The books and authors that inspired Canada Reads author Catherine Hernandez
Scarborough is being championed by actress Malia Baker on Canada Reads 2022
Catherine Hernandez is a Canadian writer, author and playwright. Her debut novel Scarborough will be defended by actor and activist Malia Baker on Canada Reads 2022.
Scarborough is full of characters who are facing struggle but find support and grace in their community. The book is a love letter to Hernandez's own Ontario community — and readers loved it right back. It was shortlisted for the 2017 Toronto Book Award, the 2018 Trillium Book Award and the 2018 Edmund White Award for debut fiction.
Hernandez also wrote the screenplay for a film adaptation of Scarborough. Since premiering at TIFF last September, the film has earned rave reviews and 11 Canadian Screen Award nominations.
Hernandez's other books include the dystopian novel Crosshairs, and children's books I Promise and M is for Mustache. She is also the creator and star of the Audible Original sketch comedy podcast Imminent Disaster.
Ahead of the Canada Reads debates, which will take place March 28-31, Hernandez shared some of the books and authors she's loved reading.
Canada Reads will be hosted by Ali Hassan and will be broadcast on CBC Radio One, CBC TV, CBC Gem and on CBC Books.
Obasan by Joy Kogawa
"Like a lot of Asian students in Canada, a book that really rocked my world when I was a youngster was Obasan by Joy Kogawa.
"There's something about seeing a book that's written by an Asian woman and seeing the possibility that maybe being a writer is a possibility for you. It's very powerful. That, and also being able to shed light on the inequities that exist in Canada and that have existed for a really long time in the form of a book.
There's something about seeing a book that's written by an Asian woman and just seeing the possibility that maybe being a writer is a possibility for you.
"I grew up in a household where I understood that telling our stories as people from the Filipino community was important because my mother was a pioneer of Filipino folk dance education. Did I think that those stories were ever going to be held in high regard by the mainstream? No, not until I held that book in my hands."
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
"One book that inspired me and inspired the structure of Scarborough is Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa.
Without even saying what their names are, you understand the perspective is changing from chapter to chapter.
"It's a multigenerational story about a Palestinian family. Without even saying what their names are, you understand the perspective is changing from chapter to chapter. And that definitely inspired the structure of Scarborough."
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill
"Another book that really inspired me was Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill.
"I got this book in the mail because I was part of the press at that time for this online magazine. I was asked to read it and review it. But you have to imagine, at that time, I was writing a lot of bubble gum journalism. I wrote for the nuptials column at the National Post and for Salon Magazine, which is an industry magazine for the beauty industry.
One thing that I definitely learned from Heather was, 'How do you depict people with dignity, especially people who are working class poor?'
"One thing that I definitely learned from Heather was, 'How do you depict people with dignity, especially people who are working class poor?' There was a spark inside of me that said, 'you could be a writer too.'"
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
"This is the one of those books that I think of again and again because I can't stop thinking of how amazing it would be as a film.
It's got all of the elements there. It's quirky, it's imaginative and it's profound.
"Because I adapted my own book into a film, Fifteen Dogs to me is pitch perfect as a book that needs to be adapted into a film. It's got all of the elements there. It's quirky, it's imaginative and it's profound.
David Chariandy and Carrianne Leung
"Two more books that have affected me are Brother by David Chariandy and That Time I Loved You by Carrianne Leung.
"The reason why they're important to me is because they represent this burgeoning group of authors that are being recognized worldwide from Scarborough. Scarborough is this humble part of Toronto and it is the butt of many jokes about Toronto. I feel so proud to be among them. But reading their books made me realize that I'm not alone.
The reason why they're important to me is because they represent this burgeoning group of authors that are being recognized worldwide from Scarborough.
"There are other authors that have something to say about this part of the city and that my book had a chance."
Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth by Warsan Shire
"The last book on my list is Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire. It taught me that writing is grief work. Writing is a way of mourning. How can you help the reader break open that vein and let the grief spill forth?
The book taught me that writing is grief work. Writing is a way of mourning.
"Although Warsan Shire's work is so vastly different from my own, I think the purpose of writing is that sometimes you just need to crack through that facade. As human beings, we're working every day just trying to get by. But we need space for grief, especially during such challenging times. We do need to stop and feel things."
Catherine Hernandez's comments have been edited for length and clarity.