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Art Beat: Hiromi Goto reads from her Shadowlife graphic novel Oct. 22

Graphic novels may be new to some demographics of the Sunshine Coast, but the power of their plots has universal appeal.
Michael Gurney
Michael Gurney
A.Art Beat - Hiromi Goto
Author Hiromi Goto offers a public reading of her work on Oct. 22.Sunshine Coast Arts Council photo

Graphic novels may be new to some demographics of the Sunshine Coast, but the power of their plots has universal appeal. Hiromi Goto’s new novel Shadowlife (with illustrations by Ann Xu) is Goto’s first graphic novel and is “an empowering, emotional tribute to defiant, independent, kick-ass old women living their best lives,” according to Booklist magazine.  

Shadowlife’s protagonist rejects her children’s definition of old age. Goto is unflinchingly real about the complexity of living, being human, and dying — with dignity, wry humour, and compassion.  

The novel has already won the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Literature Award for Adult Fiction, has been nominated for the 2022 GLAAD Media Awards and the LA Times Book Prize. 

Hiromi Goto is an emigrant from Japan who has been a trailblazing author in Canada for more than 20 years. Some of her award-winning titles include Chorus of Mushrooms, The Kappa Child, and Half World. 

Goto will be reading and showing illustrations from Shadowlife at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. as part of the Sunshine Coast Literary Readings Series.  

For more information, visit sunshinecoastartscouncil.com. 

Raising music to new heights 

On Sunday, Oct. 16, the Garibaldi Trio of Jose Franch-Ballester, Marina Thibeault and David Fung perform as part of the Coast Recital Society’s 2022–2023 concert season. The event takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt. 

Spanish clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester has been hailed for his “technical wizardry and tireless enthusiasm” (The New York Times), his “rich, resonant tone” (Birmingham News), and his “subtle and consummate artistry” (Santa Barbara Independent). 

Violist Marina Thibeault received a 2020 JUNO nomination for her album ELLES, which honours groundbreaking women composers from Clara Schumann to the present day. 

Praised by The Washington Post for his “ravishing and simply gorgeous” performances, pianist David Fung is widely recognized for interpretations that are elegant and refined, yet intensely poetic and uncommonly expressive. 

Further details about the trio and ticket information can be found by browsing to coastrecitalsociety.ca.