Toronto Book Awards Shortlist Announced

Two novels, poetry, photography and a memoir selected for expressing creative and sharp perspectives of the city

Shawn Micallef and Patrick Cummin’s Full Frontal T.O. is on this year’s shortlist 

The Toronto Book Awards is the annual celebration of works that explore the spirit through the city through profound literary and artistic representation. Last year’s winner was Andrew J. Borkowski for Copernicus Avenue, a collection of short stories that re-imagines of Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood in the years following World War II. This year the shortlist couldn’t offer a more diverse array of forms – two novels, poetry, photography and a memoir present strong reflections of Toronto and are contenders for the top prize.

City Librarian Jane Pyper proudly announced the shortlist, highlighting the fine points of each work. “A novel and a memoir each tackle questions of identity; a volume of poetry connects an iconic Canadian artist to urban life; a book of photographs invites us to really look at the city around us; and a second (book) paints an intimate portrait of a marriage.”

Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes  by Kamal Al-Solaylee, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

Full Frontal T.O. by Shawn Michallef (text) and Patrick Cummins (photos), Coach House Books

Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report by Kevin Irie, Frontenac House Poetry

Giant by Aga Maksimowska, Pediar Press

Everybody Has Everything by Katrina Onstad, McLelland and Stewart

The winner will be annonced on Wednesday, October 9 at the Toronto Book Awards: Awards Ceremony and Gala, in the Toronto Reference Library Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. Catch the shortlisted authors reading passages at the Word on the Street book and magazine festival on Sunday, September 22 at Queen’s Park and Yorkville’s Toronto Reference Library on October 3, 7pm.