The Buzz...About Books

Meet Robert J. Sawyer at North York Central Library

Award-winning science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer will appear at North York Central Library on May 1, 7-8 pm as part of the 2013 Eh List Reading Series. Mr. Sawyer will be discussing his latest novel Red Planet Blues.

In his illustrious career, Sawyer has won each of the three major science fiction awards:

Hugo Award for Best Novel: Hominids (2003)
Also available as: Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)

John W. Campbell Memorial Award: Mindscan (2006)

Nebula Award for Best Novel: The Terminal Experiment (1996)
Also available as: eBook

In addition he has won the Prix Aurora Award seven times in the Best Novel/Long Form category:

1992:
Golden Fleece

1996:
The Terminal Experiment
• eBook

1997:
Starplex

2000:
Flashforward
• Talking Book

2010:
Wake
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook

2011:
Watch
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)

2012:
Wonder
• eBook

For more information about this event please call 416-395-5639.

Alissa York: Online Chat--Tonight!

Toronto Public Library's Writer in Residence, Alissa York will be our guest on Thursday March 28 for a live chat.

Join us as we discuss writing and literature with the author of acclaimed novels Mercy, Effigy and Fauna.

Never participated in a live chat? It's easy. You can join from any computer with Internet access. Simply go to our chat page at 7:30 on March 28 and start typing--ask questions, make comments or just read the discussion.

Our live chats are a great way to interact with writers and with other readers. They're lively and lots of fun. 

Please join us on Book Buzz:

Alissa York: Live Chat
Thursday March 28, 7:30-8:30 PM

Related:
Writer in Residence--Alissa York

Alissa York: Live Chat on Book Buzz

Toronto Public Library's Writer in Residence, Alissa York will be our guest on Thursday March 28 for a live chat.

Join us as we discuss writing and literature with the author of acclaimed novels Mercy, Effigy and Fauna.

Never participated in a live chat? It's easy. You can join from any computer with Internet access. Simply go to our chat page at 7:30 on March 28 and start typing--ask questions, make comments or just read the discussion.

Our live chats are a great way to interact with writers and with other readers. They're lively and lots of fun. 

Please join us on Book Buzz:

Alissa York: Live Chat
Thursday March 28, 7:30-8:30 PM

Related:
Writer in Residence--Alissa York

Alison Pick Live Chat

Last night, Book Buzz welcomed award winning author Alison Pick for an online chat. Her novel, Far to Go, won the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Based on Pick's family history, the novel tells the story of the Bauer family whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of German forces in Czechoslovakia in 1939.

She was a terrific guest, allowing us to get a peek inside the creative process.

If you missed the event, the transcipt is available on the Book Buzz website.

Alison Pick Transcript

 

Meet Farzana Doctor at North York Central Library

Toronto Public Library is pleased to welcome acclaimed author Farzana Doctor as our Writer in Residence in October-November 2012.

Her novels include Stealing Nasreen and Six Metres of Pavement. Six Metres of Pavement was the winner of this year's Lambda award for Lesbian General Fiction and is a current finalist for the Toronto Book Awards. The Toronto Book Awards will be announced next week on October 11.

Meet the author this Saturday, October 6, 2 pm. at North York Central Library in the Auditorium.

 Read a review of Six Metres of Pavement.

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