Torontoist Reads: Literary Events This Week

Put Up Your Dukes

Before I get to this week’s listings, here’s an upcoming event that might interest some of you. First it was German director Uwe Boll challenging movie critics to fight him in Vancouver, now author Craig Davidson (author of last year’s criminally underrated collection, Rust and Bone) will fight willing pugilists at the Toronto launch of his forthcoming novel, The Fighter. The date of the bout is yet to be determined, though it'll happen sometime in October.

Davidson recently posted some ground rules on his blog:

If you are a noodle-armed fancy lad, I will not fight you.
If you are a good man with a noble heart, I will fight you.
If you suffer some debilitating mania or dementia, I will not fight you.
If you are here to kick ass and chew bubblegum (and you’re all out of bubblegum), I will fight you.
If you are missing one of more of the following limbs: arms/legs, I will not fight you.
If you are known by one of the following nicknames---“The Hammer,” “The Mangler,” “The Wizard”---then yes, by all means, I will fight you.
If you are over 80, have a heart condition or an irritable bowel, I am sorry but I cannot fight you.
If you have the courage of a lion and the guts of a burglar, I will fight you.

I’ve been seriously considering sending in a challenge to Davidson. However, my record in fights is terribly unspectacular (1-1-1 in unsanctioned bouts and 1-1 with proper boxing attire) and just isn’t going to scare anyone, especially a 6"1, 215 pound author who's probably still pissed his book was dropped by his publisher in the States. If you'd like to be the Callaghan to Davidson's Hemingway, send him an e-mail.

On to the listings!

On Tuesday check out the granddaddy of Toronto reading series, the Art Bar. Reading this week are Karen Richardson, Karen Petersen, and Heather Cadsby, author of the A Tantrum of Synonyms.The first poet takes the stage shortly after 8. The Art Bar is held at the Victory Café, 581 Markham St. It's free, just make sure you throw a toonie in the hat when Phlip Arima comes around.

Also on Tuesday is the Coffeehouse Cabaret, which Jacob Sheier, Sean Peever, and an open mic. It takes place at the Renaissance Café, 1938 Danforth, and starts at 8:30.

The IV Lounge Reading Series takes place on Friday, August 4. David Hickey, Mike Barnes, and Myna Wallin read this week.