandLabradorTourism/videos/630791754342807/.

Shawna M.

Next week, the work of Amor Towles will be presented. Interested in joining us? Click here: https://calgarywomensliteraryclub.com/join-us/

Julia Alvarez – Herstory Rather than History

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On November 10, 2020 Helen shared her experience of the poetry, fiction and non-fiction of Julia Alvarez, a Dominican American author.  Ms. Alvarez’s work highlights the 20th century immigrant experience from a woman’s point of view. Helen illustrated, through readings from “The Woman I Kept to Myself” – a book of poetry; discussion of Alvarez’s works of auto-fiction; and a video clip from 2020, that Julia Alvarez is not silent in spite of family and societal expectations for women like her.


Photo by JoelValve on Unsplash

Ms. Alvarez’s hero as a young girl was Scheherazade, a woman who used storytelling to defeat a autocrat.  Through her own work, she seeks to bring out truths that expose the ways that society can oppress. Her best known work, “In the Time of the Butterflies” is a fictional account of real sisters who were assassinated for their opposition to the Dominican Trujillo regime. Much of her other work is very personal, discussing her experience as an immigrant and bringing out stories that were not discussed within her family. 

Shawna M.

Learn more by reading Helen’s summary here: https://calgarywomensliteraryclub.com/julia-alvarez/

Laurens van der Post -Adventurer and Writer

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Photo by Chris Stenger on Unsplash

Janet Samber presented South African Afrikaaner author Laurens van der Post whose many works of fiction and non-fiction alike reflect his real-life experiences as a farmer, journalist, soldier, prisoner of war, and student of Carl Jung.  Using photographs from her own travels to southern Africa, Janet introduced members to the fascinating world of the Kalahari Bushmen, the indigenous people of that part of the continent. The Bushmen were of passionate interest and concern to van der Post who, in writing The Lost World of the Kalahari, sought to raise awareness about these original hunter-gatherers and the genocide threatening their existence.  In so doing, he reminds us all of our common humanity.

H. Tubrett

See Janet’s presentation summary here https://calgarywomensliteraryclub.com/laurens-van-der-post/

Khaled Hosseini – The Refugee Experience

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Photo by Umut YILMAN on Unsplash

On October 27 2020, member Elaine Buckman gave a presentation on the works of modern Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini.

For Elaine, Mr. Hosseini makes the refugee immigrant experience personal in his two novels. The ancient and recent history of Afghanistan is one of resistance to foreign conquest. Culturally, Afghanistan has conservative tribal and class distinctions that are a contrast with the values of Western society.

Mr. Hosseini’s father was a diplomat, who emigrated to the United States after the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. His family settled into an immigrant community and Mr. Hosseini became a doctor and married a law student who was also in the Afghan immigrant community.

While working as a doctor, Mr. Hosseini wrote his first novel “The Kite Runner”. It is a tale of both Afghanistan and immigrants who have left Afghanistan. The characters struggle to meet traditional family expectations while respecting individual rights in a modern social setting. The novel was met with widespread commercial success and has been made into a movie and a play.

A second novel  “A Thousand Splendid Suns”; a book of short stories “ And Now the Mountains Echo; and a poem “ Sea Prayer” have followed “The Kite Runner”. These works continue the themes of the immigrant experience, grief, class & poverty, and the status of women in Afghan society.

S.Mattison

SEE ELAINE’S SUMMARY HERE https://calgarywomensliteraryclub.com/khaled-hosseini-1965/

Alan Paton – Agape love

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File:Alan Paton.jpg
South African Author Alan Paton. Image: Wikimedia.

Denise Doz chose this South African author for his masterful and influential use of literature to plea for compassionate love, or agapé, for those suffering under South Africa’s apartheid system. She noted that institutionalized apartheid has regrettably been replaced with something new in South Africa, and racism isn’t restricted to that country. Shamefully, Apartheid was informed by Canada’s Indian Act. His books remain relevant today with the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA and across the world in our current news cycle.

“(Agapé) embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance.” (Wikipedia)

Alan Paton wrote from the soul, and with faith that his own society could change through non-violence. He wanted to motivate readers to compassion and change. Cry, the Beloved Country, his first novel, dug deep to expose the implications of apartheid on individuals, family and society. It was groundbreaking, bringing the faces of apartheid to readers worldwide. Paton became a prolific author thereafter.

Denise’s first reading was of his description of his birthplace, Durban, demonstrating his exquisite “wordscapes” that incorporate all senses. She ended her presentation with a video clip: We saw a rugby stadium and the singing of the new South African anthem in Zulu, Afrikaans and English in the post-apartheid “Rainbow Nation.” Transformation is happening.

In-between, Denise shared so much more.

FIND DENISE’S PRESENTATION SUMMARY HERE

J. Halls & S. Mattison

Chaim Potok: Rabbi, American Author, Mensch

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Photo Deborah Thomas on Wikimedia Commons

Ritta used the word mensch, a particularly good person, to describe author Chaim Potok. Ritta discovered his novels through her curiosity about religions.

Chaim Potok was raised in the Bronx in a conservative Jewish family, received a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, then became a rabbi. It was his three years as a chaplain in Japan and Korea after the Korean war that transformed his beliefs. He obtained a master’s and doctorate degree, led an active life as a Jewish academic and teacher, as a magazine editor and writer, in addition to being a novelist.

Not unlike Potok himself, his characters struggle to manage the tensions inherent in wanting to live for themselves against the backdrop of their families’ expectations and their traditional religious beliefs.

My name is Asher Lev, is Ritta’s favourite.

For much more, READ RITTA’S SUMMARY BY CLICKING HERE

Janet H & Helen

Immigrant Literature: A two way mirror

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Public domain

Not so long ago, I discovered immigrant literature through a novel which completely changed the way I perceived current news about illegal Mexican immigrants. Not only had I gained more insight into their plight, I saw our own North American culture from their point of view — and it was unflattering.

With this season’s theme of cultural awareness in literature, I sought to present to the Club five fictional books which address ongoing immigrant issues in North America, written in different styles and dealing with different cultures. I had a wealth of choice, and when I had run out of time to read more, I selected these:

Environmental: The Tortilla Curtain (above-mentioned) about illegal Mexican immigrants (Author T.C. Boyle, 1995)

Suspense: The House of Sand and Fog about Iranian-Americans (Author André Dubus III, 1999)

Legal drama: The Boat People about Sri Lankan asylum seekers in Canada (Sharon Bala, 2018)

The two books below are in many categories, or perhaps defy categorizing. You will laugh and you will cry while reading their narrators’ highly quirky, often funny, recounting of tragedies.

Coming of age (the best I can do… unlike any other book I have read:) The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao about Dominican Republicans in New Jersey (Junot Díaz, 2007)

War/spy novel/mystery/comedy/tragedy… : The Sympathizer about Vietnamese refugees to the United States (Viet Thanh Nguyen, 2015)

Why search out immigrant literature? Fiction will humanize immigrants in a way news reports cannot. Novels make us more aware of the enormous challenges immigrants face and can deepen our understanding, empathy and compassion for those who hope to find a better life here.

YOU CAN READ MORE HERE.

Janet Halls