TORONTO — Union Hotel has partnered with the Giller Prize to put a spin on book clubs with the launch of a new literary series: Union Hotel x Giller Prize Present: #BookTalk, which debuted on June 24.
This series brings some of Canada’s most acclaimed authors into conversation with notable Canadian interviewers, celebrating CanLit in a way that is thoughtful, contemporary and community focused.
“This series is a love letter to Canadian literature, and an invitation to those who love storytelling to see beyond the page,” says Kevin Slean, general manager of Union Hotel. “We have been inspired by the reading renaissance and revival of book club culture, and of course the popular #BookTok trend, to offer a fresh way to gather, read and reflect in person.”
Taking place in the Union Hotel lobby, #BookTalk invites guests and literary lovers alike to engage with a Giller Prize-winning, shortlisted or longlisted author. Each author will be interviewed live by a fellow writer or journalist.
André Alexis will kick off the series. Interviewed by The Globe and Mail’s deputy national editor Rachel Giese, Alexis will discuss his award-winning works, including Fifteen Dogs and his debut novel Childhood, as well as his recently released Other Worlds.
Additional authors will include Thomas King, Souvankham Thammavongsa, Michael Redhill and Ann-Marie Macdonald.
“Canadian stories feed our souls, express our yearnings and are crucial elements of our national identity, heritage and cultural ecosystem,” says Elana Rabinovitch, executive director, Giller Prize/The Giller Foundation. “In this current political moment, it’s more critical than ever to assert and protect our cultural sovereignty and celebrate our unique narratives, stories that are integral to understanding who we are as a people, who we are in this world.”
