The Town Crier

The Town Crier operated as a hub for criticism and commentary, connecting a community of writers, readers, and commentators through social media, and focusing on the interplay of literary opinion in and around the city of Toronto until its closure in February 2021.

• How to Fall in Love in New Brunswick

  By Damien Caissie | January 8, 2016

  Damien Caissie tells his story from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Montreal, citing Mordecai Richler, Leonard Cohen, Faulkner, and Murakami.

• Small Town Asshole I

  By Julie Mannell | January 6, 2016

  Julie Mannell returns to her small town, reads Lynn Crosbie to a not-boyfriend, identifies with Shakespeare's Hamlet, and resents the Virgin Mary.

• A Year of Strong Opinions

  By E Martin Nolan | January 4, 2016

  E Martin Nolan recaps a heated year of PC Culture, the fall of Harper, Black Lives Matter, and Trump's candidacy in an era of individual morality.

• Knausgaard, Noodles, and Kurt Cobain

  By Fawn Parker | December 28, 2015

  Fawn Parker lists her top five reads of the year: Lynn Crosbie, Miranda July, Karl ove Knausgaard, Ben Ladouceur and David McGimpsey

• Author Notes: Michelle Good's "Defying Gravity"

  By Michelle Good | December 23, 2015

  Michelle Good discusses the writing of her poem, "Defying Gravity," reflecting on the loss of her son, living in Kamloops, and the words of Joni Mitchell.

• Fictional Girlfriends Are Better Off Dead

  By Dana Ewachow | December 21, 2015

  Dana Ewachow explores women left as casualties while male protagonists thrive in Supernatural, Gotham, and Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby.

• My Year In Books

  By Domenica Martinello | December 16, 2015

  Domenica Martinello nears the end of her Goodreads Reading Challenge list, which includes Margaret Atwood, J.D. Salinger, Roxane Gay, and Anne Carson.

• Sequential Gestures: Reading Cameron Anstee

  By Bardia Sinaee | December 14, 2015

  Bardia Sinaee reviews Cameron Anstee's collections, noting influences of Phil Hall and Monty Reid, and citing Urdu poet, Ghalib.

• Author Notes: Jacob Geiger

  By Jacob Geiger | December 11, 2015

  Jacob Geiger talks Urban Dictionary, writing his story "Peepshow," and relating Donald Barthelme to Chaucer.

• Author Notes: Tanis MacDonald

  By Tanis MacDonald | December 9, 2015

  Tanis Macdonald on her poem Animal Passion, borrowing a line from Rebecca Solnit, and El Jones' observations on white nature writing.

• A Review of Melissa Bull’s Rue

  By Jason Freure | December 7, 2015

  Jason Freure reviews Rue by Melissa Bull, comparing it to Georges Perec in response to a review by Laura Ritland and Ruth Daniell.

• “The Parts of People that Hurt”

  By E Martin Nolan | December 4, 2015

  E Martin Nolan talks with Jess Taylor about writing sickness in her collection, Pauls, touring, and her new interest in Q&A.