Get the real story with Humber’s By the Lake Book Club

Thursday, December 11, 2008

By: Lauren Souch

Humber’s School of Performing and Creative Arts, in partnership with the Assembly Hall of Toronto, has launched a new book club at the Lakeshore Campus.

 “The Assembly Hall approached us with the idea for a reading series, but I was reluctant about that,” said Joe Kertes, Dean of the School of Performing and Creative Arts, “reading series are generally not very successful.”

He said people tend to be more engaged by book clubs, and suggested this approach to the Assembly Hall instead.

They agreed, and the By the Lake Book Club was born. “Both parties were interested in doing presentations for the community,” said Denise Dickin, the Coordinator of the Assembly Hall.

The book club takes a twist on your traditional book club, as the authors will be present to do a reading and sign autographs, as well as participate in the discussion about the book.

“This is a great opportunity to interact with authors through questions and answers,” said Dickin.

“It's a fun way of exploring what's behind the writing,” agreed Kertes, “and it's nice to actually have the authors present for that.”

Ties to Humber

The authors were selected largely based on who has new books being published. Kertes – who is also a participating author – said three out of the four participating authors all have ties to Humber.

“I enjoy participating in things like this,” said Kertes, “I spent 8 years on this book, and I enjoy people reading and appreciating the story I've told - I love having my work appreciated. All authors do.”

One book will be featured a month, starting with the award-winning fiction novel The Origin of Species, by Nino Ricci, in January. Ricci’s novel recently received the 2008 Governor General’s award for fiction.

February will feature Gratitude by Kertes, which is about 1944 Hungary. “World War Two come to Hungary,” said Kertes, “and blows up civilization, and the book is about a family caught up in that.”

Mary Swan’s book The Boys in the Trees will be March’s novel, and Not Yet, by Wayson Choy, will be discussed in April. Not Yet is scheduled for release in March.

Interested community members can join the book club by contacting the Assembly Hall. It costs $50 to join in on all four sessions, or you can pick and choose which days you’d like to attend and pay per session.