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Art & Books

Inside the city

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Some authors write so vividly about their city setting you feel you can smell the streets. These authors come to the festival with books that evoke their urban locations with grit and precision.

Jonathan Safran Foer reading Wednesday (October 26), 8 pm, at the Lakeside Terrace and interviewed Tuesday (October 25), 7 pm, at the Studio Theatre

American writer Jonathan Safran Foer’s debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated, now a feature film, was an immediate sensation. Foer comes to the authors’ fest with Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close , a book set in New York. Just after young Oskar’s dad dies in the twin tower attacks, he finds an envelope with the name Black written on it that contains a key. He looks for the meaning of the key by attempting to visit all New Yorkers with the last name Black, a search that takes him all over the five boroughs by train, by cab and on foot.

NICK LAIRD reading Friday (October 21), 8 pm, at the Premier Dance Theatre and at a round table Sunday (October 23), 1 pm, in the Brigantine Room

First-time novelist Nick Laird’s Utterly Monkey tracks ambitious lawyer Danny Williams as he tries to flee his hometown of Ballyglass, leaving Northern Ireland behind to practise law in London. Of course, his past catches up with him – but not until we’ve been given a glorious slice of London life.

DIONNE BRAND reading October 27, 8 pm, and interviewed Saturday (October 22), 3 pm, both at the Lakeside Terrace

The Toronto poet and novelist’s latest fiction, What We All Long For follows Toronto artists as they search for identity and inspiration in the streets of Toronto, whether they’re downtown, midtown or uptown. Brand’s commitment to T.O’s diversity gives the novel added authenticity. Tell me you can’t hear the subway screeching to a halt when Brand describes a ride along the Bloor line.

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