Hello Hemlock! discussion

Feel free to introduce yourself to the group at large! Do you have Twitter, Tumblr, or a YouTube channel? What do you like to do outside of literary appreciation? Are you in school, or working for the man? Share as much or as little as you'd like!

Am I allowed to introduce myself?!

Hi! I'm Jason! I'm one part of Hello, Hemlock! I also have my own YouTube channel called theheavyblanks, as well as a music channel! I am a university student studying comparative literature, and a volunteer at the Canadian Literature Centre. CanLit is my passion!

What about YOU?

Hi! My name is Ann. I am currently attending school, but it's my final year. i am also planning to go to the university and then be a chemist. yay!
I am from russia and i really like read classics

Ann wrote: "Hi! My name is Ann. I am currently attending school, but it's my final year. i am also planning to go to the university and then be a chemist. yay!
I am from russia and i really like read classics"

Hi Ann! It's nice to meet you!
How exciting to be in your final year of school with the future wide open ahead of you! I'm sure you will enjoy university very much!
I'm very interested in Russia and took some Russian language classes in my first couple years of university, but I'm not very good. Maybe you can help me out! ;)

Hi there, I'm Andrea. I've been looking forever for an interactive way to read more Canadian literature. It's a shame that I live here and don't even read Canadian authors all that much! Oryx and Crake for December discussion? Sign me up!

Jason wrote: "Ann wrote: "Hi! My name is Ann. I am currently attending school, but it's my final year. i am also planning to go to the university and then be a chemist. yay!
I am from russia and i really like re..."

Yep, i can help you but that's a really hard language even for native speakers

Bonjour! Im Lauren and I am a senior in high school. I am Canadian (although I dont live in Canada) so Im excited to be in this book club. Im looking forward to expanding my reading horizons. Im definitely ready for December's book discussion!
My Tumblr is: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/booksandteaaa

hi everyone! i'm sonja and i work in a university library in adelaide, australia.
i do have a tumblr but i don't post a lot of book-related things ... http://vadasultenfusslife.tumblr.com
i'd been hoping to read more canadian literature in the future so this group looks awesome. :)

Hello! I'm David, and I live in Edmonton, Alberta. I spend my time growing plants in my apartment for food and display, brewing beer, knitting, and listening to a wide and eclectic variety of music. I work for a tech company doing purchasing and administration work, so my free time is usually spent offline nowadays. I'm also working on writing my novel as ideas come to me, with the hope of putting Edmonton into a unique light in my own way.

Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a sophomore in college studying writing, literature, and publishing. My tumblr is bigbookventures.tumblr.com and it's mostly about books and writing. I'm American but I'm always looking for ways to branch out of American literature. :D

Andrea wrote: "Hi there, I'm Andrea. I've been looking forever for an interactive way to read more Canadian literature..."

Hi Andrea! We created this book club for that very same reason! I read my first Margaret Atwood this year! That seems pretty unreasonable for a 26-year-old Canadian. We read some beautiful books in high school and university, but I think I can count on one hand how many Canadian authors I was exposed to through the education system. I hope we can all embrace more and more CanLit :)

Lauren wrote: "Bonjour! Im Lauren and I am a senior in high school. I am Canadian (although I dont live in Canada) so Im excited to be in this book club..."

Hey Lauren! Where are you located these days?

Sonja wrote: "hi everyone! i'm sonja and i work in a university library in adelaide, australia..."

Welcome, Sonja! I'm so pleased to see someone from the commonwealth has joined the group ;) Is it difficult to find Australian authors, as well? Despite having lived in Canada my whole life, I have found it a huge challenge to actually celebrate Canadian authors!

Reinos wrote: "Hello! I'm David, and I live in Edmonton, Alberta. I spend my time growing plants in my apartment for food and display, brewing beer, knitting, and listening to a wide and eclectic variety of music..."

Hey David! I'm interested in hearing what kind of music you're into, are you on Last.fm? I'd define my tastes as "eclectic" as well. I'm intrigued by your beer brewing, garden growing, novel writing escapades! Are you participating in NaNoWriMo?

Emily wrote: "Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a sophomore in college studying writing, literature, and publishing. My tumblr is bigbookventures.tumblr.com and it's mostly about books and writing. I'm American but ..."

Welcome aboard, Emily! So great to hear from an American who is interested in the neighbour of the north! I promise we have some cool stuff created here! Tell your friends ;)

Jessica wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Bonjour! Im Lauren and I am a senior in high school. I am Canadian (although I dont live in Canada) so Im excited to be in this book club..."

Hey Lauren! Where are you located these..."

Im in the Detroit, Michigan area for now but hope to move to Canada after college!

Hello! My name is Jason. I'm a financial advisor living in Alberta, Canada. I love Canadiana, and our rich, hands-on creative culture. I've just read my first Alice Munro collection this year (congrats to her on her Nobel Prize win), and I'm looking forward to reading some of Margaret Atwood's work. Chimo!

Jessica wrote: "Sonja wrote: "hi everyone! i'm sonja and i work in a university library in adelaide, australia..."

Welcome, Sonja! I'm so pleased to see someone from the commonwealth has joined the group ;) Is it..."

yes it can be! we have a few big ones and thankfully more australian writers are being recognised internationally now, but goodreads is still very UK/USA focused. haha

Hi! My name is Gary and I'm a Computer Science student from Hong Kong. I have a Booktube channel.
www.youtube.com/Bookneedlove
I'm interested in reading literature from different countries, but I didn't read Canadian Lit before, maybe this is a good start for me :) I really enjoy book discussing with other fellow readers. That's why I start my own channel. When I'm not reading, I play heaps of video games. FIFA is my favourite.

Ally wrote: "Hello! My name is Ally and I'm an English Lit student from Toronto..."

REPPIN' T DOT. Sorry to derail the conversation but ROB FORD. Heavy sigh. I'm also from Toronto, what up! Currently living up north under the starry skies :)

Gary (BookNeedLove) wrote: "Hi! My name is Gary and I'm a Computer Science student from Hong Kong..."

Hey Gary, how is the weather in Hong Kong? So glad to have such an international group here. Knowing that there are folks in Australia and Hong Kong and the US that are interested in Canadian literature is so refreshing and lovely and fills us with warm fuzzy feelings :) Did you get a chance to read the Year of Finding Memory, by Judy Fong Bates? She was born in China and moved to Canada with her mother at the age of 3. She returns to her home land for the first time in her sixties, and documents the experience in a work of creative non-fiction.

Hello! I'm Ikebukuro. Usually I don't join group because my written English is not so good as it used to be but I like so much the Hemlock channel that I'll be happy to join this one. I'm French and I work as a project manager in an advertising agency. I like travels watercolors painting and… reading of course!

Sa-Wad-Dii-Kha

I'm Nueng from Thailand. I'm working for Thai Glassware Manufacturer as Business Development.
I don't make a video because I'm not good in English specking.

Canadian literature is quite difficult to find copy here.
So I'd like to listen your all opinions and get interesting book from international online bookstore.

I wish you don't mind that I might barely talk or discuss with you here.

Khob-Khun-Kha
Nueng

Hiya! I'm Jemeima, a university student from Switzerland. I am currently majoring in Japan studies and my minors include English literature and history of art.
Honestly speaking, I don't think I have read that much Canadian literature, but most of them will have been short stories in French. But I am definitely ready to try something new!
:)

Hello! I'm Ben, a college student from California. My major is in geography with a minor in plant science. I'm always looking for something new to read.

ok I'll introduce myself. I'm Amanda and I'm 26 and I live in Ohio. I graduated from college a few years ago with a degree in electrical engineering and now I work a desk job in the aerospace industry. It's exciting, I know. In my free time I read a lot and I also play a bunch of video games, watch weird movies, and dabble in artistic endeavors. I'm also trying to be a runner, but I'm not very good haha.

I read a lot of YA, but I'm not exclusive. My favorite genre tends to be science fiction, particularly post-apocalyptic and dystopian, but I do tend to be really critical as well because I actually expect science in my science fiction! I'm very excited that Margaret Atwood is the December pick because I am ashamed to admit that I haven't read any of her work. Thanks for starting such a cool group!

hi I'm chloe i live in the very cold England i like books on anything and photograph and my tumblr is choleward.tumblr.com

Monica wrote: "Hi! My name's Monica. I'm not Canadian, but I really enjoy watching Hello Hemlock videos and hope to start reading alongside everyone and participate in an actual book club for once. I graduated fr..."

Hello Monica! I'm so happy you're now part of our book club!
Your history degree sounds fascinating - I considered a history minor for a long time. What is your area/time period of interest? Would love to hear more!
I'm excited to get to know you better and talk about some CanLit with you. :)

Jason wrote: "Hello! My name is Jason. I'm a financial advisor living in Alberta, Canada. I love Canadiana, and our rich, hands-on creative culture. I've just read my first Alice Munro collection this year (cong..."

Yay! Another Jason! Hello to you!
Since you're a financial advisor, I'm going to have to ask you to give me some tips because I'm something of a spendthrift and it needs to stop. Ha! (But really.)
I love your passion for Canadiana! I'm quite the same way. Have you always felt this connection to Canada? For me, it's somewhat recent. Only in the past three or four years have I come to understand the feeling I get from it and what it means to me.
Also, thrilled to see another Albertan representative! Welcome aboard!

Ikebukuro wrote: "Hello! I'm Ikebukuro. Usually I don't join group because my written English is not so good as it used to be but I like so much the Hemlock channel that I'll be happy to join this one. I'm French an..."

Hello and welcome! We are so happy to have you join in with us! Your written English is not bad at all - MUCH better than my French is! Maybe you can teach me a thing or two! ;)
Where have you traveled in the past? And do you paint with watercolours or are you like me, someone who just appreciates art?
So happy you're part of the group! :)

Karatepop wrote: "This is so cool - it's great to get to know the people who comment and watch in a different way. It's great that there are people from outside Canada, too! Interesting!

Hi, I'm Karate. I make vi..."

HEY KARATE! <3

Nueng wrote: "Sa-Wad-Dii-Kha

I'm Nueng from Thailand. I'm working for Thai Glassware Manufacturer as Business Development.
I don't make a video because I'm not good in English specking.

Canadian literature is ..."

Hello Nueng! It's so nice to have you in this group with us!
Since it's difficult for you to find Canadian books in Thailand, we'll try our best to select some really good ones for you!
What is the Thai literature scene like?
It's nice to meet you and we're so glad you joined us. :)

Jemeima wrote: "Hiya! I'm Jemeima, a university student from Switzerland. I am currently majoring in Japan studies and my minors include English literature and history of art.
Honestly speaking, I don't think I ha..."

Hi Jemeima! Wow, it sounds like you have a demanding course load at university. What interesting subjects! Who are some of your favourite writers?

Benjamin wrote: "Hello! I'm Ben, a college student from California. My major is in geography with a minor in plant science. I'm always looking for something new to read."

Hello Ben! It's nice to have you along with us! Your studies sound interesting. What are you hoping to spend your life doing?
Looking forward to reading together and hearing your thoughts on these books. :)

Hi everyone! My name is Elli, and I'm a third year Political Science student from Montreal.

I've been wanting to read more Canadian Lit, so I thought this would be a great chance to start!

I make youtube book videos (under the name The Bibliophile)! http://www.youtube.com/user/bibliophi...

Elli (The Bibliophile) wrote: "Hi everyone! My name is Elli, and I'm a third year Political Science student from Montreal.

I've been wanting to read more Canadian Lit, so I thought this would be a great chance to start!"

Welcome, Elli! I imagine being a Poli Sci student in Montreal would be pretty intense. Montreal seems like it's a very driven, involved city. Student protests, the Quiet Revolution, etc. I feel like it gives you street cred! Glad you'll be joining us on our CanLit journey!

Jason wrote: Hi Jemeima! Wow, it sounds like you have a demanding course load at university. What interesting subjects! Who are some of your favourite writers?

Hello! Nice to meet you :) In retrospective, it's a combination of subjects I wouldn't recommend. But I try to make the best of it.
Some of my favourites have to be Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Max Frisch, Salman Rushdie, R.K. Narayan, Albert Camus and Tolkien, just to name a few. I hope to add a few Canadian authors to this list (especially looking forward to Atwood, I've never come round to reading anything by her)

Hi! I'm here because as a child I used to love L.M. Montgomery's books and have decided to read more Canadian authors. I am a University student in America, studying Biology.

Hi, my name is Stéphanie, I'm 26 and I live in Montreal. I am a bookseller/assistant manager at an independent bookstore and I also do data entry at home. I am also a MA student in education (but I'm taking a little break right now).

I'm reading Dogs at the Perimeter right now and I also got the Atwood and King novels (not the Maracle one, though) so I'll be reading along!

Hi everyone, my name is Emily. I'm 17 and I live in Ontario. I may not be able to read or review much due to my schedule & the fact that I'm a poor high school student, but I'm still interested in following along and participating when I can. I'm currently trying to get into a University for Business; I love French and I'm taking classes at the moment to get better at it. Outside literature, I am currently enjoying participating on my school's debate team, and one of my debates is actually that students in high school in Canada should read more Canadian Literature! I hope you're all having a good day & hopefully I will get to know some of you better :)

Jason wrote: "Ikebukuro wrote: "Hello! I'm Ikebukuro. Usually I don't join group because my written English is not so good as it used to be but I like so much the Hemlock channel that I'll be happy to join this ..."

Hello Jason,
To answer your questions, yes I paint watercolors (some are on my blog in the part named "Aquarelles"), I love museums and Art ; and I traveled to Japan, Namibia, South Africa, China, Burma and Sri Lanka… I bought Oryx and Crake for December and the book for January, so I'll be ready to follow this book club and happy to meet new readers!

Stéphanie wrote: "Hi, my name is Stéphanie, I'm 26 and I live in Montreal. I am a bookseller/assistant manager at an independent bookstore and I also do data entry at home ..."

Hi Stéphanie! Thanks so much for joining us :) How is your MA treating you?

Emily wrote: "Hi everyone, my name is Emily. I'm 17 and I live in Ontario. I may not be able to read or review much due to my schedule & the fact that I'm a poor high school student, but I'm still interested ..."

Hey Emily! So glad you will at least be keeping tabs! Not sure where in Ontario you are (yay!) but the library in my home town has been treating me very well! I've been able to borrow almost all of the books we've read on Hello, Hemlock! Might be worth checking out if you haven't already, as it is way easier on the bank account to support the local library!

Scheherazade wrote: "Hi! I'm here because as a child I used to love L.M. Montgomery's books and have decided to read more Canadian authors. I am a University student in America, studying Biology."

Hi there! So glad you could join us. I bet there are loads of others who are in the same boat and read Montgomery's work in their early days! What sort of biology are you studying?

Chole wrote: "hi I'm chloe i live in the very cold England i like books on anything and photograph and my tumblr is choleward.tumblr.com"

Hey! Is it Chole or Chloe? So glad to see residents of the Motherland participating along with us! I'm also a photographer, I can't wait to check out your work!

hi it is chloe but my user name is chole because when spelt right was gone so had to change it I'm hoping to start college next year i would love for you to look at some of my work i guess I've got some reading to do

Hi everyone! I love to read all your little stories, you all seem so interesting. :) Ahh, people.

I'm Rose (Roos in Dutch), almost 22 and a little bit of an Atwood fangirl. I've only read 3 books by her, but I've done my BA thesis about 2 of them (Cat's Eye & the Handmaid's Tale) and "met" her twice, once at a conference and once at a reading in Amsterdam. I absolutely can't wait to get further into Oryx & Crake, am loving the couple of chapters I've read so far.

I would like to read some Alice Munro soon, too, and I'm curious about all lovely things Canadian that this book club will introduce me to! I'm not sure I'll be able to join in with everything (MA thesis coming up, oh my..), but I am extremely enthusiastic nevertheless. :)

Jessica wrote: "Stéphanie wrote: "Hi, my name is Stéphanie, I'm 26 and I live in Montreal. I am a bookseller/assistant manager at an independent bookstore and I also do data entry at home ..."

Hi Stéphanie! Thank..."

Badly, haha. I'm at the writing stage and I'm taking a break right now because I'm starting to hate it and that would be bad.

Jessica wrote: "Scheherazade wrote: "Hi! I'm here because as a child I used to love L.M. Montgomery's books and have decided to read more Canadian authors. I am a University student in America, studying Biology."
..."

Jessica wrote: "Scheherazade wrote: "Hi! I'm here because as a child I used to love L.M. Montgomery's books and have decided to read more Canadian authors. I am a University student in America, studying Biology."
..."

I'm studying cell biology since I'm a premed student. I'm currently going through the hell of medical school admissions. I've found that there is nothing better to do whilst waiting on tenterhooks for news of whether I got in or not than to read an obscene amount of books in the interim--hence the reason for my recent obsession with goodreads.com

Have you read any of L.M. Montgomery's works?

Scheherazade wrote: "I've found that there is nothing better to do whilst waiting on tenterhooks for news of whether I got in or not than to read an obscene amount of books in the interim--hence the reason for my recent obsession with goodreads.com

Have you read any of L.M. Montgomery's works? "

Best of luck with admissions! I'll have to check out your page to see what massive books you've caught up with during the waiting game! And no, I am a horrible Canadian, I don't think I've read a single thing by Montgomery!