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.

• Here be Dragons

  By Phoebe Wang | January 1, 2014

  Phoebe Wang takes a look at the past year in literary criticism, wondering about the health and diversity of the practice of reviewing books in Canada.

• HEAR! HEAR!

  By The Town Crier | December 29, 2013

  The Town Crier just celebrated its biggest year yet, and we spend some time recognizing our contributors and revisiting some of our favourite posts.

• Hiding in Plain Sight

  By André Babyn | December 27, 2013

  Does "The Hunger Games" teach its audience to recognize the hypocrisy of loathsome ad endorsements, such as its own deals with Subway and Covergirl?

• “Poetry of Experience”

  By John C. Goodman | December 26, 2013

  John C. Goodman reviews Liz Worth's Amphetamine Heart, a book of poetry that voices "haunting, decaying beauty" that will punch you in the gut.

• Jesse Eckerlin and His Weird North

  By Jason Freure | December 23, 2013

  Jason Freure reviews the life of the north as depicted by Jesse Eckerlin in his debut book of poetry, We Are Not the Bereaved (Frog Hollow Press).

• Author Notes: Bola Opaleke

  By Bola Opaleke | December 21, 2013

  Puritan XXIII contributor Bola Opaleke talks about colonial exploitation and children kicking butts in this note regarding his poem “A Dirge For Yesterday.”

• "It's A Mystery"

  By Jason Freure | December 20, 2013

  Jason Freure reviews L.E. Sterling's "Pluto's Gate" and wonders what a fantasy/science fiction novel set in Canada might look like if properly executed.

• “I Went Underground Myself”

  By Tracy Kyncl | December 18, 2013

  Tracy Kyncl talks with Patricia Westerhof about her new novel "The Dove in Bathurst Station," sewer tunnels, T.S. Eliot, and how she finds time to write.

• Author Notes: Gary Singh

  By Gary Singh | December 16, 2013

  Poet and journalist Gary Singh explains how Tu Fu's poem "Ready to Go" was an inspiration for his poem "Departure" in Issue XXIII.

• Why Catching Fire Caught

  By André Babyn | December 14, 2013

  André Babyn responds to the claim that Catching Fire proves that women can headline major action movie franchises by suggesting they have nothing to prove.

• On Titivillus, Patron Demon of Scribes

  By Chris Hutchinson | December 13, 2013

  Chris Hutchinson explains that dyslexic poets may owe thanks to Titivillus, a demon invented by monks to blame for their mistakes copying manuscripts.

• Author Notes: Alison Hicks

  By Alison Hicks | December 10, 2013

  Poet Alison Hicks, published in Issue XXIII, describes two unexplained encounters that helped her deal with her parent's deaths.