From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week’s column continues with our mini-series focusing on Canadian authors. In particular, we focus on Indian-Canadian author Rohinton Mistry.
Mistry was born to a Parsi family in Mumbai, India on July 3, 1952, before immigrating to Canada in 1975. He studied English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. Mistry’s novels have been nominated for a variety of literary awards and prizes, winning the Governor General’s Award for Such a Long Journey and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Giller Prize for A Fine Balance.
What
Some notable examples of Mistry’s novels include A Fine Balance, Family Matters, and Such a Long Journey.
Where
Mistry’s works take place in a variety of geographical locations, including India.
When
These novels take place in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Why
These novels could be of interest to AU learners who enjoy reading about diverse topics, such as tradition, family, memory, class, and religion.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the works of Rohinton Mistry are available in a variety of disciplines, including some that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic can enroll in ENGL 351: Comparative Canadian Literature I, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “is an introduction to the study of ethnic minority writing in Canada in the context of the country’s two majority traditions—the English and the French.” Authors include Camilla Gibb, Hiromi Goto, and M. G. Vassanji, among others.
Students may also consider ENGL 302: Introduction to Canadian Literature, a senior-level, six-credit course, which “presents an overview of Canadian literature from its beginnings to the present.” Some examples of authors studied in this course include “Pauline Johnson, Emily Carr, Gabrielle Roy, M.G. Vassanji, Michael Ondaatje, Marilyn Dumont, Shyam Selvadurai, Madeleine Thien, Don McKay, and others.” (Students should note that this course requires ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays as prerequisites). Happy reading!
