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Monoculture
In Monoculture, Sue Goyette imagines that Nova Scotia’s last surviving stand of intact forest has been preserved for the enjoyment of the public—a premise that seems more like an inevitability than a speculation. Framing the text as visitors’ comments posted on the forest’s official website, Goyette speaks through a chorus of voices to explore the long consumptive, anthropocentric attitude that permeates our relationship with the natural world—from destructive harvesting practices to our expectations about outdoor recreation and leisure. This unique work takes its cue both from the incessant chatter of social media and from the long slog of a map-less hike, showing how a little scrap of wilderness can still unsettle and disorient us, humble and astonish us, and open its truths to us.
- GenresPoetry
176 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Sue Goyette
20 books39 followersSue Goyette is a Canadian poet and novelist. Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Goyette grew up in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, on Montreal's south shore.
Her first poetry book The True Names of Birds (1998) was nominated for the 1999 Governor General's Award, the Pat Lowther Award and the Gerald Lampert Award. Goyette's first novel, Lures: A Novel (2002), was nominated for the 2003 Thomas Head Raddall Award. She has also written another poetry collection, Undone (2004), and won the 2008 CBC Literary Award in poetry for the poem "Outskirts". The poetry collection of the same name, Outskirts won the Atlantic Poetry Prize in 2012. Goyette's fourth poetry collection, Ocean, was published in 2013 by Gaspereau Press.
Goyette has been a member of the faculty of The Maritime Writers' Workshop, The Banff Wired Studio, and The Sage Hill Writing Experience.
She presently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and teaches at Dalhousie University.
Her first poetry book The True Names of Birds (1998) was nominated for the 1999 Governor General's Award, the Pat Lowther Award and the Gerald Lampert Award. Goyette's first novel, Lures: A Novel (2002), was nominated for the 2003 Thomas Head Raddall Award. She has also written another poetry collection, Undone (2004), and won the 2008 CBC Literary Award in poetry for the poem "Outskirts". The poetry collection of the same name, Outskirts won the Atlantic Poetry Prize in 2012. Goyette's fourth poetry collection, Ocean, was published in 2013 by Gaspereau Press.
Goyette has been a member of the faculty of The Maritime Writers' Workshop, The Banff Wired Studio, and The Sage Hill Writing Experience.
She presently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and teaches at Dalhousie University.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 18, 2023
It’s possible that I will up this to a 4 rating. This is definitely one of the most inventive books; visitors to the last forest in Nova Scotia are encouraged to leave their comments on the website. The premise that a final stand of forest might one day be preserved for public entertainment is unsettling more because it could well be fact at the rate of deforestation. The comments range from absurd to heartwarming to spiritual. Goyette has a beautiful and furtive imagination.
May 1, 2023
Her poetry keeps on growing, but is well rooted, you know? I kept sliding my finger over the page trying to scroll through the comments, but it didn't work. Are you supposed to scroll? Does anyone have advice on how to read this? Some signs with instructions might help.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews