The Buzz...About Books

The eh List Author Series: May 16-17

Meet the authors everyone's reading at this week's eh List programs.

Wednesday May 16

Anakana Schofield will be discussing her latest work of fiction Malarky, a sad and funny book about motherhood and middle age.

12:30-2:00 p.m.    Northern District
7:00-8:15 p.m.     North York Central Library  

 

 

Russell Smith will discuss his work and will share his experiences as his novel Girl Crazy is adapted into a screenplay.

7:00-8:15 p.m.    S. Walter Stewart

 

 

Thursday May 17

Lynn Coady, author of the Scotiabank Giller Prize nominated novel The Antagonist, will discuss her work and experiences as a young Canadian writer. 

7:00-8:15 p.m.    Barbara Frum

 

 

Columnist and author Joey Slinger will read from and discuss his new comic novel Nina, the Bandit Queen.

7:00-8:15 p.m.    Toronto Reference Library

Thanks, Toronto - and Keep Reading!

I’m a little sad; I can’t deny it.

April is almost over…and that means Keep Toronto Reading month is coming to an end. Here are just a couple of highlights to keep you reading and get a little excited all over again…

There were tons of things happening on the library’s Facebook page. Every Tuesday in April, readers posted three favourite books, and librarians across the city suggested one (or two!) more to try. I had a lot of fun answering some of the recommendations myself, and had an even better time checking out the huge variety of posted books. If there was ever a doubt that Toronto is a reading city, one only had to take a look at the eclectic mix of favourites!

This year’s thought provoking One Book, Girls Fall Down, incited a number of events throughout Toronto. These included everything from a city-wide photo contest to graffiti workshops, to guest lecturers exploring key issues like homelessness and mental health. In addition, there were numerous other Keep Toronto Reading events, both online and in branches that had all ages and all types of readers coming around. These included author visits, like those part of the eh List author series (which is ongoing!)

This year’s theme, What Are You Reading Where?, kept us all connected through books and spaces, and you may have noticed the Reader Walls and other displays in library branches. We also had a chance to get some YouTube videos up of what Torontonians were reading this month – so be sure to check that out!

If you’re still looking for something to read, don’t forget to check out our booklists. These are updated regularly, with different themes to fit a variety of reading tastes and interests. For example, if you really liked the Toronto-based aspect of Girls Fall Down, you may want to check out other titles that also have a Toronto connection.

 

Hope you enjoyed this April’s Keep Toronto Reading features and events – we certainly had fun being a part of it!

Maggie Helwig Live Chat

We had a wonderful time talking with Maggie Helwig, author of Girls Fall Down.  If you were unable to attend, the transcript is available at the link below.

Maggie Helwig Chat

Girls Fall Down Online Discussion

Girls Fall Down by Maggie Helwig was chosen as this year's One Book Community Read.  If you've read the book and want to discuss it with other readers, please join us on Book Buzz, Toronto Public Library's online book club.

It's easy to become a member.  All you need to do is go to our registration page and select a user name.  Lurkers are also welcome to read the discussion, but if you want to have your say about the book, you need to sign up. 

We also have an Open Discussion where we have conversations about anything related to books.  It's a wonderful place to get (and make) book recommendations.

Maggie Helwig will be joining us for an online chat on Monday April 16 at 7 pm.  This is a terrific opportunity to meet and talk to an author, all from the comfort of your own home.  Visit our chat page to sign up for an email reminder.

If you would like to meet the author in person, she is also appearing at:

Agincourt Branch, Tuesday April 10, 2 pm.

St Clair/Silverthorn, Tuesday April 10, 7 pm.

 

 

 

Tonight! Chat Online with Alissa York

Alissa York, author of the acclaimed novels Mercy, Effigy and Fauna, was our guest this evening for an online chat.  She provided wonderful insight into the writing process.

Click the link below for the chat replay.

Alissa York Live Chat

Alissa York Online at Book Buzz

Toronto author Alissa York will be our guest on Book Buzz for a live online chat, taking place December 7, 7-8 pm.

Mercy tells the stories of the lonely and flawed citizens of a small town in Manitoba.  It begins in 1948 as the lives of butcher Thomas Rose, Mathilda Nickles and town priest August Day collide.  Although Mathilda and August meet when he is officiating her wedding to Thomas, they find themselves unable to resist falling in love.

Effigy, a novel set on a Mormon ranch in 19th century Utah, was nominated for the 2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize.  It focuses on the lives of Erastus Hammer, a hunter and horse breeder, and his four wives.  Dorrie, the youngest of the wives, is a skilled taxidermist who works to create trophies of her husband's kills.  As she works on a tableau of a family of wolves, she finds herself stuggling with her craft and haunted by strange images.

Fauna is set in present day Toronto.  Wildlife officer Edal is on stress leave from her job when she discovers a small group of individuals caring for injured animals in the Don Valley.  In 2011 Fauna was a finalist for the Toronto Book Award.

York has also published Any Given Power, a collection of short fiction.

Join us on Book Buzz.

Emma Ruby-Sachs at North York Central Library

North York Central Library welcomes Emma Ruby-Sachs on November 30, 7-8 pm.

The author of the critically acclaimed novel The Water Man's Daughter, Ruby-Sachs is also a lawyer and journalist.  She currently works for Avaaz, a global organization promoting activism on issues like climate change, poverty, and corruption.

The Water Man's Daughter is the story of three women who are drawn together by circumstance.  Police chief Zembe Afrika must investigate the murder of Peter Matthews, a Canadian water company executive;  Nomsulwa Sithu is a young activist leading the fight against water privatization; Claire Matthews' is the distraught daughter of the murdered man.  During the investigation, each of the woman will make a decision that will change her life.

For registration and information call: 416-395-5639

Book Clubbing at Bendale

Bendale Branch has run an Adult Afternoon Book Club for as long as anyone can remember.  It was in the inspired hands of Branch Head Sylvia Simpson until her retirement in January 2009, when staffer Hanna Malek took over.  Hanna brings wide book knowledge, spark and sparkle to the proceedings.  This dedicated group of amateur literary critics meet at 2:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, fueled by refreshments and conversation.


On Tuesday October 18, at 2:00 p.m., author Julie Kirkpatrick will present her new book The Camino Letters to the group.  This Ontario lawyer reduced her workload and set out on El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage with her teenaged daughter.  Her book is the intensely personal and honest account of this journey.

In response to the call for a book club held outside regular working hours, Hanna began the Adult Evening Book Club this fall.  This group meets the second Thursday of the month, from 6:30-8:00 p.m..  The first order of business was to select titles to discuss for the coming months.  This was done democratically, by secret ballot.  Attendance has been strong, but there is still lots of room for new members.

Please contact Bendale Branch at 416-396-8910 for information.

--thanks to Sandra and Hanna

Terry Fallis Online at Book Buzz

Book Buzz, Toronto Public Library's virtual bookclub, is delighted to welcome Terry Fallis for an online chat this evening.  His debut novel, The Best Laid Plans follows the adventures of Daniel Addison, a burned out political aide who finds himself running a hopeless political campaign with reluctant candidate Angus McLintock.  Canadian politics is unpredictable.  Soon Daniel and his offbeat crew find themselves with a real chance to win the election.

 The political satire has won praise throughout the country.  It also won The Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and was 2011's Canada Reads winner.  It was also named to the Samara Foundation/Writers' Trust shortlist of the Best Canadian Political Books of the last 25 years.  Its sequel, The High Road, was nominated for the The Stephen Leacock Medal in 2011.

Join us for chat on Thursday September 15, 7-8 pm.

 

 

Go the [Bleep] to Sleep: Tender Tales for Sleepy Adults

No one was more surprised than Adam Mansbach when Go the Fuck to Sleep became a bestseller in advance sales.  Definitely not for children, this book is intended to reflect the frustration of parents whose little (non-sleeping) angels remain wide awake long after their bedtimes. Mansbach, a prof at Rutgers University, a novelist (The End of the Jews), and a first-time parent, was inspired to publish this book after he joked on Facebook that this would be the name of his next novel - and received an overwhelmingly postive response. See his interview on ABC news.  Listen to his interview on CBC.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I think of childrens' storytellers, American actor, Samuel L. Jackson and German director, Werner Herzog naturally spring to mind.

Listen to Samuel L. Jackson's tender interpretation. 

And here is Werner's version.

Read what the NY Times, the Washington Times, and the Globe and Mail have to say.  The U.K. Guardian writes about the curious phenonemon of children's books for adults.

Read what the New Yorker says about nervous publishers dealing with profanity-laced bestsellers in a post-Cee Lo universe.  Forget you, indeed.

Will parents find this funny?  Of course.  No doubt some parents will find this offensive, or dismiss it as a one-joke gimmick.  Serious parenting pundits will wade in to argue for or against the book's "premise."  One thing is for sure - this book stands to make a lot of money. 

For those who prefer to hear bedtime tales with an old lady whispering 'hush,' there is always the classic Goodnight Moon.

(author Adam Mansbach with his daughter)