READER RESPONSES TO UNDERGROUND

I don’t know if I ever got the chance to tell you how much I enjoyed Underground. Wonderful characters. They touched me in a deep-rooted place. I coudn’t put it down and then I was truly disappointed when it was finished. I hope to be reading you again soon. – Laurel Hislop, Vancouver

We loved it. We thought that it was a very sensitive account of what would be a very real issue for a soldier returning from war. — The Interpreters book club, Vancouver, BC

I”ve been meaning to write to you to tell you how thoroughly I enjoyed Underground. Al is still living for me. (Every time I went to Chinatown as a kid , I used to imagine mysterious goings on in the regions under those strange semi-translucent tiles — that episode resonated very powerfully.) Congratulations — it’s a tremendous achievement. — Paul Headrick, author, That Tune Clutches My Heart. 

Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed Underground. What a remarkable accomplishment. I know that the buzz around your novel will continue to grow, most deservedly, in the days and weeks to come. — David Chariandy, author, Soucouyant. 

I just read Underground. You should be very proud. It was emotional and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, with a lyricism that just carried me away, far beneath at times, to places I didn’t want to go. But I’m glad I went. – Anthony De Sa, author, Barnacle Love

Very impressive. All sorts of vivid, compelling scenes, and your man Al is wonderfully real — one of  those rare characters who will live on in my circle of fictional friends. — Heather Burt, author, Adam’s Peak.

I thoroughly enjoyed following Al through his journey and struggle to “be a man.” A truly unique read that I am looking forward to sharing with my husband, book club and friends.  Thanks, June!!! – Janet Zotzman, Vancouver BC

I finished reading Underground last night at 11:47 p.m. — I had difficulty putting it down! I was sorry to see it end! I had the same feeling when I have read some of James Mitchener’s historical novels! An excellent read indeed! . . . Your grandfather was my uncle, my dad’s brother . . . I have traced our Hutton family back to circa 1705 to Dysart, Scotland. — Norm Hutton, Powell River, BC

Underground does so well at creating a felt sense of other times, of individual people and families thrown about by huge political, economic and military events that are often far away and certainly far from any control. It’s very absorbing. – Cynthia Flood, author, The English Stories and Making a Stone of the Heart

I have finished June’s book and found it an excellently told tale. The Spain setting was of particular interest since I had just finished a book on the Spanish civil war loaned to me by my son-in-law, Dan, whose father is from the Basque region. Her depth of research shows. Next in line to read Underground is Wendy, my wife. Then Dan gets his turn. – Tom Myles, currently of Ottawa, formerly chief engineer of the hydro dam project at Whitehorse and member of the Whitehorse Drama Club.

I enjoyed the way the story unfolded smoothly even though there were years between the chapters; eg. from his home to Vancouver, from the strike/hiding to the Yukon. I could see the areas described (especially the Yukon!); I could see that moose on the ice, I could see the shrapnel emerging from his skin. — Laurie Rear, Nanaimo BC, formerly of Whitehorse, Yukon

I just finished Underground. Congratulations. It was very well done and an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I admire your research. My readings of war were as you described it. All in all a superb book. — Dr. Gerald Posen, Ottawa

I had a wonderful weekend . . . reading your book! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you. – Kathryn Ellis, Creative Arts Program Coordinator, Langara College Continuing Studies, Vancouver

I just wanted to say I spent a very pleasant weekend with your book. Well done! I found it moving, and many of the passages hit me in a quite visceral way. – Katrina Archer, S/V Ganache, Vancouver harbour

I’m just calling to say I read your book and enjoyed it from beginning to end. I could glide right through it. My mum enjoyed it, too, and my 23-year-old son wants to read it, now. — Susan McConnell, Personal Shopper, The Bay downtown, Vancouver

I loved it. So very three day roadish. Equally as bleak as it is hopeful. I will definitely recommend this book. – Samantha Holmes, Bolen Books, Victoria, BC

It was great to imagine BC back 70 years. I don’t think I’ll look at Pender Street and English Bay the same way. – Cristal Niza, Vancouver

I’m 50 pages in and entranced. Trying to slow down and savour the prose, but I want to keep turning the pages. — Eric Brown, Vancouver

I just got a copy of June’s book and got sucked in after the first few pages . . . a real page-turner. — Jackie Pierce, Publisher, the Whitehorse Star, Whitehorse, Yukon

I liked the way you played around with Al’s name. It sort of tied in with the search for identity theme. Good ending, not too sentimental – tough enough to go with the rest of the book. — Diana Armstrong, Toronto

It was absolutely, absolutely wonderful. I found it hard to put down, but because it was such a beautiful story, I stopped myself from reading too much at one time, so would take it to bed at night and read a chapter at a time. I cried at the end by the way. I think it would make a fabulous movie, or mini series. — Judith Smith, Vancouver

Great interview [with Dave White of CBC’s Radio One, Whitehorse] . . . I’m so proud of you! I’m only in Chapter 3 and you know what? You do write like my favourite author and favourite book, “Shipping News”! — Jerrine Weigand, Steveston, Richmond BC, formerly of Whitehorse, Yukon

I read your book in a few sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved your scenes, the tension throughout, and how you skilfully dealt with the two wars Al was involved in. Was it hard for you to get into a man’s skin? — Laura Cardoso, Vancouver [Author answer: And how!]

I just finished Underground and it was fabulous. It’s so rich, I can now understand how it took so long. — Jacinta Eni, Vancouver

2010

November 16, 2010 My hosts White Rock Library and Semiahmoo Arts Literary series invite you to join me for a discussion of war and remembrance along with readings from my novel Underground. There will be two appearances in White Rock, B.C. on this date.

I’ll be the guest author at Titles and Tea Afternoon Book Club, White Rock Library, 15342 Buena Vista, 2:00 pm.

In the evening I’m at the Semiahmoo Arts Literary Series – Readings by the Salish Sea, Pelican Rouge Coffee House, 15142 North Bluff Rd. White Rock, 604-536-8333, 7:30 pm.

November 12, 2010 — Underground is now available in ebook format!

November 5-11 Veterans’ Week. I’ll be remembering in particular our volunteers in civil war Spain — the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion, Canada’s forgotten soldiers. They won’t be named at any of the regular Remembrance Day ceremonies held across the country (click above link for locations) but we, as individuals, can remember them.

The winners of Room magazine’s 2010 Writing Contest have been announced. Click here. Judges: Fiction – June Hutton, Poetry – Jennica Harper, Non-fiction – Lynn Van Luven.

You, too, can vote until Oct. 24 for Underground or any of the other shortlisted titles by clicking on this 2010 Evergreen Award online ballot

Room Magazine‘s fall issue Past & Present features an interview by editor Janet Nicol with the SPiN writing group: Jen Sookfong Lee (The End of East), Mary Novik (Conceit) and me, June Hutton (Underground).

September 24, 2010 Underground is in the ring again as Barrie Councillor Jeff Lehman defends it against other Evergreen Award titles in the annual Barrie Reads.

September 23, 2010 Underground takes to the stage for the annual Kingston WritersFest Battle of the Books. Defending my novel against other titles nominated for the Evergreen Award will be Col. Rick Fawcett, Base Commander at CFB Kingston. Booyah!

Kingston Reads Book of the Week: Underground, including the pitch by Col. Rick Fawcett (see above).

As part of the 2010 Evergreen Award program, I’ll be reading from Underground at two branches of the Toronto Public Library:

September 16, 2010 An Evening with June Hutton Bloor Gladstone Library, 1101 Bloor Street West, 7 pm;

September 15, 2010 An Afternoon with June Hutton Maryvale Library, Parkway Mall, 85 Ellesmere Rd., 2 pm.

September 14, 2010 I’ll be appearing in the Toronto Heliconian Club‘s Literary Lecture Series to talk about Underground, 35 Hazelton Ave., 7:30 pm.

The Malaysian Insider posts an interview with me by Eric Forbes, senior book editor with MPH Publishing in Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 28, 2010.

Mary Soderstrom’s blog Recreating Eden looks at video trailers for novels, including Underground’‘s.

July 15, 2010 Extended deadline for Room magazine’s annual writing contest. 1st prize $500; 2nd prize $250. Judges: Fiction – June Hutton, Poetry – Jennica Harper, Non-fiction – Lynn Van Luven.

A lovely photo spread of book covers – just click on Underground‘s for a short but very sweet review from My Own Creations.

June 3, 2010 The 75th anniversary of the On to Ottawa trek, which began with street demonstrations in Vancouver protesting the treatment of unemployed men. Many of those protesters went on to fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, as did Al Fraser, protagonist of Underground.

“By turns lyrical and relentless in its unvarnished depiction of the impact of war, Underground offers a timely read as soldiers and civilians perish daily in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere on the planet,” writes Evelyn C. White (Alice Walker: A Life, and, Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone: A Photo Narrative of Black Heritage on Salt Spring Island) , HERIZONS magazine, spring 2010 issue.

“An engaging and thoughtful story set in the early decades of the tumultuous 20th century” — review of Underground by Historical Novels Review, Charlston, Ill., Spring 2010 issue.

An interview with blog HistoricalNovels.info on the writing of Underground, April 22, 2010

Margaret Donsbach calls Underground “impressionistic, psychologically astute.” Read more in Portland, OR’s HistoricalNovels.Info, April 15, 2010

A terrific review of Underground in SubTerrain‘s special issue #54/55 Vancouver’s Literary Landscape. Says reviewer Heidi Greco: “Hutton’s Underground is every bit as important (and well-delivered) as those by her male colleagues. With this book, she’s not only broken new ground, she written an important addition to Canada’s literary canon of peace and war.”

Underground is shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association’s 2010 Evergreen Award (click to see the full list of nominees). How the award works: Librarians nominate titles, from which a short list is drawn. Then from April to October the public will read the books and vote In October for their favorite title. Steven Galloway is last year’s winner for The Cellist of Sarajevo. Check here for further details on this year’s program. In the meantime, here is my author page.

Underground gets some nice attention from Britain’s bookaholic litblogger Dovegreyreader Scribbles. Jan. 29, 2010.

A review of Underground is featured on New Zealand’s Beattie’s Book Blog. “The subject matter will be of interest to many in this part of the world,” says Bookman Beattie. Jan. 28, 2010.

My comments about The Writing Life appear on New Zealand’s Beattie’s Book Blog. Jan. 7, 2010.

I shared some thoughts about writing style, Underground and SPiN in a chat with Toronto’s  Evadne Macedo. Jan. 6, 2010.

It’s a brand-new year and I’m ringing it in with a few comments about The Writing Life in an interview with Kuala Lumpur’s Eric Forbes. Jan. 4, 2010.