Book Drives Toronto

Literary Dinner with Harriet Alida Lye

**What if your next great book conversation happened over dinner?** Join Fifth Edit for an intimate evening with author **Harriet Alida Lye**, celebrating her new novel *Motherclown*. This is more than a traditional author event. Come for dinner, wine and an engaging conversation with Harriet about motherhood, identity, family, creativity and the strange, funny and unsettling territory explored in *Motherclown*. **Your ticket includes:** 🍷 Wine 🍽️ Dinner 📖 A conversation with Harriet Alida Lye 💬 Plenty of time to connect with other readers Whether you've already read *Motherclown* or are simply curious about the book, you're invited to pull up a chair. **Wednesday, October 1 · 7:30 PM** Downtown Winery · Toronto **Limited seats available. Tickets here:** https://luma.com/yrh8pz4h

ABCD Reads "Country People" by Daniel Mason

ABCD Reads "**[Country People](https://tpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S234C4758420)**" by Daniel Mason. [[RESULTS](https://opavote.com/results/5996722009669632) of the poll for this event] **:: ABOUT THE BOOK ::** "Daniel Mason’s latest novel sees him return to the verdant New England landscape that so captivated readers of 2023’s acclaimed North Woods. This time, though, he hops the border from Massachusetts into Vermont – and effects a deeper shift in the process. Where North Woods was a foray into history, telling the tale of a house and its inhabitants over three centuries, in Country People Mason turns his attention to literature and mines the rich seams of text, from myths to Milton to Shakespeare to Tolstoy and all points in between, that make up his novel’s foundations. This is, at its core, a story about stories; a tale about the tales we tell each other, and our children, and ourselves." (from [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jul/07/country-people-by-daniel-mason-review-a-joyful-follow-up-to-north-woods)) "Miles Krzelewski is a devoted husband, a doting father beloved for his outlandish bedtime stories, and the proud owner of a truffle-hunting dog in a land with no truffles. He is also a bit lost, twelve years late with his PhD on Russian folktales, and increasingly haunted by a sense that he's become a disappointment to his family. So when his wife Kate accepts a visiting professorship at a prestigious college in the far away forests of Vermont, he decides that this will be his year to finally move forward with his life. [...] Joyous, absurd, and life-affirming, Country People is a luminous exploration of marriage and parenthood, the nature of belief and the power of stories, and the ways in which we find connection in an increasingly fragmented world." (from [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/242518677-country-people)) **:: ABOUT THE EVENT ::** You are welcome to arrive 30 minutes before the event and stay 30 minutes or longer afterward to connect with other attendees outside the book talk. Please ensure you have read the book before attending (though finishing any book is not a barrier to participating, as long as you don't mind spoilers). First-time attendees can join for free. If the event is full, we maintain an unofficial waitlist. Please send [Michael](https://www.meetup.com/members/55295192/) a direct message for more information, in either case. We request a $3 contribution from regular attendees to help cover our monthly meetup costs. **:: ABOUT OUR NEXT BOOK ::** At the end of each event, we will ask for nominees for our next book. If you have a good one in mind, please ensure it is between 200-400 pages long, available from the Toronto Public Library, and counts as contemporary literary fiction (though these are not hard and fast rules). When enough nominees are collected, Michael will send the members a direct message with a link where you can vote.

Tough Guy Book Club - Toronto ON

Join us for the Toronto Chapter of Tough Guy Book Club. You can find out this month's book here [https://toughguybookclub.com/books](https://toughguybookclub.com/books?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcTVleWRsd0ZYSWdqZXV4QXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5aL8E3xpn05czDIaY5kEiHH3oABs4hICFLOrNXUsW-0gY5HePBTW1ni0SYzw_aem_qNxAzG9ij-sVr5-Rf8Uw3Q) If you have the chance, try to pick up the book and read a couple of pages before the night. If you haven’t, come anyway, no one gives a damn. We are not your boss. If you got one, make sure to bring your copy of the books down, it’ll help you talk about bits of it, we suggest underlining stuff that sticks out to you as important. Also like all months, we will be announcing next month’s book at the meeting and handing them out to those of you who were wise enough to pre-order last month. See you there. Want to know more about Tough Guy Book Club? Read this - [http://toughguybookclub.com/about-us](http://toughguybookclub.com/about-us?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcTVleWRsd0ZYSWdqZXV4QXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5QrDxxQmsaiuIfgbomTP4b6948UogKCm9U4Dudq5-VU_8aUx5RnTiUjO_R1Q_aem_n5AIic3b6NMTZ5TUJGTLkw)

Book Bar Girl’s night 🍸📚💕

Join us for a cozy girls’ night at Book Bar Toronto! 📚🥂 Come meet fellow book lovers, make new friends, sip on drinks, and chat in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re an avid reader, serial hobbyist or just looking for a fun night out with a great group of women, we’d love to have you! 💕 This venue does not take reservations, as such this event will be for a small group of people, please update your RSVP no later than 72 two hours in advance to ensure that those who would like to attend, have a spot to attend. Late cancellations and no-shows will be removed from the group out of courtesy towards others. Please note this venue, serves snacks and drinks, books are available to read and purchase, however, the venue does not serve full meals.

Such Is My Beloved

A Canadian classic, written in 1934, by one of our nation's leading writers, Morley Callaghan. Such Is My Beloved, is the story of Father Stephen Dowling's efforts to realize the true meaning of God's love by befriending two sex workers in the hope of saving them. Despite contending with their reluctance as well as the hostile resistance of society, Dowling is determined to help these two women. Selfless love comes at a great cost. Set in Toronto during the Great Depression, it is a recognizable story; tragic and beautiful, Such is My Beloved, is a timeless contemplation about faith, love, sacrifice, and redemption in a deeply flawed society.

The Corpse with the Ruby Lips by Cathy Ace (Kris)

7 books, 8 ebooks

Life of Fife (6.4 km)

The Bridle Path is famous for being the richest address in Toronto. Most people don't realize that the neighbourhood just to the north is equally affluent. Fife Road and Fifeshire Road are lined with swanky mansions, one of which was featured in a highly successful Canadian comedy. This hike is an opportunity to gawk at luxury homes before we exit into the lush foliage of Windfields Park. The park is also home to the bucolic Canadian Film Centre. Unfortunately, rich neighbourhoods don't have good restaurants. There's only one decent one, a Cantonese restaurant, where we can have dinner. **Highlights** 1. York Mills Arena (depart 6:15 pm) 2. Mansions of Fifeshire Rd 3. St. Andrews Park 4. York Mills and Bayview Ave (depart 6:55 pm) 5. Canadian Film Centre 6. Windfields Park 7. Banbury Community Centre (depart 7:30 pm) 8. Pearl Chinese Cuisine (arrive 7:55 pm) **Neighbourhoods** St Andrews > Windfields **Map** [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1LX-fTnFET4MwGjl5zzE6CG1epvLdcTM&usp=sharing](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1LX-fTnFET4MwGjl5zzE6CG1epvLdcTM&usp=sharing) **How it works** Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints. See our [home page](https://www.meetup.com/hike-to-eat/) for more info.

Book Club (First meeting)

ROTMAN Author Talk: Power of Situations

We attend various ROTMAN events each year. Author Talks. Book Releases. Visiting Professors. ### **Agenda:** 5:00 pm - Check-in opens + light refreshments 5:30 pm - Author presentation and moderated Q&A 6:30 pm - Meet-and-greet with author + book signing ### **Book Synopsis:** **From the #1 bestselling author of *Grit,* a new book that reveals the hidden power of situations—and how you can shape them to bring out your best.** Angela Duckworth, PhD, is the bestselling author of *Grit* and the founder and CEO of Character Lab. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, she is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. **In Angela Duckworth’s first book, she showed that a common denominator of successful strivers is a blend of passion and perseverance she dubbed “grit.**” Ticket link is below. $22-$45 This second book springs from her deepening realization that grit, while necessary, is sometimes not sufficient. How you situate yourself to meet a challenge can be crucial. Duckworth’s in-depth research reveals the enormous influence wielded by the objects within arm’s reach, your peers and mentors, and even your zip code. Though you’re often told to make the best of your situation, it is far, far better to make your situation better first. **In *Situated*, you’ll discover:** * Why your personality changes, sometimes dramatically, from one situation to another—and how you can harness that shift * The secret to conquering temptation *without* willpower * Why taking the less effortful path can feel like cheating but often solves a stubborn problem * How the company you keep shapes the person you become * The most effective ways to help others succeed ***TICKET Link here-***- https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/news-events-and-ideas/public-events/events-listings/2026/october-2026/oct-8---angela-duckworth/

Book Launch: A Corruption of Memory by J.L. Thorpe (Jacqueline)

Book Launch! Come celebrate the launch of J.L. Thorpe's science fiction debut, *A Corruption of Memory*. Itinerary will include an author interview, Q&A session, games, prizes, a book signing, and more! **Book description:** **Their memories were real. They just weren’t their own.** A father races to save his son from a genetic edit that’s rewriting children’s memories, only to discover the fault lies devastatingly close to home. The first in Jacqueline's *Syndicate of Stars* series, *A Corruption of Memory* is a wisty sci-fi suspense full of dark family secrets, corporate intrigue and mind-bending tech set in a future hauntingly familiar to our own. **About the author:** J.L. (Jacqueline) Thorpe is an Aurora-nominated science fiction writer based in Toronto. She spent years working in financial journalism, including as Toronto bureau chief for Bloomberg News and economics columnist for the National Post. She much prefers writing about beleaguered heroes, odious villains, and eccentric sidekicks—not so different really. Check out her [website!](https://links.jlthorpewrites.com/website)

Let's talk about "Crying in H Mart"

In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band--and meeting the man who would become her husband--her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, *Crying in H Mart* is a book to cherish, share, and reread.

Game of the Month: Big Walk

***Big Walk*** Developer: House House ***Join our Discord to find people to play with!*** ***NOTE:*** This month will be an in-person meetup exclusive to members of the Discord server. Join our server for more details. Platforms * PC * MAC * PS5 * SWITCH 2 Looking for others to play with? Join our Discord! Message me (Jake) or go to ivgbc.com \*\*\*