5 Reasons to see Yann Martel Mar. 15
In case you need another reason to see Yann Martel, live at Wordfest, on March 15, 2016, here are some suggestions.
Find Out if Obama is Right
The new, 15th-anniversary edition of the author’s blockbuster novel Life of Pi features a blurb from the U.S. President claiming the book offers “an elegant proof of God.” No doubt someone will ask what Martel thinks of such heavenly praise. Expect cool diplomacy and clever cheek in equal parts.
Learn How to Handle Criticism (a.k.a Just Keep Writing)
Not even the wildly successful author of a book beloved around the world and turned into an Oscar-winning movie is immune to receiving nasty reviews on a subsequent project. Martel’s third novel, Beatrice and Virgil, an allegorical story about representations of the holocaust, was loved by some but harshly panned by many; certainly, Hollywood hasn’t come a-knockin’. Thankfully, rather than hide in his room and learn a new trade, Martel kept writing. He’s delightfully sanguine about lousy reviews.
Find Out Why Writing a (Man Booker Prize-winning) Book Is a Slow Process
Norah Roberts has written more than 200 novels. Martel has written four (in addition to short stories and books of letters). While watching the author’s reaction to the brave soul who asks what takes him so long will be entertainment in itself, his answer will no doubt be priceless. Widely considered one of the most insightful and imaginative of contemporary writers, Martel has compared his methodical writing process to that of attempting to “build a cathedral” brick by brick. (If you’ve already gleefully plowed through his latest, your wait for the next may be epic.)
Come to Terms with Why a Writer with a Hollywood Paycheque Lives in Saskatoon
The Spain-born author has lived all over the world and, a few years back, put down roots in Saskatoon with his wife, the writer Alice Kuipers, and their four kids. He likes it there. If we’re really nice, perhaps he’ll move to Calgary one day. A fan can dream.
Be the First to Hear Him Talk About His New Novel
This, of course, is the No. 1 reason to see the author live at Wordfest. Martel’s new book, The High Mountains of Portugal, is a story of love, loss, faith, grief, chimpanzees, motor cars and murder; it intertwines the lives of three people whose stories ultimately mesh together in a village in northern Portugal. Margaret Atwood describes the book as “ …fresh, original, smart, devious and crammed with absorbing love.” Expect the man himself to be all of the above.
