Why paper crafts and physical books appeal to Canadian writer Brian Francis
The Next Chapter columnist recommends three books on paper
E-readers and digital books can often be the more convenient and reliable ways to read today, but Canadian writer Brian Francis still thinks that, "print books really are where my heart is at the end of the day."
Francis is the author of the Canada Reads 2009 shortlisted book Fruit and the memoir Missed Connections, which was a finalist for the 2022 Trillium Book Award, recognizing excellence in literature by Ontario writers. He joined Antonio Michael Downing on The Next Chapter to talk about his love of paper as a reader, writer and occasional paper crafter.
Here are some of Francis' book recommendations for the love of paper.
Trees In Canada by John Laird Farrar
"I don't think we can have a conversation about an appreciation for the love of paper without having an appreciation for where paper comes from," said Francis.
Trees In Canada is a collection of over 300 different tree species and over 75 years of botanical knowledge from John Laird Farrar first published in 2017. It has since been reviewed and edited by forest specialists today to include an identification key, updated photographs and maps and new tree species. This text provides an in-depth look at the trees in Canada and the northern United States in an accessible format.
Farrar was a Canadian forest scientist and graduate of the University of Toronto, dedicating almost 60 years of his life to botanical study. He later served as a lieutenant of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War, then received his Ph.D from Yale University in 1955. He died in 1996.
In reading this textbook, Francis learned to take greater notice of the natural world. "Trees are something that are everywhere but … we don't always pay attention to. In looking at the book, it made me realize too, when I was growing up, we had a white birchbark tree in front of our house and it was a staple of my childhood and my upbringing but I didn't know much about it. In looking at this book, I realized I learned some new things about the white Birch tree.
The Notebook by Roland Allen
In The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, U.K. writer Roland Allen delves into the history of notebook writing and how it continues to be a relevant medium today amidst continual technological advancement and the "age of AI". Detailing the stories written on paper by Frida Kahlo, Charles Darwin, Agatha Christie and more, Allen reflects on how notebooks have shaped the modern world and how the simple act of writing pen to paper every day can affect our mental health.
Francis noted, "With a notebook, I never think about how it might be perceived because it's not written for an audience, it's written for me. We all put on a front to a certain extent in our public selves. The notebook's sometimes are a bit closer to who we really are as people and I think sometimes it's that contrast between our public and our private selves that's so interesting."
A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers by Motoko Maggie Nakatani
Founding member of the Japan Quilling Guild and all-around paper expert Motoko Maggie Nakatani takes readers through an instructional textbook on the art of quilled flower-making. From roses to wisterias and more, A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers details the history of the craft and how the meditative art form can be used in daily life.
"The book has 32 different varieties of quilt flowers that you can make. And what I like about it is that it gives the meaning behind the flower," mentioned Francis.
Paper quilling is a craft that he once did as a child and has since returned to. "What I would do is I would make these quilling flowers and I'd write poetry and calligraphy and then I would put it on a little frame and I would give it to my teachers at the end of the year."
Brian Francis' comments have been edited for clarity and length.
