Log table displays

People sometimes ask where we got the interesting log table at the front of the UC Library, which we use to display books on a particular theme. My understanding is that it was made from a tree on the U of T campus that was cut down years ago. But I don’t know where on the campus the tree stood — if anyone does, I’d love to hear about it.

Here’s a photo of the table, with our latest display: books related to Chinese-Canadian Studies.

 

 

 

Oscars reading list

Several of last night’s Academy Award winners were based on books you can find in the Bestsellers collection at the UC LIbrary:

• Silver Linings Playbook
• Team of rivals : the political genius of Abraham Lincoln
• Life of Pi
• [plus one film that didn't win: The Hobbit]

And for a more Canadian perspective on the events behind Argo, in our regular collection we have: Our man in Tehran : Ken Taylor, the CIA and the Iran Hostage crisis.

Speaking of movies, here’s a photo of our recent display about Canadian film books and this year’s Barker Fairley Distinguished Visitor, Sarah Polley.

Canada Reads 2013

This year’s “Canada Reads” on CBC seems strange to me, with its mix of old and new books, which are supposed to represent five regions of Canada — but I must admit I always find “Canada Reads” entertaining. Today Jane Urquhart’s novel Away (which I liked a lot) was eliminated, and yesterday David Bergen’s The Age of Hope was eliminated, so there are three books left:

• February (2009), by Lisa Moore (Atlantic region — defended by comedian Trent McClellan)
• Indian Horse (2012), by Richard Wagamese (British Columbia and Yukon — defended by athlete Carol Huynh)
• Two Solitudes (1945) by Hugh MacLennan (Quebec — defended by actor Jay Baruchel)

Speaking of Jay Baruchel, I recently re-watched Jacob Tierney’s movie “The Trotsky” (set in Montreal and starring Jay Baruchel), which I I highly recommend! The DVD is available at Media Commons.

Pride and Prejudice, 200 years later

This week Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice turned 200!  I enjoyed this interview with a U of T prof about its enduring popularity. Here at the UC Library we have:

• Pride and Prejudice (as well as Austen’s other novels — these   Broadview Press paperbacks include interesting historical documents for context)
• Death comes to Pemberley, P.D. James’s sequel of sorts (a murder mystery which takes place a few years after Elizabeth and D’Arcy get married)
• Bridget Jones’s Diary, which is more tangentially related to Pride and Prejudice
• the terrific short biography of Austen by Carol Shields
• and for those who can’t get enough of Austen, a novel called The Jane Austen Book Club

Sarah Polley wins award for best Canadian film of 2012

What great news that Sarah Polley’s wonderful documentary Stories We Tell has won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s $100,000 prize for the best Canadian film of 2012! At University College we are very lucky to have Sarah Polley as this year’s Barker Fairley Distinguished Visitor.

For some interesting quotes about Stories We Tell and Sarah Polley’s other feature films, see the following links to my Canadian Women Film Directors Database:

• Stories We Tell
• Take This Waltz
• Away from Her

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. Here’s a photo of a small display we’ve had at the front of the UC Library for the past week or so: books about AIDS (including some drama and fiction).

 

New Chair in Chinese Canadian Studies

It was announced on Wednesday that thanks to a major donation, we’re going to have a new endowed Chair at UC! — the Richard Charles Lee Chair in Chinese Canadian Studies.

Here’s a link to lots of interesting books related to Chinese Canadian studies, available at the UC Library.