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LitTO: November 6–14
It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks in Toronto, and you may have a tough time deciding just what bookish thing to attend. If anything, Torontoist recommends you check out this year’s second Toronto Small Press Book Fair this Saturday. The twice-yearly event features a variety of micro to medium-sized presses offering zines, books, chapbooks, journals, hand-made crafts, and many other wonderful things. And if you’ve got any time and energy left after the fair, you also might want to head down to the Cervejaria, where the Toronto Poetry Slam will be celebrating their second anniversary. There will be a spoken word competition, featuring the spoken word folk band, The Fugitives.
Two more book launches to look out for are those of The Mercury Press, which will be releasing seven new titles, and Tightrope Books, which will be releasing two.
Today is also the day we find out who wins the Giller Prize. We’ll have more on that later.
Full listing details after the fold.
Toronto Literary Listings
Tuesday, November 6
ART BAR POETRY SERIES presents Shane Koyczan, Bob Snider, and Susan McCaslin. Clinton’s Tavern (693 Bloor Street West). 8 p.m. Free.
SCOTIABANK GILLER LIGHT BASH in support of Frontier College. Watch the Giller Prize Gala on a big screen and enjoy music by Kyle Riabko. Steam Whistle Brewing Gallery (255 Bremner Boulevard, The Roundhouse). 7 p.m. Tickets $25, purchase them here.
THE CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA/CASA LOMA MYSTERY READING SERIES returns with its second installment. Maureen Jennings and Caro Soles will be reading from and discussing their recent crime books. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be served. Casa Loma (1 Austin Terrace). 7:30 p.m. $12.
CANADA COUNCIL HERITAGE SERIES welcomes Russell Smith at Oakwood Village Library & Arts Centre for a reading. Oakwood Village Library & Arts Centre (341 Oakwood Avenue). 7 p.m. Free. 416-394-1040.
HAL NIEDZVIECKIH at the Toronto Public Library presents “Writing Down the City: (re) Imaging the Urban Canadian Experience.” Join Hal as he leads a panel discussion with Cordelia Strube, Rinaldo Walcott, and Jennifer Lambert about the past, present and future of the reimagined city. Q&A to follow. North York Central Library (5120 Yonge Street, Auditorium). 7 p.m. Free. Call 416-395-5639 to register.
Wednesday, November 7
LITERARY CAFÉ presents Swap Trivia with quote master Robert Colombo and dictionary diva Katherine Barber. Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street). 12:30 p.m. Free.
THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES celebrates the launch of the anthology Reel Asian: Asian Canada On Screen. Editor Elaine Chang will host the event, which will include performances by contributors Ann Marie Fleming, Leon Aureus, David Eng, Jason Anderson, Colin Geddes, Phil Tsui and others. The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West). 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.). Free.
THE ROWERS PUB READING SERIES presents Carol Malyon, Harold Rhenisch, and John Unrau. Rowers Pub (150 Harbord Street, 2nd floor). 7–9:30 p.m. Free/Pass the hat.
Thursday, November 8
TORONTO WORDSTAGE presents Joe Fiorito, Craig Grant, Wendy Morton, and Kenneth Sherman. Cervejaria (842 College Street). 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.). Free.
CANADA COUNCIL HERITAGE SERIES welcomes Russell Smith at Brentwood Branch for a reading. Brentwood Branch, Toronto Public Library (36 Brentwood Road North). 7 p.m. Free. 416-394-5240.
IAN MCALLISTER launches his latest book, The Last Wild Wolves. It will be an unforgettable evening of exploration, adventure, and first-hand accounts drawn from nearly two decades of wildlife observation, research, and photography along the remote outposts of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest. Hart House Library (7 Hart House Circle). 7:30–9 p.m. Free.
Friday, November 9
CONCRETE TORONTO launches at Ballenford Books, opening with an in-store exhibition of concrete architecture and a book signing. Ballenford Books (600 Markham Street). 7 p.m. Free.
Saturday, November 10
TORONTO SMALL PRESS BOOK FAIR takes place this Saturday, offering zines, books, chapbooks, journals, hand-made crafts, and more. Readings will also take place by Alex Boyd, Andrew Daley, Stacey May Fowles and others. Trinity St. Paul’s Centre (427 Bloor Street West). 11–5 p.m.
TORONTO POETRY SLAM celebrates its second-year anniversary with the usual high-energy spoken word competition plus special guests The Fugitives, a spoken word folk band. Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West). 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. to sign up). $5. 416-312-3865.
THE EDITORS’ ASSOCIATION OF CANADA presents Substantive Editing, a seminar designed to help writers define their goals, identify their readers, and shape their manuscripts in the best possible way. This seminar outlines the basic steps, offers tips on ways to win writers’ and clients’ confidence, and provides realistic in-class exercises. Northrop Frye Hall (73 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Room 004). 10–4 p.m. $115 for members/$150 for non-members. Call 416-975-5528 or visit www.editors.ca to register.
Sunday, November 11
THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES presents Coach House Books’ third installment of its uTOpia series, GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto. The event will feature provocative and heated discussions on the future of environmentalism in the GTA, as well as other fun green activities and edu-tainment. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West). 3 p.m. (Doors open at 2:30 p.m.). Free.
Tuesday, November 13
ART BAR POETRY SERIES presents Steve McCabe, Karen Mulhallen, and Andrea Thompson.. Clinton’s Tavern (693 Bloor Street West). 8 p.m. Free.
THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES presents Ann Marie Fleming and her new graphic memoir, The Magical Life Of Long Tack Sam. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West). 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.). Free.
THE MERCURY PRESS launches seven new books, including High Hat, Trumpet, and Rhythm: The Life and Music of Valaida Snow by Mark Miller; Imagination in Action, edited by Carol Malyon; The Closets of Time, edited by Beverley Daurio and Richard Truhlar; The Humbugs Diet by Robert Majzels; The Prison Tangram by Claire Huot; white by rob mclennan; and Booty: Hurricane Jane and Typhoon Mary by Brea Burton and Jill Hartman. Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue (back room). 7:30 p.m.
CANADA COUNCIL HERITAGE SERIES welcomes Afua Cooper for a reading. Maria A. Shchuka Branch, Toronto Public Library (1745 Eglinton Avenue West). 7 p.m. Free. 416-394-1000.
CANADA COUNCIL HERITAGE SERIES welcomes Bill Gallagher for a performance. Forest Hill Branch, Toronto Public Library (700 Eglinton Avenue West). 7 p.m. Free. 416-393-7706.
JOHN RICHARDSON speaks about A Life of Picasso: The Triumphant Years, 1917-1932, the long-awaited third volume of his biography of Pablo Picasso. This book, which combines the critical astuteness, exhaustive research, and stunning narrative that characterized the first two volumes of this definitive work, covers a turbulent and prolific period in Picasso’s life, which culminated in his being acknowledged as the leader of the modern movement. Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue). 7–9 p.m. $5. Call 416-640-5836 to purchase tickets.
MAYA MERRICK is joined by Jessica Westhead, author of Pulpy and Midge, as she launches her new novel, The Hole Show. Type Books (883 Queen Street West). 7 p.m. Free.
Wednesday, November 14
LITERARY CAFÉ welcomes you to enjoy a whimsical lunch hour with Toronto Star humour columnist Linwood Barclay as he gets mysterious about his new novel, No Time for Goodbye. Bring your lunch or buy one for $5. Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street). 12:30 p.m. Free.
THE EDITORS’ ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (TORONTO BRANCH) presents Proofreading, a seminar which will provide an overview of professional proofreading. This two-evening seminar, to be held on November 14 and 21, looks at how this skill fits into the process of producing print documents of all kinds. And you’ll try your hand at proofreading short sample texts. Northrop Frye Hall (73 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Room 007). 7–10 p.m. $135 for members/$175 for non-members. Call 416-975-5528 or visit www.editors.ca to register.
UPTOWN AUTHOR SERIES presents Alan Bryce, author of Art Smart: the Intelligent Guide to Investing in the Canadian Art Market, to discuss how to determine the value of a piece of art and the inner workings of the Canadian art market. Q&A to follow. North York Central Library (5120 Yonge Street, Room 1). 7 p.m. Free. Call 416-395-5639 to register.
TIGHTROPE BOOKS launches Stacey May Fowles debut novel Be Good, and Fraser Sutherland’s Manual for Emigrants. There will also be performances by Tomboyfriend and DJ Ashley Olsen, and a reading by Dayle Furlong. Revival (783 College Street West). 7:30 p.m.