Monday night’s book bash at the International Festival of Authors was a bit more subdued than usual. Was it the election action that kept the publishing people who usually ram this party away?
Could be, given the the polls didn’t open til way past regular business hours begin and many voters had to fly home after work to cast their ballots.
Festival director Geoffrey Taylor allowed that numbers in general at the festival were down, but he blamed the parking problem – the large Harbourfront lot is under construction – but I’m not so sure. The star power isn’t as strong as in previous fests, which would be more of a factor.
Emma Donoghue was in her usual rare form, alongside her very happy American publishing team – Donoghue’s novel Room is #15 on the New York Times bestseller list and and sales are very brisk.
While talking with Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall about Friday’s excellent round table with Kevin Berry, Donoghue and Joshua Ferris , I moaned that host Rachel Geise didn’t have to do much to keep those blabby authors talking, while I ‘m often having to facilitate on-stage conversation with writers who have nothing in common.
“You think you have problems,” said Bishop-Stall. “They’ve scheduled my event at the same time as Jonathan Franzen’s.”
Kevin Berry himself is loving Toronto and staying here for a full month. Eleanor Catton loves the city but doesn’t like hotels much. “They make me feel a little lonely, ” she allowed. And when I said, “Really? I love a hotel room,” she asked. “Want to trade. I’ll stay at your house and you can have my room.”
Margaret Drabble, author of – ahem – over 25 books, doesn’t have Catton’s problem. She’s been at IFOA many times and has tons of friends who take good care of her while she’s in town.
As usual, the lights came up before most people wanted to leave.
Things happen so quickly in this city. When the party began, the polls weren’t even closed and by the time we all left the building, Toronto’s political landscape had been completely transformed.
