Ruth Anne Latta

 I just finished reading Ian McEwan's new novel, Lessons , which is excellent. I didn't like Atonement and had braced myself not to like this one, but I do.  The "lessons" are, of course, life lessons.  Though there is much more to the novel than a commentary on fiction writing, I particularly liked the following passage, spoken by an author to the central character, in their old age: "Have I really got to give  you a lesson in how to read a book?  I borrow. I invent. I raid my own life. I take from all over the place, I change it, bend it to what I need...Everything that ever happened to me and everything that didn't.  Everything I know, everyone I ever met - all mine to mash up with whatever I invent." I borrowed the book from the library but intend to buy a copy.

 Although my most recent manuscript isn’t yet on the brink of publication, I am giving some thought about how best to bring it to an audience.  Thinking back to how I publicized my earlier books, I became aware of how the opportunities have decreased in number.  This is not a problem for Margaret Atwood or Danielle Steele, but it is for those of us published by small presses.       In days gone by, when I was teaching writing courses as part of a seniors’ program at a community centre, I held a couple of book launches in the auditorium of the building which were well attended by participants in the program and other aspiring writers. Since I have retired from teaching, this option is no longer available, and to be honest, with Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses lurking around, I hope that this community centre has put some of its programs on hold.      In the past, First Unitarian Church on Cleary Avenue had an “Arts Night.” One Friday evening a month, they held readings by a wri

 JULIE AND ME      I was so sorry to read that the author, Julie Powell,  passed away in October (2022) at just forty-nine years of age.  Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, One   Tiny Apartment Kitchen (2005) and her subsequent book, Cleaving, moved and delighted me because of her sense of humour, soul-searching honesty and willingness to undertake challenges.  As a writer, I learned something important from her books that has nothing at all to do with cookery.      As you may know, in the early years of the 21st century, Julie Powell decided to cook her way through Julia Child’s classic, Mastering the Art of French Cooking , and kept a daily blog of her successes and disasters, interspersed with her memories and personal experiences.  This blog was the basis for her 2005 book, and the 2009 movie, Julie and Julia, starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep.  As Julie cooked and blogged, she imagined Julia Child by her side guiding and encouraging her.        Julia Child (1912-2004) lear

I have been writing a new Canadian historical  novel, A Striking Woman . Here is the cover illustration by Ottawa artist Vicky Amullo.  

  What do B ambi, The Grapes of Wrath, South Pacific   and a French detective series have in common?  They are among the books, mini-series and TV shows recommended by the older adults who attend Coffee, Company  and Conversation. a seniors’ group at St. Mark the Evangelist Anglican Church on Fisher Avenue in Ottawa.  When my husband and I learned that this Thursday morning group was open to all seniors in the community, not just Anglicans, we started to attend, and enjoyed meeting new people and being entertained. I missed the group very much during the Covid-19 quarantine (it closed down) and was glad when it resumed in June 2022. As so-called ‘resident author’ of the group (named by one of the kind organizers) I conducted a discussion on Thursday November 17th about the favourite books and other forms of entertainment that had gotten us  through the pandemic. Winter keeps us in captivity to some extent and it is always nice to know what entertainments others enjoy. Before the discu

  From Layton to Singh , by Matt Fodor reviewed by Ruth Latta Matt Fodor’s book , From Layton to Singh (Toronto, Lorimer, 2022, ISBN 978-1-4594-1670-0) is subtitled: “The twenty year old conflict behind the NDP’s deal with the Trudeau Liberals.” This deal, announced in March, 2022, is a “supply and confidence” agreement between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberals and Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats, in which the latter promised to support the Liberal government and keep it in power until June 2025. The arrangement included one item from the NDP’s 2021 election platform, which called for the inclusion of dental care in the public health system.  All other elements of the deal were Liberal promises and commitments, including pharmacare, child care, emissions reductions, a fairer tax system, and measures to make voting easier. Fodor, a graduate student in Canadian history, says that the NDP’s social democratic base has been subdued by “Orange Liberals”, who have turned party po