The Prairie Journal of Canadian Literature

PJCL is a fairly large, contributor based journal of various poets, writers, essayists and playwrights from across this fair land. And up to 27 issues, it’s safe to say they’ve been doing this for quite some time. #26 was more miss than hit for me, but the standouts were worth weeding through the rest. rob mclennan (who eschews use of capital letters in his name) gives us tragedy with a lingering of hope in his poem, “hiroshima (five)”. Pamela Banting’s short coming of age piece, “I Took Piano Lessons From The Virgin Mary” nicely juxtaposes the rigidity and structure of piano lessons with the chaos of a first crush. Issue #27 was far more diverse in it’s offerings, including a radio play and a book review. Ken Rivard’s excerpt from his upcoming novel “Ready Or Not”, peers into the world of sweaty, ice-cream kids in a Montreal summer. Beryl Baigent’s spiritual, occasionally feminist poetry and Lillian Welch’s European flavoured works were also quite nice. (KJ)

journal / #26, 48 pages, #27, 52 pages / publisher: Prairie Journal Trust / main creator: Anne Burke (editor) / $8 for 2 issues / Prairie Journal Trust, P.O. Box 61203, Brentwood Postal Services, Calgary, Alberta, T2L 2K6

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