Saturday, March 08, 2008
The next Whistler Reads (WR) meeting will take place May 10th at the WPL. This is our eighteenth book pick. Alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles, we have chosen The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. With the Democratic primaries heating-up in the neck-to-neck race between Hillary and Obama, this is going to be a stunning meeting. We have a political skit planned by a former Second City actor and his team. Conservative candidate John Weston (Sea to Sky Corridor + Sunshine Coast) will discuss the book and field questions. John is himself an author, and he is passionate about Obama's non-partisan politics. Listening to John's voice message I learned he is muliti-lingual, and speaks English, French and Mandarin fluently. Don't forget - Sunday is Mothers Day. Bring yours and we'll have a long-stemmed rose waiting for her.
Friday, February 08, 2008
The Whistler Reads initiative is fashioned on the Citywide Reads programs in many cities across the country. Want to be a part of this exciting community venture, meet authors, discover new books, join the biggest book group in BC?
Read more and sign yourself and your group up today!
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Our next Whistler Reads book selection is going to appeal to all the male (and female) members who joined last month who tend to nonfiction. Challenge yourself to some world-class fiction. To our regular members, you are in for a treat. The spare, haunting prose of Per Petterson, Norway's most prominent fiction writer, has been receiving critical acclaim worldwide for his third novel, Out Stealing Horses: A Novel. Published by Graywolf Press, this story will captivate you from the first page forward. The style is nothing like typical North American prose. Here is a book I would encourage you to read out loud to family or friends in segments each night,for the pure pleasure of capturing this beautiful translated work. Join us at the Whistler Public Library on Thursday, March 6th 7-9 pm. Discussion Questions Below
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Follow the example of Whistler Reads - a village book group that is now on its sixteenth book selection, The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan. This discussion promises to be one of the most thought provoking of the year. It is a must-read for anyone involved in business, finance, economics, politics or who simply wants to understand how the world operates. Penguin writes, "This book is the distillation of a life's worth of wisdom and insight into an elegant expression of a coherent world view. The Age of Turbulence will stand as Alan Greenspan's personal and intellectual legacy." Hosted by BC Entrepreneur of the Year Lukas Lundin, and with special guest speaker Glen Donaldson PhD from the Sauder School of Business. With economists forecasting a recession, the changes to the Cnd-US currency exchange rates, and the banks reeling from the sub-prime mortgage crisis - it behooves you to attend this talk. Don't miss the chance to meet Mr. Greenspan at a sold out event in Vancouver later in January. Sponsorship generously provided by Lundin Mining. Plus, Lukas Lundin has donated two tickets to see Greenspan that will be up for raffle at the January 4th discussion.
Join WR and get your ticket for Jan 4th online today! $20 advance/ $25 at the door
Your receipt is your ticket.
Friday, November 02, 2007
What makes us women? Whistler Reads fifteenth reading selection November 1st at the Durlacher Hof was a resounding success as members new and old (with tourist visitors attending from Mexico and Switzerland) had a one-hour conversation with the author, Dr. Louann M. Brizendine, via speaker phone. Available as podcast shortly As a neurobiology undergrad at Berkeley in the '70s, Louann asked the question, "Why is there no research study results of female animal behavior and brain physiology?" Since that time, researchers like Louann have, along with advances in non-invasive MRI and PET scanners, learned a wealth of information encapsulated in Dr. Brizendine's book, The Female Brain. Written in an easy to read, "Ahhah!" format that weaves what Publisher's Weekly calls "a trove of information and stunning facts" and that Huffington exclaims is "bloody brilliant ... answers questions that have plagued me for years, as well as ones I hadn't even formulated yet."
Sunday, September 09, 2007
The Whistler Writers and Readers Festival takes place September 14-16th. This year event organizer Stella Harvey and her Vicious Circle team invited Whistler Reads to take part. Sign up for a class. Don't miss our readers and writers mixer, Saturday Sept 15th 8-10 pm at Millennium Place. This evening is arranged and moderated by Whistler Reads founder, Paula Shackleton. It's Book Club Night when you get to chat with author Jen Sookfong Lee about her wonderful novel that is set in Vancouver's Chinatown, The End of East
(Knopf, Canada). Thanks to our sponsors who are providing door prizes. WR now boasts ~200 members. Everyone is welcome. "Whether you live, work or play in Whistler -- read what Whistler is reading." Join the WR Shanghai Tang After-
Party, 10-12 pm at Ric's Mix Lounge located nearby. Tickets and how to join WR below.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Whistler Writers and Readers Festival takes place September 14-16th. This year event organizer Stella Harvey and her Vicious Circle team invited Whistler Reads to take part. Sign up for a class. Don't miss our readers and writers mixer, Saturday, Sept 15th, 8-10 pm at Millennium Place.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
&deThe Whistler Reads group is set to discuss this year's Mann-Booker prize winner, Inheritance Of Loss
by Kiran Desai on Thursday July 5th at 7pm at the Tandoori Grill restaurant in Whistler. With the group membership approaching 200, Founder Paula Shackleton is thrilled to see the support of the Sea to Sky corridor that includes the communities of West Vancouver, Squamish and Pemberton. "It is very exciting to see members from each of these communities participating in Whistler Reads. We welcome everyone - individuals, member of other groups, locals and visitors. Our mantra is, 'whether you live, work or play here'. Exciting opportunities are on the way!" Here is a list of research and discussion points the group will cover. Why not join WR today?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Interested in meeting people and exploring new ideas? Then throw down the gauntlet and take The Whistler Reads Challenge!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Path Gallery, owned by Brit Germann was the perfect location for this month's Whistler Reads (the village book group) discussion of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. This critically and popularly acclaimed novel is set in both Ontario and the trenches of WWI France where Canadians distinguished themselves in the courageous battle of Vimy Ridge. Three Day Road
powerfully evokes this history from a Canadian Native perspective in the same way that Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five
has etched in our minds the bombing of Dresden WWII. Horrifying and beautiful, it will resonate with the group for a very long time. Take a look at the discussion of this novel, which is certainly destined to become a Canadian classic.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Whistler Reads village book group met March 7th at 7pm at Millennium Place to discuss Margaret MacMillan's award winning, Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World (Random House) Three community members (City Councillors and the former Mayor of Whistler) brought history to life with a fun MadLib of the world leaders from the conference; (see pictures) the audience watched them argue and debate the terms of the peace and participated with their own comments and questions. Margaret MacMillan "addressed" the WR group via an earlier podcast interview with WR Director, Paula Shackleton. Fabulous Alsace regional wine was provided by Dundarave Wine Cellar with tasting notes and given out as door prizes. Thanks to Telus, for their support of WR literacy arts in our community.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The life of doctors and the medical profession has been a source of fascination to the general public for years as witnessed by the success of television series from "ER" and "House," going back to "Marcus Welby" and "Ben Casey." Doctors and nurses do consult on the sets to ensure authenticity, and sometimes they cross-over careers to become professional writers. Vincent Lam's first novel, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (Anchor Canada 2006) won Canada's most prestigious literary award -- the Giller Prize for this first work. It gives the raw and honest perspective of medical students and young physicians struggling with the demands of the profession in the Canadian healthcare system. Click on the title for the full article. This is Whistler Reads "January" book discussion: Spruce Grove Field House 7pm Jan 24th. WR partners with the Whistler Public Library
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Our Whistler Reads Cornucopia party last year was such a success, they have asked us to do it again! Join us in Whistler, November 10th for a "Suffragette Luncheon" with Seattle author, Kit Bakke whose first novel, Ms. Alcott's E-mail (David R Godine Books, Sept 2006) is getting rave reviews. Wine provided by Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and a delicious lunch and demonstration by Vancouver's hottest new restaurant, NU. Purchase Tickets Here. Learn more...
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
You live in Whistler or own recreation property. You've just learned of our village wide book group and want to participate. You found a book mark or viewed a poster talking about WHISTLER READS during your vacation and want to stay in touch with the community and people. You're a BookBuffet member and have never been to Whistler but are intrigued by our group and the books we choose.
All good reasons to Join WHISTLER READS!! Here's how.
Monday, May 29, 2006
The Golden Spruce was three hundred years old—an arboreal miracle. In 1997 it was tragically cut down by an eco-terrorist, whose identity it emerged, was a handsome, increasingly disturbed professional forester by the name of Grant Hadwin. The tree was revered by Haida Indians, and had become a destination the world over for people fascinated by its uniqueness, its golden beauty. This is the story of a man, a tree, and the forest industry that was the economic backbone of the Pacific Northwest -- a must read for anyone living in BC.
Come meet John Vaillant. June 7th at 7pm hosted in a beautiful Whistler view home. Advance Ticket Purchase Required. Buy this book online or at Armchair Books in Whistler Village where Whistler Reads members receive 10% off. Join WR today [click on "Register" select "New member of existing group" type Whistler Reads in the Group name box] and be a part of Whistler's reading community - whether near or far!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
March 4th through 11th was Women’s Week in Whistler. The whole resort turns it on for ladies with a series of ski, snowboard and sport camps, spa packages and shopping sprees, charity dinners to benefit women’s issues such as breast and ovarian cancer, and fun nights out on the town with hip-hop and pole dancing sessions. Millennium Place hosted a panel discussion with five diverse professional women from the village, and BookBuffet’s President Paula Shackleton was one of the speakers addressing the issue of “Finding Balance,” that elusive but necessary goal of modern life facing all women juggling careers, businesses, family with fitness and health. Here’s what they said.
Friday, November 11, 2005
If last night's event is any indication, book groups everywhere can look forward to fun-filled times when they join the wineandbook group sponsored by WomenWine.com and Bookbuffet.com. Pauline Holdstock, shortlisted Giller Prize nominated author of Beyond Measure (Cormorant. Canada) A Rare and Curious Gift (Norton, USA) was special guest at an Italian Renaissance themed event in Whistler. BC.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
BookBuffet Founder Paula Shackleton announces a new partnership with Women & Wine, a website dedicated toward educating women about wine and offering fabulous trips to wine country. You already drink wine while discussing books -- why not present wines with books as chosen by experts? Wait -- there's a great launch party!
Monday, December 20, 2004
Exactly what happens at a writers festival? BookBuffet attended the opening dinner of the Third Annual Whistler Writers Festival this past November kicking off informal relations between participants, invited speakers and guests. Held at Spruce Grove Field House, which has a view of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, it was a fascinating experience from multiple perspectives: the people, the process, and the product. Kudos to Stella Harvey who spearheaded the event, which promises to grow like a snowball rolling down adjacent ski-hills.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Whistler, British Columbia is a full-season destination resort offering unparalleled skiing and snowboarding in the winter—and opportunities for aprés reading. BookBuffet's Paula Shackleton spent her holiday doing both.
