There is much in the way of news and gossip this week.

The announcement of the Giller Prize noms was greeted with general bafflement. Two books of short stories, two translations from older titles, a total shut-out of 'major' authors and publishers - everyone is (mildly) agog.

Pascale Quiviger's Perfect Circle won the Gov. General (french fic) in 2004, making it a solid pick.

Vincent Lam's Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (the only major publisher's title, the rest are small press Cormorant and House of Anansi) has been the most asked for (at the bookstore) though two of my coworkers say it's a bit crap.

The other noms - Carol Windley for Home Schooling, Rawi Hage for De Niro's Game, and GaĂŠtan Soucy for The Immaculate Conception (published in Quebec in '94, translated only this year).

Hopefully the reading at the IFOA will shed some light on the choices.

Incidentally, the prize is $40,000 for the winner, and $2,500 for the finalists. The winner is to be announced on November 7.

The Canadian Festival of Spoken Word runs this week from the 11-14.

Last week, PEN Canada announced Kim Bolan as the winner of their Paul Kidd Courage Prize. Well done there.

And on to the readings:

Tuesday, Mark Kingwell and Seth launch their new book Classic Cocktails: A Modern Shake at the Gladstone as part of TINARS. Order a Rusty Nail for me. 7:30-10p. Free.

Wednesday, TINARS brings Alison Bechdel (Fun Home: A family Tragicomic) and Ivan E. Coyote (Bow Grip) talking with Zoe Whittall. Elvira Kurt will be there to spice things up. 7:30-10p.

Saturday, Diane Setterfield will be at Indigo (Manulife Centre) promoting her bew book The Thirteenth Tale. 2p.