Room author Emma Donoghue’s new novel dives deep into love and loss, and what it means to be a family – Mitchell Advocate

Vancouver Writers Festival

An Evening with Emma Donoghue

When: Oct. 22, 8 p.m.

Where: Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St.

Tickets and info:writersfest.bc.ca

The award-winning author/screenwriter/playwright Emma Donoghue is a mindful traveller, but not in the meditative, pay attention to the moment, without judgment kind of way.

No, Donoghues mindfulness has a distinct purpose. Its there to register and record everyday experiences as potential fodder for future stories.

Take, for example, Donoghues latest novel Akin. The book is set mostly in Nice, France, and it tells the story of an almost 80-year-old professor who has, through sad circumstances, been entrusted with the care of his 11-year-old great-nephew. The street-smart kid lands on the mans doorstep on the eve of his trip to Nice to revisit his childhood home and to get to the bottom of a family mystery dating to the Second World War.

The author of the huge literary hit Room (shortlisted for the 2010 Booker Prize) and screenwriter of the movie of the same name (Donoghue was nominated for an adapted-screenplay Academy Award) spent considerable time in Nice over the last decade before writing this book.

Im always taking notes. It can give an extra thrill even to a weekend trip, said Donoghue, from her home in London, Ont. It was really that in Nice. When I was mugged by a seagull, for instance, I remember thinking Ill use this. Im losing my lunch, but I will put this in the book.

And she did.

Donoghue adds that this location in particular wasnt just a place to collect stories, but it also became the backdrop for all the stories, making it the first location to actually inspire a whole Donoghue novel.

Its a funny mixture. It is an international touristy city, but it is also very French as well, said Donoghue about the south-of-France locale. Its very modern. Its all about pleasure and hedonism and so on, but also it has so many traces of World War II in particular. So it really intrigued me and I thought I could write a novel about quite dark things but set in this very sunny, touristy setting, which makes it a much more interesting mixture. It was the first time Ive ever written a book because of living somewhere.

A native of Dublin who has called Canada home since the late-1990s, Donoghue will be talking about the Nice novel and other topics when she is here Oct. 22 for An Evening with Emma Donoghue, one of the marquee events at this years Vancouver Writers Festival (Oct. 21-27).

One of those other topics will undoubtedly be Room.

In Room, the story is told from the perspective of a young boy who is being held captive in a small room with his mother. Its the pairs relationship that anchors the story. Akin while it has no criminal and disturbing plot lines and is expansive in terms of geography and time does see Donoghue delivering another adult/kid relationship that at times can also seem confining.

Yes, I do like it when people are in some sense trapped together. Its like Sartres line that hell is other people. I enjoy that, said Donoghue.

Donoghues life is busy. She has many projects on the go, including a novel and a film version of her novel The Wonder. And adapting Charlotte Bronts last novel Villette into a TV series. She is also raising 15- and 11-year-old kids, so she says its not uncommon to see her typing away on her laptop while she sits in the dentists waiting room or in a parked car.

Adding to that packed schedule is the promotion of a book.

Its a bit of an effort to go on the road, but on the other hand you have fun times especially if you can run into friends or relatives as you go along, said Donoghue. You certainly eat better. I frequently think, Oh, I wouldnt be having charred octopus if I was home with the kids.

Promoting a book in Canada Donoghue says tends be a different, more-engaging experience than touring south of the border. Here theres a sense of community that Donoghue, a natural and interesting talker, likes a lot.

In the States it is just two weeks of events my publisher has set up for me. Its not particularly linking up with other authors, said Donoghue. In Canada, it is the festival circuit and it is so much more sociable. Also, the Canadian literary scene I find really democratic and not really a star system. Everyone pals along in the green room.

While Akin is her latest work, Donoghue knows that no matter its success, or the success of other future projects, Room will always be a part of the conversation.

I never expect to have another Room. I think I was very lucky on hitting on an idea that was so capturing and I certainly dont expect that to happen every time. It was such a fluke. It sold so many millions of copies, said Donoghue. I just feel like I want to keep writing the books that obsess me and get them published. Luckily, because of Room, they tend to reach more readers than they used to, so thats a permanent plus, really.

Adding to the life of Room is an upcoming theatrical adaptation. The play, penned by Donoghue, is set to premiere next spring in London, Ont., before moving to Toronto. Donoghue, who already has a large handful of plays under her belt, said it was nice to return to this form for Room, and that adapting it to the stage was easier than writing the movie.

What do I do? So I got about a dozen books on film writing from Chriss (her partner Prof. Chris Roulston) university library and I remember feeling like a total loser. When youre checking them out youre kind of embarrassed that the librarians see you. Then you know you get to the Oscars, said Donoghue, with a chuckle.

While Donoghue was having a bit of a laugh with the Oscar comment, she actually is very serious about that accomplishment and thinks her path is one other female writers should consider tracing.

Whenever I meet young women I try to push them to be more ambitious, because we have been indoctrinated not to be. All of us have been raised to be helpful and, you know, move to the back, really. Filmwriting in particular, you know, 87 per cent of films are still written by men, so I think when a woman has a novel that is a big hit, I really think she is duly bound to try and write the film herself, said Donoghue. Its not impossible.

Often when beloved books are adapted into movies people worry if the film will be as good. Fans of a novel suggest you should read the book before seeing the movie and when asked about that Donoghue agrees.

I quite agree if you are going to experience both do read the book first because it is really hard for us to picture anything differently once weve seen the movie. You cant get those faces out of your head, so just for that technical reason, said Donoghue. And you shouldnt read the book right before the film because then you come out and (you send a) crotchety email to the author going, Why did they cut that character? You need to enjoy each on their own merits. I think the absolutely ideal experience would be to read the book and then two years later you know luckily it does take a few years to make a movie go see the movie then.

Donoghue is currently in discussions about adapting Akin for film.

As a star novelist, Donoghues work is always open for scrutiny. One particular reviewer, though, really stands out. A few years ago Stephen King, yes that Stephen King, reviewed Donoghues The Wonder in the New York Times.

Yeah, Stephen King, oh that was great because I felt it gave people a totally false sense that I write his kind of books, said Donoghue again with another laugh. Im sure The Wonder got a lot more readers, because people said, Oh, this is a Stephen King recommendation. He is a really good reviewer. It was so exciting.

Donoghue may have more of an understanding of literary criticism than most as her father, Denis Donoghue, is a renowned literary critic.

He is still writing away at 90, said Donoghue about her dad. Hes working on a book about Henry James. He makes me feel that I am not very prolific by comparison, that I should really get out of bed earlier.

What about giving him her work to read?

Ahhh, yes, its a bit nerve-wracking, but of course he doesnt treat me like a critic, added Donoghue. He treats me like a loving dad.

dgee@postmedia.com

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Room author Emma Donoghue's new novel dives deep into love and loss, and what it means to be a family - Mitchell Advocate