{"product_id":"the-east-end-rules","title":"The East End Rules: A Van East Memoir","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe East End Rules, An East Van Memoir\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (Black Rose Books, Montreal, 2026), is acclaimed Montreal author\/artist \u003cstrong\u003eNorman Nawrocki’s\u003c\/strong\u003e newest work where fiction meets memoir and social history. The remarkable coming of age and political awakening story is set in the lively 1960s and 1970s in Vancouver’s gritty East End (a.k.a. East Van) long before it was gentrified. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough the eyes of a young East Ender, Joey, we see the first twenty-two years of Nawrocki’s life from a questioning youth to a rabble-rousing student activist, journalist and community organizer. The East End had always been tagged by better off West Side residents as \"the wrong side of the tracks,\" swarming with riff raff and the underclass. Joey offers an engaging counter narrative where the history and culture, dreams and challenges of this vibrant and beloved once predominantly poor working-class immigrant community are remembered and honoured. And where the influences of a world in upheaval and the city's flourishing radical counterculture, helped transform one immigrant son into a principled anarchist. The book is full of little-known Vancouver history, better known personalities, places, and news-making events, hippies, Yippies, anarchists, rad students, Greenpeace, and more. It's also the first part of Nawrocki's planned memoir trilogy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eNorman Nawrocki’s life and career would require a shelf full of books to document”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e – \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003eCanadian Review of Literature in Performance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNorman Nawrocki \u003c\/strong\u003eis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003ethe author of 18 books (poetry, novels, novellas, non-fiction) and an internationally acclaimed performing artist, violinist, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003eactor and playwright. He has over 70 albums and dozens of theatrical productions to his credit. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAmong his books are two novels, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCAZZAROLA! Anarchy, Romani, Love, Italy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e(PM Press), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRed Squared Montreal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e (Black Rose Books), a short story collection, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Anarchist \u0026amp; The Devil Do Cabaret\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e (Black Rose Books), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRebel Moon: @narchist rants \u0026amp; poems\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e(AK Press). His work has been translated and published in French and Italian and appears in numerous anthologies (e.g., City Lights, San Francisco). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOne of his novellas, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eIsabelle Walks With Angels\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e, was turned into an award-winning short film, while his novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCAZZAROLA!,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e is currently being adapted for a feature length film. Nawrocki is also one of the co-founders of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnarchist Writers Bloc\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e based in Montreal which published the first ever anthologies of anarchist short stories. Nawrocki performs in literary, spoken word and theatre festivals across North America and Europe, produces cultural events in Montreal and receives occasional support from the Canada and Quebec Arts Councils. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003eHe tours the world with his books and shows. He also lectures at universities and colleges across North America and gives workshops about Creative Resistance. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Montreal Gazette\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e calls him “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ea legend . . . one of the most fascinating folks on the cityscape\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Globe \u0026amp; Mail\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e says he's “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ea born showman;”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e his shows \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e“subversively powerful.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Vancouver Sun\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e likened his 2025 novella, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eVancouvered Out\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e, to George Orwell's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDown \u0026amp; Out in Paris \u0026amp; London\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRabble.ca\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e called his last book, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSquat the City! How to use the arts for housing justice,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"a brilliant organizers manual.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat People Are Saying\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This exciting memoir evokes Nawrocki's personal experience and the atmosphere of the time, to create an authentic account of growing up in the East End of Vancouver during the sixties and seventies. A great read!” Don Stewart, MacLeod’s Books, Vancouver \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Tells Nawrocki's story in descriptive, flowing prose. A story of hardship and resilience, of pride and loyalty, set among East Side landmarks, and brought to life through historic and cultural events. Today, it’s trendy to flaunt your affiliation with this iconic neighbourhood, but few have credentials as authentic as Norman Nawrocki’s.\" Rod Raglin, author of\u003cem\u003e East Van Saturday Night: Four Short Stories and a Novella \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Rose Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44505493143645,"sku":"9781551648347","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0562\/0826\/1213\/files\/EastEndRules.jpg?v=1781278367","url":"https:\/\/leftwingbooks.net\/en-us\/products\/the-east-end-rules","provider":"Leftwingbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}