HSFALAP review round-up

Dear Toronto: I hope to see you at Word on the Street tomorrow. I'll be reading at 5:30pm in the Great Books Marquee, right after Lauren Kirshner, who you should try to catch as well!

"With Holding Still, Whittall has established herself as a writer of immense vitality and courage; she stands as the voice of a lost, but thanks to her not forgotten generation: the boys and girls who will inherit the Earth." The National Post

Full review here.

Interview and review in Xtra! here.

Review and interview...and Corpusse reference?.. here.

Great review in the Toronto Star...then off to read at Eden Mills

"At one point, Josh reflects, "There's something about watching someone die right in front of you that makes your petty relationship problems seem of little importance."

No one could argue with that. Yet for most of us, most of the time, life is our own petty concerns – which is why the relationship dynamics Whittall chronicles will resonate with anyone, straight or gay, who's ever fallen in or out of love.

In the final section of the novel a major crisis occurs, and this catalyst furnishes a resolution to the story. It seems like a convenient plot device, in a way. But the crisis also bears out one of the novel's major motifs, as illustrated by Josh's experiences as a paramedic: Life can change drastically (or end) in a flash, and there's no telling how or when that can happen.

In Holding Still for as Long as Possible, the awareness of mortality intersects with the romantic restlessness of youth. It makes for a story whose vital signs are fully present and robust." Barbara Carey, The Toronto Star

Holding Still For As Long As Possible - out and getting some reviews!

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The latest review from Calgary's FFWD Magazine:

This is the second novel from the award-winning Canadian writer Zoe Whittall, who presents us with a story that really speaks to the generation while offering some sage advice about living... there are moments of genuine, understated authenticity, especially in Whittall’s depiction of complex human dynamics. She manages to beautifully encapsulate that sickening feeling when you realize your ex might be over you and to convey how it feels to fall in love with startling brevity.

And in a world where everything is connected — including your sexual partners — the anticipation of how these characters will be affected by the accident (and affect one another) is a real page-turner. Although the turning point comes late in the novel and falls short of the catastrophic conclusion we eagerly envision, the journey is enjoyable and the prescription for living is clear — and right on the money."

"Whittall has written an ambitious saga that keeps readers turning pages" - FAB magazine

"Holding Still for as Long as Possible is a clear improvement over Whittall’s affected debut, Bottle Rocket Hearts. A pervasive sense of authenticity runs throughout the novel, whether the focus is on the practices of EMS paramedics or on the mental anguish fostered by repeated attempts to drown out reality in a sea of booze and casual sex." Steven W. Beattie, prepared for The Walrus