Nino Ricci

Award-winning Author

Archives for November 2010

Urquhart and Ricci on Lives

Launch of the 20th Anniversary Edition
of Lives of the Saints

Join Tony Urquhart and Nino Ricci as they talk about their collaboration on Urquhart’s beautifully illustrated 20th anniversary edition of Ricci’s Lives of the Saints with writer and art critic Gary Michael Dault.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 8:00 pm
The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom
1214 Queen Street West, Toronto

Presented by This Is Not A Reading Series.

Tony Clement Disses Ricci

Industry Minister Tony Clement has publicly denounced Nino Ricci’s Globe editorial on C-32 in a tweet to his 6027 followers, calling Ricci’s views “fiction” and asserting “Fair dealing is never an unfettered rt to copy!”

The tweet does not indicate what portion of Ricci’s article Mr. Clement found fictitious, or indeed that he actually read the editorial.

Bookfest Windsor – Write Here

Essex-County-bred authors Lisa Gabriele and Nino Ricci and Toronto-watcher Shawn Micallef talk about the importance of place in fiction and in life. Moderated by Christopher Shulgan. Saturday, November 6th, 2010 from 8:45 pm to 10:00 pm in the Wilkinson Room of the Art Gallery of Windsor, 401 Riverside Dr. W. (519-977-0013). Part of Bookfest Windsor 2010.

The backlash continues

The backlash continues against Ricci’s comments on C-32. To see more thrilling attacks on Ricci’s intelligence and character, visit theglobeandmail.com’s Commentary hub.

The response from Ricci (now in hiding somewhere along the American border): “I am heartened by the vigour of the response to my article. My favourite response, both for its succinctness and its wit, is from Mike Boos. ‘Nino Ricci is a two-time winner of the Governor-General’s Award for fiction. Looks like he’s trying to win a third award for fiction with this piece.’ I hope Mr. Boos is meaning to imply that whatever the shortcomings of my piece in terms of its understanding of the issues, it is at least well-written.”

Ricci’s One-Two on C-32

Not having learned his lesson from past forays into politics, Nino Ricci has made the mistake of offering his humble opinions on the shortcomings of the Harper government’s new copyright legislation, Bill C-32, at theglobeandmail.com. Already, he is feeling the backlash. “Nino, you are a great authour,” comments Noah Stewart. “But seriously misinformed when it comes to copyright law. Before attacking students and teachers, you should take the time to understand what Bill C-32 is actually about.”

Responds Ricci: “If I attacked students and teachers, it must have been a typo. I really like students and teachers. Honestly. All of my children are students. As for teachers, I have only the deepest sympathy for them, having failed at the job myself.”

Ricci has yet to hear from his children as to their opinion of his comments.

Ricci wins Pinochle Achievement Award


Nino Ricci was at his desk playing Spider Solitaire when the call came in.

“Mr. Ricci? I’m calling on behalf of York University’s Bryden Alumni Awards to let you know you’ve been chosen for this year’s Pinnacle Achievement Award.”

Ricci couldn’t believe his ears.

“I mean, I’m honoured, of course, but the truth is I don’t even play pinochle!”

“That’s ‘pinnacle,’ Mr. Ricci.”

“Oh, is that how you pronounce it? And all my life I’ve been mispronouncing it ‘pinochle’!”

Ricci’s friend and fellow York alumnus, the prominent Toronto lawyer Jay Naster, who now shares a poker circle with Ricci, was as dumbfounded as Ricci was at the news.

“Are you sure they said pinochle? Maybe they meant poker. But then I doubt it, given the way you play.”

The 2010 Bryden Alumni Awards will be presented November 4th at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Fellow recipients include Galit Solomon of CTV News, Hana Zalzal of Cargo Cosmetics, James Love of Love & Whalen, and Harriet Lewis, York University’s Chief Counsel. Ricci graduated from York with a B.A. in English in 1981.

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