Well, that's just sad.

The other night I was speaking with someone who had just attended a book/reading conference in Canada. I asked if they were still getting charged more for books up there, which seems unfair, as the Loonie (their dollar) is still very nearly even with our suffering dollar. The answer to that was yes. And then I heard this very interesting tidbit:

Evidently, per capita, there is an enormous amount of fantastic literature, fiction, genre fiction, nonfiction, etc., coming from Canadian authors these days. I can't say I'm surprised, but then, I love Canada with my whole heart and soul. So we chatted a bit about why that might be, and my friend said that people at the panel thought at least one reason was Canada's socialized health care, meaning that their starving artists can, you know, be starving artists for a little while, while still having the option of, you know, basic medical care. As opposed to (in my friend's words) "having to go get some stupid full-time draining job just to have access to health insurance and doctors when you need them."

That is just SO SAD. It's not enough that all our manufacturing, tech, and call center jobs are elsewhere, now we're outsourcing our writing as well? This country has some explaining to do.

So. If you're looking for Canadian book news, might I humbly suggest Book Ninja? Since all the great lit is coming from our gentle giant neighbor to the north, let's be informed about it, at least. I may read a Carol Shields novel of some type this weekend in Canadian solidarity.

And, for no reason at all except I find the whole story kind of funny (I can't help it), here's a link to some info from Levi Johnston's (Bristol Palin's baby daddy) MySpace page:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/levi-johnston-bristol-pal_n_123089.html

Have a good weekend, all!

Comments

[Venta]

Orca Book, a Canandian publisher for middle school and young adults, is a wonderful source of books for YA, especially reluctant readers. The just over 100 word books (I understand that teachers often require books for book reviews to be at least 100 pages) deal with issues significant to young adult readers. They have snazzy (does the word show my age?) covers. More importantly, the ones geared to readers with lower reading skills don't have the hi-lo look about them. They are "real" books. I, too, love Canada and their authors. That's an interesting point about outsourcing authors to Canada for health care.

As an aside, I have been very frustrated by the political scene this year. I especially go crazed when I hear people who HAVE health insurance complain about those who don't have it wanting it. WHAT??? Is it me? Does that make sense at all? Who would begrudge anyone for wanting health care and/or insurance? And in this alice in wonderland country it's up to one's employer to decide if employess get insurance. It comes down to a corporation's business plan. What do you think gets cut? Thank you for letting me rant. It's been a long week.

[Sarah]

I love going to Canadian bookstores - not only do they have Canadian books, but they carry British titles which may or may not be published in the U.S.

re the "other subject", doesn't it seem a little (fill in the blank here) that the "First Dude" has a high-paying union job which I am sure gives him great healthcare benefits, which will be needed for the new mother and baby, who will also have "special needs". Good thing he has the coverage - the governor of his state has cut benefits for single teenage mothers and for special needs children.

[Kathleen Molloy]

I have something that will cheet you up...check out the list of fab Canadian authors compiled for the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge. After you've adored Carol S you'll want to fall in love with so many more. And you will!

Kathleen Molloy, author - Dining with Death

www.diningwithdeath.ca

www.kathleenmolloy.offo.ca

[Citizen Reader]

Thanks, Kathleen,
One can never have too many lists of Canadian authors. Will any of them put me up when I move there and until I find a place of my own to stay, do you think? :)

[Citizen Reader]

Oh, Sarah,
Excellent point about the British titles. A ton of interesting stuff comes out of Great Britain too, only it takes to LONG to get here (and I'm not just talking BBC specials, although that rankles too!).

Oh, the First Dude. Of course they'll take care of their own while leaving everyone else's own to be crushed by poverty, Sarah...that's what politicians do. (I almost said that's what Republicans do, but then felt the need to be bi-partisan about it. That said, I do think that's something Republicans excel at.)

[Susan]

I do envy the Canadians, Kiwi's, Brits, Swedes, Australians, Japanese, Koreans, French, etc. their national health care systems. I've lived in Japan and Korea and got good, reasonably priced medical care. Their standard of care was good. I didn't have to wait for hours. I saw none of the horrors that the AMA suggests ensue when a country has national health care.

[Citizen Reader]

Well, Susan, like any other lobbying professional organization, it's in AMA's interest to scare the hell out of us re: socialized health care, isn't it? But we're Americans, and unless we agree that everything in this country is better than every other country, well, then, we're just unpatriotic, I guess.