John's Preamble: Over the years of running the Canadian Book Challenge, I've been taken aback by the number of people outside of our borders who have taken on the challenge. We've had people from South Korea, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and India to name but a few. In the case of Perogyo, a Canadian who now resides in Japan, her interest in the challenge perhaps comes as no mystery. Raising her kids in Japan, she looked to the challenge initially to reconnect with her roots and to ensure her children are connected to that part of their heritage. She focuses heavily, but not entirely, on Canadian picture books. And now, let's found out even more about her!
10 FROM 100
1. What is an unusual talent you have?
I can peel a banana with my toes. You probably won't want to eat afterwards, however.
2. What is a sport you wish you were better at?
Soccer!
I spent most of my time as a soccer player in my youth picking flowers.
Now it's the family hobby and I just can't keep up. I can do some great
soccer chants at least though!
3. A place or event in your current hometown that you’re embarrassed to say you have not seen.
3. A place or event in your current hometown that you’re embarrassed to say you have not seen.
I've never been to the Umbrella Burning Festival. I need to recitify that.
http://japan-photo.jnto.go.jp/eng/photo_detail.php?PI=130017
4. You’ve just won a trip to another province or territory. Where do you go?
http://japan-photo.jnto.go.jp/eng/photo_detail.php?PI=130017
4. You’ve just won a trip to another province or territory. Where do you go?
Nova Scotia!! I would eat my weight in seafood, look at beautiful scenery, and crash a ceilidh.
5. A fictional place you wish you could visit
5. A fictional place you wish you could visit
Three Pines, Quebec, from Louise Penny's mystery series.
6. Preferred superpower: invisibility, ability to fly, or time travel?
6. Preferred superpower: invisibility, ability to fly, or time travel?
Time travel would be awesome.
7. Who is your favourite Canadian author?
7. Who is your favourite Canadian author?
Kyo Maclear. I love her children's books and adult books, and she always makes me think.
8. Name a blog or blogger you’ve discovered (other than the Book Mine Set!) through the Canadian Book Challenge.
8. Name a blog or blogger you’ve discovered (other than the Book Mine Set!) through the Canadian Book Challenge.
This
is probably my favourite part of the Canadian Book Challenge, finding
new blog friends! There are so many I love to read, but I have a soft
spot for Melwyk (http://indextrious.blogspot.ca/) who cheered me on during the first Readathon I participated in, in 2011.
9. What are your thoughts on “Books for Boys”?
I
think the necessity of books for boys stems in a way from deep-seated
misogyny. Why in the world can girls read books about boys and boys not
read books with girl protagonists. It also speaks to the cover issue-
even if a woman writes a serious literary fiction she is at risk of
getting a flower and hearts cover which, sadly, men would be ashamed to
pick up. The fact that women as talented as JK Rowling need to use
initials instead of their names says to me we haven't moved on that far
from the times of George Eliot.
But we can't fix this problem without fixing society, but we
can try to make both boys and girls empathetic to the plight of the
opposite sex, partially through books, regardless of cover images.
10. Name a politician whose life you’d like to read about in a graphic historical novel and why.
But really, the buffoon Rob Ford and his antics are absolutely perfect for a satirical graphic novel.
6 comments:
Fun answers Perogyo!
That's a GREAT interview. Can you list some of the picture books that you read by Canadian authors?
Take care,
Irene Roth
http://irenesroth.wordpress.com
Nice to know more about Perogyo!
I'm heading to Nova Scotia the day after tomorrow (I'm originally from there) ... I'll try to have some fish for her!
What's a ceilidh?
I love that you want to visit NS. Mary, I'll fill you in about the ceilidh (the fact you like Great Big Sea, you are half-way there!)
A ceilidh is a great big party!!
Irene- there are so many very great picture books by Canadians. I would say Canadians are producing the best picture books in the world now.
Must-reads:
Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back
Spork and Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault
My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee
Larf by Ashley Spires
Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi
And the most Canadian of them all, Once Upon a Northern Night, also illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
All amazing books!!
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