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Gabriel Levine’s
new book is an inspiring experimental rethinking of traditions for our time. Highly recommended!
Narrative Medicine
Reading, Writing, and Reflecting in Clinical Practice, Teaching, and Self-Care
Photo by Aarron Norcott on Unsplash
The Walrus published my article on climate fiction in their December issue, and have posted the piece here.
For a video project on Narrative Medicine, the Health, Arts, and Humanities Program at the University of Toronto interviewed me about “How to Approach a Story.” The results can be seen here.
The Defence
by Damian Tarnopolsky
A Staged Reading
presented by Junction Reads
starring
Alexandra Montagnese
and Mark Wilson
Friday November 29th, 7pm
Village Playhouse
2190 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
PWYC $10
My article on Elizabeth Bowen and “nothing” (because, well, you’ll have to read it) is featured in a new book now available from Edinburgh University Press.
I’ve just learned that my play The Defence has won the Voaden Prize, a national playwriting competition. Part of the prize is a staged reading at the Kingston WritersFest, coming up on September 27th 2019. Hope to see you there!:
Kingston WritersFest and the Dan School of Drama and Music proudly present a staged reading of Damian Tarnopolsky’s The Defence, the winning play of the 2019 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition. Join us for an exclusive first look at the winning play at Kingston WritersFest. Previous Voaden Prize winners include Jordan Tannahill for Late Company and Norman Yeung for Theory. This year’s best play, announced at KWF’s July launch, receives a prize of $15,000.
Friday September 27th, 2019 8pm:
Bellevue Room, Holiday Inn
2 Princess St
Kingston, Ontario K7L 1A2 Canada
(I’m on the jury)
MJ Cates’ debut novel is an absorbing historical study, an important chapter in the history of psychiatry, and a devastating love story — and, unusually, it was written by a noted Canadian author under a pen name. Find out more here.
My new course for health practitioners interested in improving their writing will shortly be open for registration via the Centre for Faculty Development.
Deepening Narrative Competence
I went to the launch of Albert Moritz's Selected Poems - he's a lovely, honourable man, a model of generosity and commitment to literature, and when he reads his work it's like Wallace Stevens just walked into the room.
most of all I envied birds when I saw them
I'm finally reading the Dutch writer Harry Mulisch. I first came across "The Assault" - a short novel, careful and dextrous and subtle, describing a man's search for (and avoidance of) his family origins in WWII Holland (a la Modiano?). “The Discovery of Heaven,” on the other hand, is enormous, intellectual and comically talky. It's profound and profoundly entertaining, and different from "The Assault" to the point that it’s hard to believe it’s by the same author. (I like it when writers refuse to follow a single style or mode.) Now I'm trying to find "The Call."
Congratulations to Chris Gilmore, winner of the University of Toronto Short Story Contest for his gentle and perceptive story "Fanny and Keats." (I was on the panel of judges that selected his piece.)
The 49th Shelf included my recommendation in their great anniversary list of 150 Canadian books selected by 150 Canadian writers, 150 for 150. It's not what it looks like. Well, not exactly.
I'll be teaching a new course, Fostering Narrative Competence: Reflective and Creative Writing for Clinicians and Educators, at the University of Toronto medical school's Centre for Faculty Development in the new year. Registration available October 9th.
Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash
Visit the newly updated Toronto Review of Books for my slightly wistful article on football books and football.
Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
My review of Joel Thomas Hynes' rough-edged, roaring novel We'll All Be Burnt In our Beds Some Night just appeared in Atlantic Books Today.
"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."
In the absence of both, here are some Goodreads widgets.
The Toronto Review of Books' spring party!
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