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Torontoist Reads: Literary Events This Week
Apologies for the lack of listings last week. The combination of the previous night’s Halloween party and an encroaching deadline on another project left little time for me to gather all the literary happenings in the city.
Monday
This Is Not A Reading Series presents Ben Schott (pictured), author of Schott’s Almanac. There will be a trivia pop quiz, surprise guests, and more – it’s a TINARS event, so you know it won’t be your run-of-the-mill poetry reading. It takes place at the Gladstone. 7:30pm. Free.
The same evening, David Helwig launches his new book, Saltsea. There will also be readings by Mike Barnes, Wayne Clifford, and Sharon English. It takes place at Piccolo’s – 226 Carlton – starting at 7:30pm and is free.
Also on Monday, Jack Whyte is in conversation with Space TV producer Mark Askwith at the Hart House Library – 7 Hart House Circle – in support of his new book, Knights of the Black and White. The event is presented by the U of T bookstore reading series. It starts at 7:30pm and is free.
Tuesday
Another night, another This Is Not A Reading Series event. On Tuesday evening, Kagan McLeod and Mireille Silcoff will be in conversation with Hal Niedzviecki about their new book Archetypes: Social Animals in Our Midst. The event takes place at the Gladstone Hotel, begins at 7:30pm, and is free. Sadly this event has been cancelled.
Appearing at the Art Bar on Tuesday night are K.I. Press (Spine); Laura Bozabalian; and Wayne Clifford (WereBook). It takes place at the Victory Café and begins at 8pm. Free.
Wednesday
Tonight is the book launch for the Toronto Renaissance Conspiracy’s anthology, Renaissance Reloaded. It takes place at the Renaissance Café – 1939 Danforth – beginning at 7:30pm and is free.
Thursday
Tonight sees the 11th instalment of Toronto WordStage. This month’s features are Jim Christy, Nick Mancuso, Phoebe Tsang, and John Barlow. As always, WordStage takes place at Cervejaria, 842 College, and begins at 7:30pm. Free.
Friday
Tonight, the I.V. Lounge reading series brings you readings from Nick Thran, Chris Banks, Eric Cole, and former host Paul Vermeersch. Takes place at the I.V. Lounge, 326 Dundas W., beginning at 8pm and is free.
Saturday
The Toronto Small Press Book Fair takes place this weekend. But don’t run over to Trinity St. Paul’s just yet. For the fall instalment, the fair has been moved to the Victory Café. It takes place from 11am to 5pm, and on Saturday evening there will be readings from Joan Itoh Burk, Dani Couture, Sharon Harris, and Terry Carroll.
Sunday
I’m excited about this one: On Sunday night the outstanding lit journal Hobart hosts a reading in Toronto. Readers include Michelle Orange (who one the magazine’s novella contest), John MacFarlane, Melissa Bell, and, for my money one of the best young writers in Canada, Pasha Malla. It takes place at the Gladstone starting at 8pm and is $5 (but that gets you a raffle ticket so quit complaining).