Rogers Writers’ Trust 2014 shortlist: André Alexis
André Alexis on his influences, and an excerpt from his shortlisted book, ’Pastoral’
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Brian Bethune
Brian Bethune writes about ideas, books and the book trade, and religion, but what really interests him is why people believe what they believe.
Why religion is not to blame
Book review: Karen Armstrong’s ’Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence’
Why uniforms matter in the military
They’re always freighted with symbolism. But in the wake of the death of two soldiers, they suddenly mean so much more
Maclean’s bestsellers
From the Nov. 3 issue, as compiled by Books editor Brian Bethune
’Extraordinary’ synod ends with a nod to respect and sensitivity
The Church seemed poised to welcome home Catholic gays. Brian Bethune explains what happened.
Padma Viswanathan: Shadowed by a bombing
The Giller prize-nominated author writes on the protagonist of her latest novel who seemed to demand she delve into the 1985 Air India bombing
Heather O’Neill: Addicted to the drug of books
The Giller prize-nominated author describes growing up an unrestrained bookworm in a lower-class, motherless home
The real life of Egypt’s most important female pharaoh
Book review: Kara Cooney’s ’The Woman Who Would Be King’
Style and substance: Naomi Klein wins the Hilary Weston Prize
The social activist and author wins Canada’s top award for nonfiction for her book ’This Changes Everything’
Atul Gawande on doctors and writing
The author of the bestselling ’Being Mortal’ expounds on the messy intersection between science and humanity