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Frying Plantain: Growing up between the worlds
When does one come of age? Most of us tend to remember it through definable landmarks: working after school hours, graduation, a first kiss, and the sensation of that first sip of alcohol. But reading Zalika Reid-Benta’s debut novel Frying Plantain reminds us that the journey to adulthood is more subtle than that. It is in the moment when you unravel the meaning of adult conversations you have heard before. It is in the shock at reactions to unexpected events of daily life. Coming of age happens through a series of events in which a child’s awe at the unknown but defined world evolves into the acceptance of its unpredictability.…
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Seven Ways to Survive as a Local Bookstore
Let’s be honest, it is getting harder and harder for local bookstores to survive in the era of Amazon and huge chain bookstores. Moreover, these bookstores — romanticized forever in the movie You’ve Got Mail, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks — will continue to encounter tough economic turbulences. Recessions come and recessions go, but once you have spread your roots in your people’s hearts, you can sleep more soundly at night. In the meantime, here are seven ways to survive as a local bookstore. One: Be Responsive React to what people in your neighbourhood want and what titles your customers come looking for; you can make a list of…
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Reading through Recovery
**Content Warning: mentions of suicide attempt, abuse, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD** The first time I learned how to love, I quickly tied its meaning to manipulation and abuse. From an early age, already too familiar with the world’s indifference to suffering, I externalized the pain that was physically too much for my mind. My behaviour was outed by the very person who drove me to the edge, one pill away from fading to black. And as I sat in a white room, awaiting the psychiatrist who would misdiagnose me, I felt undeniably lost. I went on to receive treatment for months to come. But even when they got…
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Finding Your Best Reading Spot on the Danforth
Most of us crave a certain setting in order to truly enjoy something. This is true in all aspects of life, but I would say it is most important when we are reading. To retain information on a page, we need our focus, maybe not all of it, but I would say a good chunk of it. What fuels this focus is the real question. Every person is unique, we all have preferences and quirks that are different from others, but since we live in a society, we unintentionally pick up traits/habits of those most around us. This is most noticeable in close knit neighbourhoods. I went on a mission…
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Bookworms Unite With #50BookPledge
How many books can you get through in a year? By joining the 50 Book Pledge initiative and using the official tag, #50BookPledge, on Twitter, book lovers everywhere can keep track of exactly just how much of a bookworm they are. It all started with the creation of The Savvy Reader, a blog created back in 2006 and hosted by HarperCollins Canada. It was a response to the then-outdated HarperCollins website, which didn’t reflect the values and services the publishing company wanted to give to its readers. Through The Savvy Reader, HarperCollins is able to “connect and engage with readers as readers rather than as publishers and marketers,” says Kaitlyn…
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OTD Recommends: Life-Changing Books
On the Danforth staff is a passionate about books and reading. Here are all the books that changed our lives, we think you should read them too!
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9 Books Every Bibliophile Should Read
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein Simply the name of this book is enough to send any 3rd or 4th year student into wailing despair. Tender Buttons is a nonsensical masterpiece that delves into the very meaning of what words can and cannot be. Don’t let this text scare you away, though you might want to prepare for battle before reading. 1984 by George Orwell We all know this one; many of us read it in high school. 1984 is a classic, and one that should be given its yearly dues. Reading this book again at a critical turning point in ones life (like, say, the first year of university) is…
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Harry Potter and the Love of Re:Reading
Appreciating used copies of a favourite book series with tips for defeating the Dark Lord By Leah Morrison Getting kids of all ages to love reading can be difficult in this age of distractions. But Christopher Sheedy, owner of Re:Reading (548 Danforth Ave.) knows how to connect with every one of them. In his shop, not only will you find a well-stocked children’s section (practically unheard of in used bookstores) but also a young and helpful staff who are incredibly knowledgeable about books for kids and young adults. Sheedy himself does what he can to encourage reading among children.
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How do you spend your leisure time?
Chillin’ Out By Rebecca Taylor If you are like me, after a long day at work or school, you like to kick back and relax. Often, just sitting in front of the television or putting on your favourite movie does the trick. But after a really awful day, my all-time favourite mode of de-stressing is grabbing an ice cold beer and reading a book. [poll id=”22″]
