Big, big day of events. This is just a wee taste. The teensiest taste. The snack pack. Be sure to visit www.readings.org for the full meal deal and to see the locations of the events.
Reading/Interview, 12 p.m.: Internationally bestselling author Nicole Krauss - The History of Love and Man Walks into a Room - reads from her latest novel, followed by a discussion with CBC's Laurie Brown.
Talk, 1 p.m.: "Timorous Beasties: 20 Years of Beastiality." I'm tempted to leave you hanging, but I'll continue. Alistair McAuley, co-founder of Glasgow's Timorous Beasties talks about how the design studio came to define a style once described as "William Morris on acid." CBC's Garvia Bailey hosts.
This is a free (and groovy) event! (The exhibition itself runs until Nov. 7.)
Reading/Interview, 2 p.m.: Two words. Farley. Mowat. In conversation with CBC's Carol Off.
Reading/Interview, 2 p.m: Disability activist Donna Thomson chats with John Ralston Saul about The Four Walls of My Freedom, her powerful memoir about coping with her son's cerebral palsy. CBC's Mary Ito hosts that discussion.
Roundtable, 3 p.m.: "In Graphic Detail." Also tempted to leave you hanging. This event features Charles Burns ( X'ed Out), Dylan Horrocks ( Hicksville) and Seth ( Palookaville #20) in discussion with CBC's Bob Mackowycz about illustration, comic arts and graphic novels.
Roundtable, 4 p.m.: Writers & Company 20th Anniversary Celebration. How often do you get to sit back and listen to some of the world's most renowned authors and critics talk about their favourite books? That's the theme of this event, which has acclaimed host Eleanor Wachtel in conversation with guests Dionne Brand, Margaret Drabble, Deborah Eisenberg and Andrew O'Hagan.
Reading, 8 p.m.: Daily Telegram columnist Louise Doughty ( Whatever You Love); award-winning author Joshua Ferris and one of New Yorker's "20 Under 40" ( The Unnamed); Paolo Giordano, winner of Italy's Premio Strega ( The Solitude of Prime Numbers); and, Trillium-finalist Matthew Tierney ( The Hayflick Limit; that's him in the video attached to this post) read from their latest works. CBC's Nora Young hosts.
Coffee this late in the evening? You might need it if you're going to stay up for the launch of "40 Years of the Juno Awards," featuring co-authors Karen Bliss, Nick Krewen and Jason Schneider, with special guests Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, renowned singer-songwriter Dan Hill and musician Emm Gryner. Hosted and moderated by the CBC's host with the most, Jian Ghomeshi.
Not in Toronto? This year, IFOA travels to cities throughout Ontario, such as Port Hope where David Bergen, Aryn Kyle and Dan Rhodes read from their latest novels at Trinity College School at 2 p.m.
Wah? And we get to do it all over again tomorrow? See you then!