After a period of weeks when I picked up the newspaper to read in the loo, I was happy to be greeted by face of the brightest (imho) star of the Toronto's literary firmament, Michael Ondaatje, and the good news of a new novel by him, "Divisadero", being published here in Canada next week. Since the book won't be available in the US bookstores until next month, and in other countries months after that, I am secretly thrilled to be in Ondaatje's home city where I can lay my hands on his tasty writing way before anyone else I know. Meanwhile here is the interview, and an excerpt from the novel that I read with pleasure. And this is a juicy morsel for folks in hurry:

"I love the performance of a craft, whether it is modest or mean-spirited, yet I walk away when discussions of it begin — as if one should ask a gravedigger what brand of shovel he uses or whether he prefers to work at noon or in moonlight. I am interested only in the care taken, and those secret rehearsals behind it. Even if I do not understand fully what is taking place."