Fall is here and Toronto’s book enthusiasts have returned to
doing what they love – reading from their new work, sharing their ideas, and
generally gossiping about each other.
I attended a number of readings and book
launches in September, and couldn't attend a few book launches that I wanted
to.
Here’s a roundup:
An unusual one was The Underdog Poets Academy at the Central
(Markham Street) organized by the young Sarah Beaudin.
Yoko Morgenstern invited me to this event. She always
introduces me to great events and people every time she visits Toronto.
Michael Scott (Wateredown)’s reading and Daisuke Takeya painting
created a confluence of colours, words and images that was riveting.
Dave Proctor, another young writer, read from Blank State.
He read with energy, passion and a sense of drama not often seen in
writers.
The theme of the books is the future Toronto – a city of
condos – where artists fight, “and a group of filmmakers are fighting to
document the city’s slow decline.”
Farzana Doctor’s Brocton Writers Series always features
brilliant writers. For the September edition, she had Patricia Westerhof,
Leslie Shimotakahara, James Talbot-FitzGerald, and Benjamin Hackman.
The evening belonged to Hackman who read from his The Benjy
Poems. You may listen to the poems here: Benjy Poems.
Reading with Katlin
The
indefatigable Mary Ellen Koroscil organized Reading with Katlin – “evening of poetry, prose, fun and laughter and
refreshments” at Q Space – an absolutely lovely place, ideal for such an event.
The
lineup of poets and writers included Albert Moritz, the Griffen Poetry Prize
winning poet, Jasmine D’Costa, Leo Paradela, Luciano Icaobelli, Jim Bartley,
and John Calabro.
The
evening belonged to Katlin Kaldmaa, the poet from Estonia, who read her poems
in both Estonian and in English.
Image: http://www.theartoftoadkissing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Poetry-Reading.jpg
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