A new children's book by David Weale and Chloë Cork


by Heather Denning

Doors in the Air - David Weale/Chloë Cork When I opened the new children's book Doors in the Air by well known author David Weale I was overwhelmed by the world it presented to me. From the first illustrated title, featuring a grey cat with butterfly wings tethered to the word "air," Chloë Cork's illustrations display the theme of passageways again and again. The magic in this book is not in an fantastical world that is presented, but in the fantisization of the world in which we live. This world is peopled with familiar things—attics and porches, cats and crows. There is even a dragon (though not in the house, hidden tactfully behind a door). We are not separated from the beauty of the universe inside the pages, we are included. David's childhood love of stories such as Tarzan and Western adventures is reflected in the "faraway lands" that the main character can access without ever leaving his house.

Alanis Morrisette at the Summerset Music Festival

by Heather Denning

I have wanted to see Alanis perform live since my first devastating break-up was soothed by Jagged Little Pill’s “You Oughta Know.” The soaring vocals, the angst. Oh, that angst. I craved it like a drug.

My visit to the Summerset Festival was an interesting one. On one hand this was the venue of my dreams—a natural amphitheatre, copious and adequate toilet facilities, only mildly over-priced beer and fantastic fries (shout out to the ladies who gave me a new serve after I threw mine all over the grass accidentally—you guys ARE rock and roll!). On the other hand…where was everybody? Yes I’m going to admit that I wouldn’t have paid five dollars to see the half of Good Charlotte that did show up endlessly slur into the microphone how happy he was to be drinking “Anne of Green Gables with vodka,” in between belting out mediocre hit after mediocre hit while about six teens bopped, but seriously, was it free beer day at the Confederation Centre or something? It wasn’t even raining!