New original writing from the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award winners
A special series brought to you in partnership with the Canada Council
CBC Books asked the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award winners to answer the question: "When chaos seems to envelop our lives, how do we regain our footing? In our pursuit of greater control, what meaning or understanding do we unintentionally uncover?"
Six winners responded — one with poetry, others with short stories and some delivered essays. This is Chaos & Control, a special series presented in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts. Read on for links to each of the winners' pieces.
On Dec. 7, 2017 at 9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT), listen to a special episode on this series from CBC Radio's Ideas, featuring Cherie Dimaline, Oana Avasilichioaei, Hiro Kanagawa and Richard Harrison. If you miss the broadcast, you can stream the episode online here.
If you do come to stay by Joel Thomas Hynes
In If you do come to stay, Joel Thomas Hynes leaves a poetic note for a friend coming to stay at his home in Trinity South, N.L.
Hynes won the Governor General's Literary Award for fiction for his novel We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night.
After 'While by Cherie Dimaline
After 'While, a short story by Cherie Dimaline, features a young, imaginative girl named Lucky who craves her mother's attention.
Dimaline won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text for her novel The Marrow Thieves.
It is to that bedside I go by Richard Harrison
It is to that bedside I go is a personal essay by Richard Harrison about being by his mother's side as she died.
Harrison won the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry for On Not Losing My Father's Ashes in the Flood.
Okay by David A. Robertson
In David A, Robertson's short story Okay, a woman anxious about what the future holds receives comfort and advice from her moshom.
Robertson won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustrated books for When We Were Alone, illustrated by Julie Flett.
Chaotics by Oana Avasilichioaei
Chaotics, a poetic essay by Oana Avasilichioaei, examines how small acts of language can create a ripple effect far beyond our imagining or intention.
Avasilichioaei won the Governor General's Literary Award for translation for the book Readopolis, originally written in French by Bertrand Laverdure.
The Tower by Hiro Kanagawa
In the essay The Tower, Hiro Kanagawa writes about a time he feared for his son's health.
Kanagawa won the Governor General's Literary Award for drama for Indian Arm.