I hate history books. I admit it, it's totally unfair to lump a massive library of titles into 'things I will never read', but hey, I'm not perfect. That said, there is one tome of Canadiana that has made it onto my 'must read' list, and if more like it appeared, I might actually learn to specify that what I don't like is history books without pictures or action packed, character driven narratives.

I'm referring to the comic biography of Louis Riel by Chester Brown.

Why should you care? Because Brown is the Writer in Residence at the Toronto Public Library. AND if you are a comic-booker yourself, you can send him some of your work (before April 30th, 20 pages or less, avec your contact info) for feedback. Nifty, eh?

He'll also be lecturing in June. Register at the TPL link above.

In other bookish news -

More action from Drawn and Quarterly - Maurice Vellekoop will be chatting about his A Nut at the Opera at the Gladstone on Tuesday 25th from 7-10pm as part of TINARS. Free.

Stuart Hamilton of CBC Radio Two will be taping an episode of his show Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, Opera Quiz there, with Vellekoop, tenor Richard Margison, and Peter Phoa ("opera enthusiast" whatever that means).

Wednesday, 26 April we find the new Test Reading Series, where Margaret Christakos is still busy promoting her book Sooner (like last week), joined by Brian Joseph Davis. Readings at 7:30pm at Mercer Union (37 Lisgar St).

On Friday, TWB (73 Harbord) presents Circle of Stories: Indigenous Women on Love and Land at 7pm. Free.

Chrystos,
Lee Maracle, Alice Williams, and Cecilia Paiva will be speaking.

This coming Sunday (30th), Marsha Skrypuch will promote her latest YA novel Nobody's Child at the Armenian Community Centre (45 Hallcrown Place, Willowdale). The book is about the Armenian Genocide (so controversial that Wikipedia locked their entry on it until 'disputes are resolved').

Images courtesy of Drawn and Quarterly, and Calla.