Exploring the limits of literature with Sheila Heti.

On March 27, 2024 member Katja W. presented on the works of Canadian author Sheila Heti. Katja observed that besides Margaret Atwood, Sheila Heti’s work Motherhood made her the most visible Canadian author in Germany. She decided to learn about Heti and her unusual approach to writing.

Ms. Heti. “does not tell stories”, believes that traditional novels and storytelling are dead, and wants to “calm her mind an create a better world”. In her presentation, Katja explored for us what Heti’s world might look like.

Her first work was Ticknor (2005), which explored the inner world of a real life biographical writer, Ticknor. The book has stream of consciousness section where the narrator talks to himself in the first and third person, while trying to go to a dinner with the subject of his biography (William Prescott). While the alternation is challenging for the reader, Heti shows she can readily switch from one perspective to another.

Next, Heti wrote the boldly titled How Should a Person Be? (2010). The novel is described as infused with levity. The protagonist/narrator is involved in an ugly painting contest. While the narrator has many similarities to Heti, the author rejects the “autofiction” label for this work (or any of her works). The novel moves between straight narrative and theatre style dialog, reflecting Heti’s background as a playwright.

Next came Motherhood (2018), which arose from Heti’s interviewing her friends on the question of should a woman have children. Chapters in the novel are titled after phases of the menses. The novel explores motherhood and grandmotherhood, asking if people have children because they want to or because it is expected. The I-Ching features prominently as a decision making tool (faith in blind fate or in the supernatural). Katja believes Heti gave words to the thoughts of many young women facing this decision.

Heti followed up this very successful book with Pure Colour (2022), which won the Governor General’s Award and the Jewish Writer’s Award. Described as “a contemporary Bible”, God is likened to an artist considering restarting his work. The characters, who wish to become art critics, are ascribed to three personality types: a bird, a fish or a bear. This is a surreal book and the reader should suspend their need for plot.

In 2023, Sheila Heti wrote a piece for the New Yorker which can be considered a collaboration with a chatbot. In According to Alice, Heti documented the answers a chatbot gave her over months of questioning – the reader is not provided with the questions. More unusual work followed in Alphabet Diaries (2024), a book of Heti’s diaries with the sentences arranged alphabetically rather than chronologically. This can be poetic, philosophical or banal.

It is hard to label Sheila Heti’s work – in Katja’s words it is short and sharp, covering all human emotions. It emphasizes thought and considered decisions. While this author continues to find new ways of telling a story, she looks at the the big questions without providing the answers.

Member Sandra E. thanked the speaker for opening the door to this innovative author.

We welcomed a new member this week and we would love to welcome you as a guest or new member. Click on Contact Us to learn more. Next week, member Janet H. will present on author Tom Rachman.

On March 12, 2024 the Calgary Women’s Literary Club hosted Francine Cunningham. She is the current Canadian Writer-In-Residence of the University of Calgary Distinguished Writer Program.

Her debut book of poems On/Me (Caitlin Press) was nominated for The BC and Yukon Book Prize, The Indigenous Voices Award, and The Vancouver Book Award. Her debut book of short stories God Isn’t Here Today (Invisible Publishing) is out now and is a book of speculative fiction and horror and was longlisted for The inaugural Carol Shield’s Prize for Fiction, was a finalist for the 2023 Indigenous Voices Award, and won the 2023 ReLit award for short fiction. Her first children’s book What if bedtime didn’t exist (Annick Press) will be out in March 2024. Francine also writes for television with credits including the teen reality show THAT’S AWSM! among others and was a recipient of a Telus StoryHive grant to make a web-series. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have also appeared in The Best Canadian Short Stories, The Best Canadian Non-Fiction, in Grain Magazine as the 2018 Short Prose Award winner, on The Malahat Review’s Far Horizon’s Prose shortlist, and on the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize longlist among others. You can find out more about her at https://www.francinecunningham.ca/about. (Biographical information courtesy of F. Cunningham).

Ms. Cunningham read two of her poems and one short story, connected by the theme of loss and mourning. First, she read “On Grief/Hospital Visit“, a moving piece about the illness and death of her mother. We felt her grief and rage over the racism within the healthcare system that delayed her mother’s diagnosis, and the pain of losing a loved one too soon.

Next, she read “On Family/Grandmother“, which dealt with her grandmother’s experience as a residential school survivor.

The two poetry readings were followed by a discussion session, with members and guests asking questions about her writing process (“she always has ideas bubbling in her back brain”); how her poetry is now being used to make nursing students aware of systemic racism (“you never know where your words will go”); how she organized her book of poetry; and how she visualizes her work before it’s written.

Next, she read the short story “Asleep Til You’re Awake“. This ghost story reflects loss, grief, the difficulty of reaching back to a lost parent, and anger with a ‘dead-eyed’ medical system. After the reading, Cunningham answered more questions about her work. In particular, she discussed the use of lavender and lemons to tie together her short stories and future works in the fictional universe she is developing.

On behalf of the club, Robin S. thanked the speaker for the moving readings she shared and for generously addressing questions from the group.

Next Tuesday, member Sandra E. will present on author Zadie Smith. Curious? Click on Contact Us. We welcomed 7 guests and a new member at our last meeting.