Montreal Bloggers

There are three sorts of Bloggers in Montreal: people who write about the city; people who focus on issues, like ecology or allergies; and writers who live in the city but talk about other things.

This column focuses on several independent writers who are conducting a series of experiments with their blogs.

Beverly Akerman alternates political commentary with reviews of books and television shows. My all-time favourite column is also one of her most recent, in which she compares the political careers of André Boisclair and Philippe Couillard. You’ve got to read it at: beverlyakerman.blogspot.ca/2013/03/column-on-philippe-couillard-proves-don.html.

Billy Shield has created a graphic novel called Paradox Island to comment on all the inconsistencies he notices. He’s a busy television journalist so he doesn’t update it, but the issues he’s done so far are worth reading at: islandparadox.blogspot.ca.

Heather Grace Stewart is a poet who writes about family life, politics and her muse at: heathergracestewart.com.

Julie Barlow and Jean Benoît Nadeau, the authors of The Story of French and The Story of Spanish, are adding lots of humour to their blog, which is otherwise a serious compendium of their work. Check out www.nadeaubarlow.com/en/home for a fun read.

Marijke: nurse turned writer has created an attention-grabbing health news site at: medhealthwriter.blogspot.ca. Most posts provide healthy lifestyle hints, but others ask compelling questions about society.

Mary Soderstrom has been writing about ecology, society and community in a series of essays she calls Recreating Eden. Her blog is up at: marysoderstrom.blogspot.ca.

Robert Frank is creating a Montreal-area news service with community articles by various journalists around town at: newscoverage.org.