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| ONE IN EVERY CROWD | IVAN E. COYOTE | ARSENAL PULP PRESS | 2012 |
Comprised of new stories and others culled from previous collections, One in Every Crowd is for anyone who has ever felt different or alone in their struggle to be true to themselves. Included are stories about Ivan''s own tomboy past in Canada''s north, where playing hockey and wearing pants were the norm; and about her adult life in the big city, where she encounters both cruelty and kindness in unexpected places. Then there are the tales of family and friends who live their lives by example, like Francis, the curly-haired little boy who likes to wear dresses, and the brave kids she meets at queer youth camp.
The introduction in this short story collection should be photocopied and distributed to every adolescent on the planet. It is so much more inspiring than any bullying prevention programs I've witnessed to date.
Ivan is one of my favourite storytellers. As great as Ivan's stories are written down, they are even better when performed live. I was lucky enough to listen to Ivan talk during my undergraduate degree. I attended a department launch when the Women's Studies department changed its name to Women & Gender Studies. Ivan was the writer-in-residence of the University at the time and told a few stories at the launch as the keynote speaker.
Gender studies is the focus of One In Every Crowd, similar to all of Coyote's previous work. The stories recall what it was like for Ivan to be a gay child, focusing on the struggles and triumphs that go along with not quite fitting in.
This particular book is a curated collection of Ivan's previously published stories (with a few new ones thrown in). If you're unfamiliar with Ivan's work, it would be a great collection to start with. Some of my favourite stories can be found within the pages ("Walks Like," "Saturdays and Cowboy Hats," "Imagine a Pair of Boots"). Unfortunately for me, I had already read most of the stories, which is why I didn't give the book a higher rating.
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As I said before, Ivan needs to be heard, not only read. Instead of a written excerpt, here's a video of Ivan Coyote from the Vancouver Poetry Slam (slightly NSFW).
The introduction in this short story collection should be photocopied and distributed to every adolescent on the planet. It is so much more inspiring than any bullying prevention programs I've witnessed to date.
Ivan is one of my favourite storytellers. As great as Ivan's stories are written down, they are even better when performed live. I was lucky enough to listen to Ivan talk during my undergraduate degree. I attended a department launch when the Women's Studies department changed its name to Women & Gender Studies. Ivan was the writer-in-residence of the University at the time and told a few stories at the launch as the keynote speaker.
Gender studies is the focus of One In Every Crowd, similar to all of Coyote's previous work. The stories recall what it was like for Ivan to be a gay child, focusing on the struggles and triumphs that go along with not quite fitting in.
This particular book is a curated collection of Ivan's previously published stories (with a few new ones thrown in). If you're unfamiliar with Ivan's work, it would be a great collection to start with. Some of my favourite stories can be found within the pages ("Walks Like," "Saturdays and Cowboy Hats," "Imagine a Pair of Boots"). Unfortunately for me, I had already read most of the stories, which is why I didn't give the book a higher rating.
As I said before, Ivan needs to be heard, not only read. Instead of a written excerpt, here's a video of Ivan Coyote from the Vancouver Poetry Slam (slightly NSFW).
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