Writer JJ Lee, author of The Measure of a Man, will return to the Sunshine Coast and read at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt this Saturday night at 8 p.m.
The subtitle of his successful memoir is The Story of a Father, A Son, and A Suit. Lee was a popular participant at The Festival of the Written Arts this past summer, and promises to aim his reading and remarks to people with a family or personal story they want to write and publish.
The Measure of a Man was shortlisted for the 2011 Governor-General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the 2011 BC Book Prizes Hubert Evans Prize for Non-Fiction and the 2012 Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction.
Lee also contributes articles on fashion and personal essays to ELLE Canada magazine. His essay titled, "ELLE First: You are beautiful," has been nominated for a National Magazine Award in the best short feature category. His monthly menswear advice column for The Vancouver Sun is syndicated across Canada, and he is also a regular contributor to CBC Radio in Vancouver.
The Measure of a Man began life as a radio documentary about the social history of suits for CBC Radio's Ideas program. The jury citation for the Charles Taylor Prize praised the transformation of the story from radio documentary to memoir: "Beautifully crafted, Lee's memoir is a heartbreaking page-turner about a family, an abusive father, and men's fashion. Who could have thought these could work together? In his first book, Lee has shown us how."
Lee's broadcasting career at CBC Radio also included stints as a writer, comedy performer, reporter, and producer forprograms such as Basic Black, Out Front,The Current, Richardson's Roundup, and Sounds Like Canada.
Admission is free to his Nov. 3 reading, with thanks to the sponsorship of the Canada Council for the Arts. Refreshments will be served.
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