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Poet Jennifer LoveGrove’s first novel gets...
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Poet Jennifer LoveGrove’s first novel gets longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize
Long listed
Courtesy Davenport and Dovercourt roads-area resident and poetry writer Jennifer LoveGrove has written her first novel, which was long listed for a Giller Prize. Bloor West Villager By Lisa Rainford
Poetry writer Jennifer LoveGrove has made the leap to novel writing, a transition she says was “weird.”
LoveGrove’s first novel Watch How We Walk is longlisted for the 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize, recognition that has given the book a second life and provided its author “a confidence boost.”
“I thought it’d be a short story and it kept getting longer and longer,” she said about her work of fiction.
A voice she kept hearing in her head became LoveGrove’s main character. Inspired by her own upbringing in a Jehovah’s Witness household, the book tells the story of Emily, who ever since she was little wanted to grow up to become a full-time pioneer. Instead, she is destined to hand out Watchtower magazines door-to-door.
However, Emily begins to challenge her family’s beliefs; she forges a close relationship with her closeted uncle while her older sister Lenora starts wearing makeup, hangs out with boys and gets a radical new haircut.
After Lenora disappears, Emily’s life is turned upside down.
“I was so immersed in the novel I thought I’d never be able to write poetry again,” said the Davenport and Dovercourt roads-area resident, who spent six years completing the novel.
Raised a Jehovah’s Witness in Dunville, Ont., LoveGrove said she resisted writing about her experience because she says “there’s so many ‘losing my religion’ stories out there.”
“I resisted until it became unavoidable,” she said. “This is an isolated group; you can’t write this solely on research.”
LoveGrove was 13 when her parents separated. As a teen, it was more important for her to stay in the religion because of her best friend, than what her parents wanted. She stayed until she and her friend had a falling out.
LoveGrove came to Toronto to attend York University where she studied creative writing.
“I’ve been writing ever since I can remember,” she said. “I had a lamp chair and a typewriter in the bedroom I grew up in.”
Passionate about poetry, LoveGrove is the author of collections The Dagger Between Her Teeth and I Should Never Have Fired the Sentinel.
Shortlisted for the K. M. Hunter Artist Award for Literature in 2010, LoveGrove produced and hosted the literary radio show “In Other Words” on CKLN 88.1FM.
For further details, visit LoveGrove’s website at jenniferlovegrove.wordpress.com