Contents Number 93 | Spring 2021
Foreword
Excerpts
6 Notable quotables
12 Constant Nobody
Cover Features 7 Atlantic literature in the world Our literature both defines and expands us by Chris Benjamin
14 Spinning off Marilla with love Why a beloved LM Montgomery character still beguiles by Melanie Mosher
15 Making Anne big in Japan The fascinating translator who made Prince Edward Island a Japanese tourist hub by Evelyn C White
19 Alexa in the world McDonough has been a champion of justice at home and abroad by Joan Baxter
23 This dark place that made us Stories about home should be celebrated around the globe by Trevor Corkum
20 Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians 24 Us, Now
Gardening 26 Garden booking with Niki Think about it; do it. Two books to help you rethink your outdoor spaces by Niki Jabbour
Young Readers 29 Young reader reviews
Reviews 34 One Who Has Been Here Before 35 My Daughter Rehtaeh Parsons 36 My Grandmother’s Days 37 A Love Letter to Africville 37 Future Possible 38 A Number of Stunning Attacks 38 It’s Our Time 39 Clary Croft 39 If, When
Afterword 41 Teasers 44 Staff Picks ON THE COVER Our cover model, Fumi Yamada, is a student at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, and studied at Saint Mary's University in the student exchange program. “For me,” she says, “Anne of Green Gables is what has opened up the door to the world, brought me to Atlantic Canada, and connected me with all the wonderful people I met there.” The photograph was taken by Mike Grainger.
This issue is dedicated to the memory of Ernie Hadley of Nevermore Press, a kind soul and a bright light, who loved good words and stories.
Editor’s message I’m not sure how our writers feel about it, but Deadline Day is my favourite part of editing a magazine. I love opening the inbox the Monday after writers submit and reading, page by page, of their experiences with new books. How did they respond to an author’s style? Were they moved by a particular character? Were they delighted by an unexpected word combination? Did their assignments spark new ideas, angles on life they had never before considered? I’ve often said that each book is a world. The decision to crack the spine is like taking the red pill, i.e. deciding to change your perception of reality. Books shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. In this issue, our writers explored a fascinating diversity of books, including a couple that delved into new takes on Anne of Green Gables. That 113-year-old novel has become the google search term that brings more traffic to our website than any other. It is arguably the most commercially successful piece of Atlantic literature in history. But this isn’t a strictly Green Gables issue. It is rather a look at the worlds in our books, how they are influenced by the wider world, and how we in turn use our stories to define ourselves and project that image abroad. We are living in an increasingly globalized and complex world. Our identities (plural) are becoming ever-more important, psychologically but also economically, in determining how we live together in this place. We depend on each other. The books in this issue show an increasing tendency of our publishing industry to create content reflective of the diverse histories and contemporary realities of peoples in our region, and to connect those realities internationally. This should not be seen as a threat to anyone’s traditions, but rather a more fulsome exploration of who we really are, and the often-harsh realities from which we come. I think that shift is to be celebrated, as are the wide array of books being produced and sold. NUMBER 93 | SPRING 2021
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