Latest news with #AliciaCoxThomson
CBC
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
3 'thrilling' novels about women breaking free in midlife
When Miranda July's novel All Fours was released last May, it generated enormous buzz for bringing to light the fears, desires and longings of a middle-aged woman — touching on themes of motherhood, marriage, sexuality and perimenopause. Canadian journalist Alicia Cox Thomson says it has sparked a positive trend in the literary world, bringing about discussions that tackle a topic and perspective once considered taboo — and she brought two books to the table that also feature women in middle age. " Some women might not be comfortable talking about it, some men might not want to hear it. I feel like with this full force, these books are about a real important point in a woman's life," said Thomson. "Hopefully it'll normalize it, and then we'll start to see more — where the focus isn't 'This character is going through this,' it's just a book about a person who happens to be that age who might be experiencing that, but that's not the main point." On The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing, Thomson spoke about three literary novels that depict women in their midlife. All Fours by Miranda July All Fours follows an unnamed artist in her mid-forties as she grapples with the breakdown of her marriage and the physical and emotional toils of perimenopause. She escapes on a road trip — leaving behind her husband and son, and gets involved in extramarital affairs. Miranda July is a writer, filmmaker and artist based in Los Angeles. Her previous works include the novel The First Bad Man and short story collection No One Belongs Here More Than You which won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. July's work has also been featured in The Paris Review, Harper's and The New Yorker, Alicia Cox Thomson says:"I'm a writer, and I do find that when you become a mother, your priorities shift, rightfully so. Did I work as much on my craft when I was in the trenches with young children? 'No.' Have I tried to return to it now that they're older? 'Yes.' I do understand that struggle between your passion for your art, or your creative life, or your journey and your passion for your children." The Change by Kirsten Miller In The Change, three different women navigate the changes and challenges of mid-life. While they're each battling their own issues — marriage breakdowns, career shifts, empty nests and loss of loved ones, they're brought together through one woman's ability to hear from the dead, which leads them to solve a string of murders. Kristen Miller is an author who was born and raised in North Carolina, but now lives in Brooklyn, New York City. Her previous works include Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books which was a GMA Book Club pick and the YA series featuring Kiki Strike. Alicia Cox Thomson says:"It's like a juicy thriller that you just want to turn the pages. It's a thoughtful work about women and power and coming into your own. It is a powerful discussion of what happens to powerful, wealthy men who are finally pushed back against." The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer The Mother Act depicts the tumultuous relationship between Sadie Jones, a famous actress and feminist, and her estranged daughter, Jude. Despite Sadie's fame from a one-woman show about motherhood, Jude has spent her life seeking validation from her mother. Two decades later, when they meet at Sadie's play premiere, they explore whether it's possible to balance motherhood with career. Heidi Reimer is a writer based in northern Ontario. Her work has been featured in Chatelaine, The New Quarterly, Literary Mama and the anthologies The M Word: Conversations about Motherhood and Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers. Her debut novel is The Mother Act.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Short story club is the book club for busy people
Big Night In is a series where Canadian experts and creatives share advice on how to spend a magical night at home. It's the ultimate guide to staying in — whether solo or with friends — featuring thoughtfully curated ideas that are anything but routine. Turn the typical book club format into a one-night-only literary adventure. Rather than committing to monthly meetings and a full novel, you and a few friends can spend an evening focusing on a single short story — a piece of fiction that'll spark just as much conversation but require far less prep. "Gathering to read and discuss stories with a group of friends is one of life's great joys," said lifestyle writer and The Next Chapter columnist Alicia Cox Thomson. "You're exposed to different points of view because people process literature through their personal experiences." Cox Thomson suggests keeping the group small — around four to six people — so everyone can share their thoughts without getting lost in the shuffle. Choosing a story that fits the vibe of your group is also important. "You know your friends," she said. "What will get them thinking, laughing, talking?" If you're looking for something fun and buzzy, pick a light-hearted story; for a deeper dive, go for dark and thought-provoking. Collections like How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa and Peacocks of Instagram by Deepa Rajagopalan contain fantastic options that bring fresh perspectives and diverse voices to the table, says Cox Thomson. She also likes How to Walk on Water and Other Stories by Rachel Swearingen and Show Them a Good Time by Nicole Flattery, which feature "stories about womanhood and the minutiae of life that are dark, peculiar, moving, haunting and often laugh-out-loud funny." To start the evening, you might listen to an audio version of the story together while settling in with snacks and drinks. When it's time for discussion, Cox Thomson suggests having a few open-ended questions prepared. Start with something simple: "Let's all share three adjectives to describe this story." Another great opener: "Who would you recommend this story to and why?" She also suggests encouraging each guest to come up with a question of their own. The key is to let the conversation flow naturally while keeping an eye on balance — invite quieter guests to share and gently steer the discussion if it drifts too far off course. If you decide you'd like to make this a regular thing, then wrap up the evening by talking about what to read next. Whether you swap hosts or stick to the same spot, the goal is to keep things fresh and exciting. Maybe next time it's a surreal fairy tale — "In White Cat, Black Dog, Pulitzer-nominated author Kelly Link reinterprets familiar fables and fairy tales from around the world, modernizing them in subversive, thought-provoking ways," Cox Thomson said. Or perhaps it's a romantic comedy or a haunting thriller. Whatever you choose, a short-story club makes it easier to dive into some great literature.
CBC
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
4 Black Canadian writers to watch in 2025, according to book aficionados Ryan B. Patrick & Alicia Cox Thomson
Alicia Cox Thomson is a Toronto-based writer and columnist for The Next Chapter. February is Black History Month and Thomson takes a look at why Black Canadian writers should be read, respected and celebrated all year. Alicia Cox Thomson on why Black Canadian writers matter, all year around Black writers have made a rich contribution to the Canadian literary canon for over a century whether they were born here, emigrated from elsewhere, or spent time in Canada that influenced their perspective. These authors, poets and playwrights often explore themes of Black identity in societies shaped by their colonialist history, including stories set in Africa, the Caribbean and, of course, right here at home. Their exploration of race, ethnicity, culture, gender and sexuality reminds the world that Blackness is not a monolith, that each one of us is a tapestry woven from our experience. This work is an examination of harm and trauma, an act of decolonization, and ultimately, a celebration of hope and healing. The Black diaspora stretches wide and our influence is vast. The four writers featured today are proof of that. Valérie Bah The critically acclaimed genre-bending novel Subterrane, Montreal-based queer writer Valérie Bah's first major work in English, was released last fall by Vehicule Press. They spoke with CBC about the diversity of the publishing landscape for Black artists. "I think that Blackness is so big and beautiful and diverse… There's a very strong tradition of Black experimental work [in Canada]," they said, citing authors Francesca Ekwuyasi and Dionne Brand as inspirations. "I think that's a place where artists can, just like, let a lot of things and experience a lot of complexity in our stories. And for me, humour is one of my biggest coping mechanisms. It's a really great vehicle for getting to the more dense, difficult matter." 25 Canadian books to read during Black History Month 2025 and beyond Subterrane is darkly funny about difficult topics. It's a genre mash-up of speculative fiction, comedy, drama, dystopian fiction and mystery told from the point of view of unique Black characters. Regarding its inspiration, Bah said, "I had just finished film school, a more mainstream one. And I tend to obsess over certain things [like] the question of making art. Who gets to make it? What gets called art, who holds the role that says so, you know, societally? Then thinking about the people around me, you know? It turned into Subterrane, like, quite organically." The novel is set in dystopian New Stockholm, a "settler colonial metropolis like any other" home to capitalists and their shining towers, and Cipher Falls, the last affordable neighbourhood in the city, where the creatives and activists work, dream and survive. A construction project threatens Cipher Falls' inevitable gentrification, leading some residents to attempt to sabotage the plans. Government-approved documentarian Zeynab wins a grant to tell the story of Cipher Falls' evolution — but what are her true motives? Bah is working on the French translation, calling it "a bit of a rewrite, too," which will be released this May. Vincent Anioke Currently based in Waterloo, Ont., writer Vincent Anioke was born and raised in Nigeria and his short stories are largely set there. As a child, he attended national and international math competitions and moved to the U.S. to study at M.I.T., but always loved to write (he wrote a 2000-page science fiction opus between the ages of 11 to 15). Today, Anioke works as a software engineer for Google Canada by day while writing short stories that have appeared in The Rumpus, The Masters Review and Passages North by night. His debut collection Perfect Little Angels, released last spring by Arsenal Pulp Press, was a finalist for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers from the Writers' Trust of Canada. Perfect Little Angels contains stories about masculinity, desire, identity, repression and hope. "It's stunning. It's set in Nigeria. It revolves around the premise, 'What happens if we don't live up to what society expects of us?'" says Patrick. The pursuit of love, whether familial, platonic or romantic, powers the overarching narrative as characters seek the missing pieces that will make them whole. Brought down by grief, a man reunites with the ghost of his lover on a stormy night. An all-boys boarding school sets the scene for a violent struggle between staff and students. An addict is given new hope after a small compliment on his pottery from a stranger. Anioke writes, " Perfect Little Angels is about many things, including perspective. How a thing shifts under new light. Hard contours gaining softer edges." Anne Hawk The Pages of the Sea broke my heart with hardship and put it back together with hope. Anne Hawk, who was partly raised in Grenada, Vancouver and now lives in England, has written a debut novel that feels like the work of someone long used to crafting literary fiction. It's a coming of age story set on an unnamed Caribbean island, where young Wheeler and her teenage sisters have moved in with their aunts and cousins after their mother moves to the UK to work. Wheeler's mother is part of the Windrush Generation, the migration of Black Caribbean people to the United Kingdom between 1948, when the first ship (the Windrush) landed in England with the first 1000 immigrants, and the early 1970s. The Pages of the Sea follows Wheeler as she's left mainly to fend for herself and wonder when her mother will return. Her sisters, tasked with caring for her, are teenagers with little warmth or patience. The little girl is neglected and abused by her aunt and older cousin while finding friendship with a cousin her own age. Written from Wheeler's point of view, Hawk uses colloquial dialect for internal monologue and in speech. Wheeler's longing for her mother is palpable and Hawk's talent with words may make readers weep. Stories about the Windrush generation tend to focus on adults embarking on new lives and making sacrifices to do so. This is a beautifully written story about the children left behind. Chimwemwe Undi Chimwemwe Undi, like Anioke, has a demanding day job. The Winnipeg-based lawyer and poet is also the current Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate and was Poet Laureate of Winnipeg for 2023 and 2024. Her latest poetry collection, Scientific Marvel, released by House of Anansi Press last year, dives deep into the history and current culture of Winnipeg as seen from the vantage point of someone outside the traditional sense of what a 'Winnipegger' looks like. Although Undi was born there, she spent her early childhood in Zambia and Namibia, returning to the city when she was 13. She writes about the city as someone both born of Winnipeg and outside it. "She writes about the city of Winnipeg, what she calls home, as well as everything in terms of gender, race, language, immigration within the prairies," says Patrick. In an interview with IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed, Undi speaks about her poem Comprehensive Ranking System, a reference to the immigration point system that ranks an immigrant's appeal before possible entry into Canada. "That's how my family came back to Canada… we were put through this ranking system, checked off these boxes and were deemed good enough immigrants to come into Canada and then were brought here," she said. This coming and going informs her perspectives about colonialism, Black identity, immigration, sexuality and what it means to interact with her hometown as someone with other homes in her heart.
CBC
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
4 Black Canadian writers to watch in 2025, according to book aficionados Alicia Cox Thomson & Ryan B. Patrick
Alicia Cox Thomson is a Toronto-based writer and columnist for The Next Chapter. February is Black History Month and Thomson takes a look at why Black Canadian writers should be read, respected and celebrated all year. To honour Black History Month, CBC Books producer Ryan B. Patrick and The Next Chapter columnist Alicia Cox Thomson spoke with the show's host Antonio Michael Downing about four Black Canadian authors to watch in 2025. Alicia Cox Thomson on why Black Canadian writers matter, all year around Black writers have made a rich contribution to the Canadian literary canon for over a century whether they were born here, emigrated from elsewhere, or spent time in Canada that influenced their perspective. These authors, poets and playwrights often explore themes of Black identity in societies shaped by their colonialist history, including stories set in Africa, the Caribbean and, of course, right here at home. Their exploration of race, ethnicity, culture, gender and sexuality reminds the world that Blackness is not a monolith, that each one of us is a tapestry woven from our experience. This work is an examination of harm and trauma, an act of decolonization, and ultimately, a celebration of hope and healing. The Black diaspora stretches wide and our influence is vast. The four writers featured today are proof of that. Valérie Bah The critically acclaimed genre-bending novel Subterrane, Montreal-based queer writer Valérie Bah's first major work in English, was released last fall by Vehicule Press. They spoke with CBC about the diversity of the publishing landscape for Black artists. "I think that Blackness is so big and beautiful and diverse… There's a very strong tradition of Black experimental work [in Canada]," they said, citing authors Francesca Ekwuyasi and Dionne Brand as inspirations. "I think that's a place where artists can, just like, let a lot of things and experience a lot of complexity in our stories. And for me, humour is one of my biggest coping mechanisms. It's a really great vehicle for getting to the more dense, difficult matter." Subterrane is darkly funny about difficult topics. It's a genre mash-up of speculative fiction, comedy, drama, dystopian fiction and mystery told from the point of view of unique Black characters. Regarding its inspiration, Bah said, "I had just finished film school, a more mainstream one. And I tend to obsess over certain things [like] the question of making art. Who gets to make it? What gets called art, who holds the role that says so, you know, societally? Then thinking about the people around me, you know? It turned into Subterrane, like, quite organically." The novel is set in dystopian New Stockholm, a "settler colonial metropolis like any other" home to capitalists and their shining towers, and Cipher Falls, the last affordable neighbourhood in the city, where the creatives and activists work, dream and survive. A construction project threatens Cipher Falls' inevitable gentrification, leading some residents to attempt to sabotage the plans. Government-approved documentarian Zeynab wins a grant to tell the story of Cipher Falls' evolution — but what are her true motives? Bah is working on the French translation, calling it "a bit of a rewrite, too," which will be released this May. Vincent Anioke Currently based in Waterloo, Ont., writer Vincent Anioke was born and raised in Nigeria and his short stories are largely set there. As a child, he attended national and international math competitions and moved to the U.S. to study at M.I.T., but always loved to write (he wrote a 2000-page science fiction opus between the ages of 11 to 15). Today, Anioke works as a software engineer for Google Canada by day while writing short stories that have appeared in The Rumpus, The Masters Review and Passages North by night. His debut collection Perfect Little Angels, released last spring by Arsenal Pulp Press, was a finalist for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers from the Writers' Trust of Canada. Perfect Little Angels contains stories about masculinity, desire, identity, repression and hope. "It's stunning. It's set in Nigeria. It revolves around the premise, 'What happens if we don't live up to what society expects of us?'" says Patrick. The pursuit of love, whether familial, platonic or romantic, powers the overarching narrative as characters seek the missing pieces that will make them whole. Brought down by grief, a man reunites with the ghost of his lover on a stormy night. An all-boys boarding school sets the scene for a violent struggle between staff and students. An addict is given new hope after a small compliment on his pottery from a stranger. Anioke writes, " Perfect Little Angels is about many things, including perspective. How a thing shifts under new light. Hard contours gaining softer edges." Anne Hawk The Pages of the Sea broke my heart with hardship and put it back together with hope. Anne Hawk, who was partly raised in Grenada, Vancouver and now lives in England, has written a debut novel that feels like the work of someone long used to crafting literary fiction. It's a coming of age story set on an unnamed Caribbean island, where young Wheeler and her teenage sisters have moved in with their aunts and cousins after their mother moves to the UK to work. Wheeler's mother is part of the Windrush Generation, the migration of Black Caribbean people to the United Kingdom between 1948, when the first ship (the Windrush) landed in England with the first 1000 immigrants, and the early 1970s. The Pages of the Sea follows Wheeler as she's left mainly to fend for herself and wonder when her mother will return. Her sisters, tasked with caring for her, are teenagers with little warmth or patience. The little girl is neglected and abused by her aunt and older cousin while finding friendship with a cousin her own age. Written from Wheeler's point of view, Hawk uses colloquial dialect for internal monologue and in speech. Wheeler's longing for her mother is palpable and Hawk's talent with words may make readers weep. Stories about the Windrush generation tend to focus on adults embarking on new lives and making sacrifices to do so. This is a beautifully written story about the children left behind. Chimwemwe Undi Chimwemwe Undi, like Anioke, has a demanding day job. The Winnipeg-based lawyer and poet is also the current Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate and was Poet Laureate of Winnipeg for 2023 and 2024. Her latest poetry collection, Scientific Marvel, released by House of Anansi Press last year, dives deep into the history and current culture of Winnipeg as seen from the vantage point of someone outside the traditional sense of what a 'Winnipegger' looks like. Although Undi was born there, she spent her early childhood in Zambia and Namibia, returning to the city when she was 13. She writes about the city as someone both born of Winnipeg and outside it. "She writes about the city of Winnipeg, what she calls home, as well as everything in terms of gender, race, language, immigration within the prairies," says Patrick. In an interview with IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed, Undi speaks about her poem Comprehensive Ranking System, a reference to the immigration point system that ranks an immigrant's appeal before possible entry into Canada. "That's how my family came back to Canada… we were put through this ranking system, checked off these boxes and were deemed good enough immigrants to come into Canada and then were brought here," she said. This coming and going informs her perspectives about colonialism, Black identity, immigration, sexuality and what it means to interact with her hometown as someone with other homes in her heart.
