Vicki Ziegler

@bookgaga

Booklover, blathering at - literary news, reviews, discussion, poetry posted daily (aka #TodaysPoem member of a thriving silent book club group (aka #SilentBookClub ... oh, and I crochet

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Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 14

... and instead of writing it out, I tried reading it out this time! May you by Jessica Joy Hiemstra (@jessicajoyhiemstra.bsky.social) (2026 Opaat Press / @thisisannick.bsky.social)

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 14

"may the dishes you broke in that rage clean themselves up quietly" #TodaysPoem #poetry May you by Jessica Joy Hiemstra (@jessicajoyhiemstra.bsky.social) (2026 Opaat Press / @thisisannick.bsky.social) annickmacaskill.com/2026/06/29/m...

Bright green poetry pamphlet May you by Jessica Joy Hiemstra, admidst cone flowers

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 12

"Occasionally the trees will step out at you as long as you don't expect it." #TodaysPoem #poetry It Happens by Rosemary Sullivan from The Space a Name Makes (1986 Black Moss Press) rosemarysullivan.com/books/poetry...

The poetry collection The Space a Name Makes by Rosemary Sullivan (Black Moss Press) perches on a knarly tree branch amidst green leaves and shade

The poetry collection The Space a Name Makes by Rosemary Sullivan, open to the poem "It Happens" with a laden raspberry bush in the background

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 11

"but along you'll go, a compressed calm of calm compression, radiating through emptiness though emptiness is a dream" #TodaysPoem #poetry Apeirophobia by Hollay Ghadery (@hollay.bsky.social) from Rebellion Box (2023 @RadiantPress.bsky.social) radiantpress.ca/shop/p/rebel...

The poetry collection Rebellion Box by Hollay Ghadery (Radiant Press) sits on a wooden railing next to a blueberry bush

Handwritten transcription of the poem Apeirophobia by Hollay Ghadery from the poetry collection Rebellion Box

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 10

"how light the weight of one year's work ..." @thedonpyle.bsky.social marvelled as he held his book Rough Description for the first time. He spoke about this and much about the Toronto and Canadian music and art scene of which he's been an important part for decades: torontolegends.ca/don-pyle/

The book Rough Description by Don Pyle (ECW Press) sits on a laptop keyboard, with the Don Pyle interview on the Toronto Legends podcast on the screen.

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 9

"A dumb blankness full of meaning Flense these memories or whatever, nevermind." #TodaysPoem #poetry White Whale by Geordie Miller (2026 Opaat Press / @thisisannick.bsky.social) annickmacaskill.com/2026/06/22/w...

Colourful Opaat Press poetry pamphlets arranged on an equally colourful crocheted afghan in progress

Poetry pamphlet White Whale by Geordie Miller (Opaat Press) sits atop a notebook with an ornate gold cover, with a black pen nearby

Handwritten transcription of the poem White Whale by Geordie Miller, with an uncapped black pen resting on the notebook page

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 6

"he can finally speak freely, he tells me, Dad, I am scared of three things: people getting hurt, the dark, and ghosts." #TodaysPoem #poetry My First Animals by Ben Robinson from A Sensitive Man (2026 @knifeforkbook.bsky.social) www.benrobinson.work/a-senstive-man

Poetry collection A Sensitive Man by Ben Robinson (knife fork book) perched atop bergamots, leaves and vines

The poem My First Animals by Ben Robinson from the poetry collection A Sensitive Man, held up against a backdrop of cone flowers

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jul 3

"the moss sighs in soft language - little moisture, little friend" #TodaysPoem #poetry upon a nurse log by Elee Kraljii Gardiner (@eleekg.bsky.social) from sometimes, forest (2026 @talonbooks.bsky.social) robmclennan.blogspot.com/2026/05/elee...

Poetry collection sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner (Talonbooks) and a small piece of paper with a poetry excerpt written on it, sitting among bright green moss along a tree root

A small piece of paper with a poetry excerpt written from poetry collection sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner on it, sitting among green moss and pine needles

My hand holding a small piece of paper with a poetry excerpt written from poetry collection sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner - the paper is rolled up and secured with some soft green grasses

Hiding place for a small piece of paper with a poetry excerpt written from poetry collection sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner, amidst rocks, moss and leaves

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 30

Yes, our amazing silent book club group has done it again this month: great, eclectic selections and recommendations, intriguing insights, expansive good humour and the loveliest of company as we gathered with our books. Read (tee hee) all about it here: bookgagabooks.ca/2026/06/29/t...

Teetering book pile at silent book club meeting at Paper Route Cafe (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Silent book club member Vicki's Queen Books book bag is the background for sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner and Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Table, books and refreshments at silent book club meeting at Paper Route Cafe (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Silent book club member Jen places her reading, The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, next to some lovely flowers on her steps (Photo by Jen Foster)

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 30

" always the plexus, aural and evident and a starling spooks am never lonely here " #TodaysPoem #poetry upon a nurse log by Elee Kraljii Gardiner (@eleekg.bsky.social) from sometimes, forest (2026 @talonbooks.bsky.social) www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

Handwritten transcription of the poem upon a nurse log by Elee Kraljii Gardiner from the poetry collection sometimes, forest

sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner (Talonbooks), nestled in a gnarly nurse log

sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner, open to the poem upon a nurse, with the book nestled in a gnarly nurse log

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 27

This morning's #silentbookclub zoom meeting was bursting with literary goodness. Stay tuned for the ebullient blog post, coming soon to bookgaga.ca Said the Dead, Doireann Ní Ghríofa (@faberbooks.bsky.social) + sometimes, forest, @eleekg.bsky.social (@talonbooks.bsky.social) are my in-person reads!

Queen Books tote bag, with books sitting atop - sometimes, forest by Elee Kraljii Gardiner and Said the Dead by Doireann Ni Ghriofa

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 25

"Days of no telephone calls or all the wrong ones" #TodaysPoem #poetry Days of Rome by Gerard Malanga from No Respect: New & Selected Poems 1964-2000 (2001 Black Sparrow Press) poets.org/poem/days-rome

Striking image of Andy Warhol, taken by Gerard Malanga

Striking image of William S. Burroughs, taken by Gerard Malanga

Poet and filmmaker Gerard Malanga, wearing a suit and a jaunty hat, onstage at the Paradise Theatre in Toronto on June 24, 2026, reading poetry and reminiscing about his days with Andy Warhol, The Velvet Underground and many more

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 22

Another #TunisianCrochet project completed and soon to be on its way ... As always, my dear Mavis offered her support throughout this endeavour, although she grew somewhat reluctant when she discovered that this baby blanket included {{shudder}} a squirrel! #Crochet

Closeup of the squares of a crocheted baby blanket, including a cross-stitched bunny

Closeup of the squares of a crocheted baby blanket, including a cross-stitched squirrel

Closeup of the squares of a crocheted baby blanket, including a cross-stitched hummingbird

Mavis the Airedale posing with a crocheted baby blanket

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 19

"no one thought to let me have what should have been mine to hold in the ways a mouth can be a home" #TodaysPoem #poetry L'appel du vide by @leesadean.bsky.social from Interstitial (2026 @gaspereaupress.bsky.social) gaspereaupress.com/books/inters... & robmclennan.blogspot.com/2026/05/lees...

Poetry collection Interstitial by Leena Dean (Gaspereau Press) on a rock, nestled in among moss and pine needles

Transcription of the poem L'appel du vide by Leesa Dean from Interstitial with cottage window in background, revealing bright green trees and bushes

Close-up of transcription of the poem L'appel du vide by Leesa Dean from Interstitial

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 16

"following only her wet nose, the twin portals of her steady breathing, followed only by the plume of her tail." #TodaysPoem #poetry Dharma by Billy Collins, illustrated by Pamela Sztybel from Dog Show (2025 @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social) www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790238...

Poetry collection Dog Show by Billy Collins, illustrated by Pamela Sztybel (Random House) sits atop a notebook with an ornate gold cover, with a black fine tip pen nearby

Mavis the Airedale ponders poetry (and cookie-filled toys) - my handwritten transcription of the poem Dharma by Billy Collins sits on the desk

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 14

Oops, incorrectly posted poem pic (although also a great poem!) - here is the correct one!

The poem Choices by Quiency George in O.K., K.O., O.K. magazine

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 14

"If you follow the trail of blue seeds" (1) some of them are big and some are small but they're all the same seed" #TodaysPoem #poetry Choices by Quiency George in O.K., K.O., O.K. (2026 @tdsb.on.ca) tdsb.insigniails.com/library/Item... (1) from "Beads the Right Size and Colour" by Marily Dumont

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 13

Happy Knit in Public Day! (Yes, I've gone this far, knitting - well crocheting - al fresco ...)

Me, holding up some colourful crocheting, with colourful flowers in the background

Me, wearing sunglasses, holding colourful crocheting while sitting on a colourful bench outside Olds Cool General Store in east end Toronto

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 12

#FridayReads #WeekendReads Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa (2026 @FaberBooks.bsky.social) www.theguardian.com/books/2026/m...

The novel Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa (Faber & Faber), held up amidst the branches of a flowering bush

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 12

"at the spinning disc & the sound in x head: this is who you are. we are you. this sound is you. it comes from people like - like -" #TodaysPoem #poetry from to be by Kaie Kellough from Interposition (2026 McClelland & Stewart) www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/781050...

Text of poetry excerpt by Kaie Kellough from Interposition (McClelland & Stewart)

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 10

Toronto’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC @tdsb.on.ca) launched the latest edition of O.K. K.O. O.K., showcasing students' striking and moving work in prose, poetry and crafts and artworks. Elder Duke Redbird presided, and students and teachers read from different pieces.

Admiring a copy of the latest edition of O.K. K.O. O.K., a publication of Toronto’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre, and awaiting readings from it in the auditorium, in the centre of which is a beautiful Indigenous circle/emblem

Duke Redbird (left) offers opening remarks at the launch of the latest edition of O.K. K.O. O.K., a publication of Toronto’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre. Editors Lee Sheppard and Robyn Rogers look on.

A student reads from their work featured in the the latest edition of O.K. K.O. O.K. magazine.

A teacher reads from her student's work featured in the the latest edition of O.K. K.O. O.K. magazine.

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 5

"When there were no system warnings I clung to the loose thread and rested a loose button against fingernail." #TodaysPoem #poetry Third Month of the Meteorological Winter by Karenjit Sandhu in Judith, Women Making Visual Poetry, edited by @amandaearl.bsky.social

Colourful cover of poetry collection Judith, Women Making Visual Poetry, edited by Amanda Earl (2021 Timglaset Editions), with purple allium in the background

Visual poem Third Month of the Meteorological Winter by Karenjit Sandhu, showing textured paper with poetry text on it, black and white

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· Jun 4

"They were once sea also and a brighter sun rose over the waters, while wondrous fish like the names of poets from the Tang dynasty, leapt from their depths." #TodaysPoem #poem #todayspoem A Letter to My Friend From China by Marek Kazmierski translating from Polish by Wioletta Greg

Poetry collection Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance by Wioletta Greg, translated by Marek Kazmierski (Arc Publications) sits on a blue table with flowers, eyeglasses, a cup of coffee and a notebook with an ornate gold cover

Handwritten transcription of the Polish and English versions of the poem A Letter to My Friend From China by Wioletta Greg, translated by Marek Kazmierski, from the poetry collection Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance

Close-up of a handwritten transcription of the Polish version of the poem A Letter to My Friend From China by Wioletta Greg, translated by Marek Kazmierski, from the poetry collection Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance

Close-up of a handwritten transcription of the English version of the poem A Letter to My Friend From China by Wioletta Greg, translated by Marek Kazmierski, from the poetry collection Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 31

Reflecting on the power of @silentbookclub.bsky.social groups - the latest report from the east end Toronto #silentbookclub chapter: bookgagabooks.ca/2026/05/31/t...

Towering pile of the collected books being read by east end Toronto silent book club members at the meeting at Budapest Restaurant (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at Budapest Restaurant, accompanied by refreshments (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Silent book club member Vicki (moi), in her Book City T-shirt, in front of Budapest Restaurant on the Danforth (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Some of silent book club member Helen's recent reading - two editions of the final volume of Trollope’s Palliser series. The one on the left is the modern reissue that restores the cuts that Trollope’s publisher required him to make. (Photo by Helen Gunnarsson)

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 29

Various kinds of sweeet reading for #FridayReads #WeekendReads John Candy by Paul Myers (@pulmyears.bsky.social) (@HouseofAnansi.bsky.social) Rough Description by @theDonPyle.bsky.social (@ECWPress.bsky.social) Interposition by Kaie Kellough (McClelland & Stewart)

Three books sitting on a screened planter box, with green leaves hanging down: John Candy by Paul Myers (House of Anansi Press), Rough Description by Don Pyle (ECW Press) and Interposition by Kaie Kellough (McClelland & Stewart)

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 29

Sorry if you missed the most gorgeous, uproarious, heartwrenchingly beautiful book launch of the year. Here are some pix of @thedonpyle.bsky.social reading from extraordinary musical and other memories in Rough Description (@ecwpress.bsky.social), with support from @itsakirby.bsky.social + more!

Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan DJ'ed Don Pyle's book launch for Rough Description

Don Pyle reads from Rough Description with accompanying slides of the bands with which Shadowy Men played

Kirby reads wonderful excerpts from his upcoming collection Fairy

Chris Colohan reads entrancing poetry at the launch of Don Pyle's book Rough Description

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 24

"He flew right over our missing, traced sacrificial flowers on our awaiting faces." #TodaysPoem #poetry Missed Flight by @lisarichter.bsky.social from Sublunary (2026 @ualbertapress.bsky.social) ualbertapress.ca/978177212854...

Poet Lisa Richter reads from her poetry collection Sublunary (University of Alberta Press) at Book People in Toronto

Poetry collection Sublunary by Lisa Richter sits on a purple desktop with a notebook with an ornate gold cover and a black pen

Handwritten transcription of the poem "Missed Flight" by Lisa Richter from the poetry collection Sublunary

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 23

Indeed, Mavis and I have been up to mischief again! #WackyAfghan #AfghanCrochet #Crochet

Close-up of stitches and shapes on my latest wacky afghan creation

Mavis the Airedale poses next to my latest colourful wacky afghan creation.

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 22

#FridayReads #WeekendReads Stone Mattress by @margaretatwood.bsky.social (McClelland & Stewart) Shadows Under the Trees by Michael Prior (@knifeforkbook.bsky.social)

Me holding books by Margaret Atwood and Michael Prior on the GO train while green trees rush by the windows

Vicki Ziegler@bookgaga· May 22

"Transitive sensuality, let's say smooth, dappled, tawny, a texture, a page that does not demand but still tastes of dark incessant sky." #TodaysPoem #poetry Rosemary by @rkolewe.bsky.social from Holonomy (2026 @knifeforkbook.bsky.social) asterismbooks.com/product/kfb1...