As winter rolls on, numbing our faces with blasts of the True North, going out for entertainment becomes a less attractive option. At this time of the year, the warmth and comfort of home tend to outweigh the act of walking in sub-zero temperatures, through grimy slush and nasty ice, to get to a bar, a restaurant, or a theatre. So, why not stay in, curl up to a comforter, and delve into a thick, meaty novel during your spare time?
Getting over the hurdle
But what if you’re done that last book on your reading list? Fortunately for avid Toronto readers, the Harbourfront weekly reading series has just kicked off for 2011, to give bookworms lots of new material to work through. Now in its 37th year, the reading series has already hosted readings by thousands of authors from over 100 countries, and continues to bring Canadian and international authors to the Harbourfront to read from their latest works.
As part of the Authors at Harbourfront (AUTHORS) program (which has seen authors like John Irving, Margaret Atwood, and Alice Munro grace the stage), the weekly reading series is part of Harbourfront Centre’s multi-faceted literary mission: to get more people, especially children, interested in and passionate about reading; to promote the quality and rich variety of Canadian literature; and to provide literary programs and events so that authors and readers from diverse backgrounds can meet and share their opinions on and interests in literature.
Okay, so maybe you’re still not sure if it’s worth it to zip up your winter parka, put on your tuque and head down to the Harbourfront for the weekly reading series. If you need further motivation to attend a reading, here’s a preview of the authors and books coming to the Harbourfront:
February 23
James Bartleman reads from As Long As the Rivers Flow, “a devastating and inspiring story of one woman trying to find her son while also coming to terms with her past.”
Joy Fielding reads from Now You See Her, “a novel about a newly divorced woman attempting to heal her heartache and her desperate search for her missing daughter.”
Emma Forrest reads from Your Voice in My Head, “a memoir exploring depression, mania and suffering as well as the beauty of love and the heartbreak of loss.”
March 2
Ian Hamilton reads from The Water Rat of Wanchai, “the first in a new action-packed series following forensic accountant Ava Lee in this East meets West look at the global criminal underworld.”
Timothy Taylor reads from The Blue Light Project, “a novel about the clash of art and advertising, the cultish grip of celebrity, and the intense connections that form in times of crisis.”
Jamie Zeppa reads from Every Time We Say Goodbye, “a tender, perceptive and detailed portrait of an unconventional, though not entirely dysfunctional, family.”
The Harbourfront weekly reading series continues to June; to see more upcoming authors and books, visit the official site.
Harbourfront weekly eadings take place on Wednesdays at 7:30p.m., at the Brigantine Room or the Lakeside Terrace. Tickets are $10, or free for Harbourfront Centre members and students.
To purchase tickets, visit the box office at or call 416-973-4000.
