Two book fairs this weekend
A week after the bold and brash Salon du livre, book lovers have two more intimate events this weekend for literary shopping and shmoozing. And both are free. The Holiday Pop-up Book Fair, being held for the first time at Concordia University downtown, features a wine and cheese reception with celebrated actor and author Ann-Marie MacDonald. The fair will take place in the atrium of the McConnell Building. MacDonald was the inaugural Writer in Residence at the Mordecai Richler Reading Room in 2013, just upstairs from the book fair. “You can’t buy more local than this!” quipped Lori Schubert, the executive director of the Quebec Writers Federation, which sponsors the event. Days after the QWF awards were announced, many of the authors nominated will also be at the fair. The participants include such writers and translators as: Paige Cooper, who won the Concordia University First Book Prize this year; Catherine Leroux, shortlisted for the 2016 Giller Prize; Aleshia Jensen, who was shortlisted for the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award; Lazer Lederhendler; Rae Congdon; Lise Weil; David Gutnick; Klara du Plessis; Jacob Wren; Lindsay Nixon; Jason Camlot; Peter Kirby; Anne Renaud; Louise Carson; Licia Canton and Katia Grubisic. Other events include panels on writing memoirs; on fiction, including Cooper; and another featuring children’s book authors. There is also Elevated Poetry — featuring readings by the authors on a specially designated elevator — and, once you get to the sixth floor of the building, tours of the Richler Library Project. Meanwhile, across town, in a church near the Jean-Talon Market and métro station, is the 17th edition of Expozine — a bilingual book fair with emphasis on alternative and underground presses. With close to 300 publishers and self-publishing authors and artists coming from across North America, it features everything from new novels, graphic novels and comics to hand-printed art books and zines. The Holiday Pop-Up Book Fair runs Saturday and Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. at 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. More info at aelaq.org/events. Expozine runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Église St-Arsène, at 1025 Bélanger. More at expozine.ca.