One-Eyed Panda’s Journal

Last Sunday, I attended the Glamour Bar’s Blue Dragon literary event with Canadian writers Rawi Hage and Madeleine Thien.  Hawi was reading from his new book Cockroach  and Thien read from her 2006 book Certainty.

I really enjoyed myself at the event but I had some issues with the way the event was organized. I was really surprised that only 13 people showed up. I know that CanLit is sort of considered Canada’s great little secret but still — this was disappointing. The Blue Metropolis Literary Festival, the Montreal litfest that brought the authors over, could have done a better job promoting the event. I wonder if they even mentioned this to the Canadian consulate in Shanghai (I didn’t see any consulate staff there). Blue Metropolis could’ve promoted the event through the Consulate’s database of registered Canadians in the city.  I found out about the event on Shanghaiist, but the only other places I saw the event listed were SmartShanghai.com and the Glamour Bar’s own website.

My other disappointment was the fact that only Thien’s Certainty as well as books by the Australian moderator were available for purchase. You could order Hage’s first book, De Niro’s Game (which I did), but Cockroach was unavailable even for order.  I ended up turning to Amazon.com to get it, which I normally don’t mind doing, but when an author gives a reading I like to purchase their books at the venue so that I can have them sign and to show my appreciation for their work.

I guess that is my biggest gripe about the event I felt that the writers weren’t appreciated there. From both readings I can tell that these are great books, but did anyone else notice that? When I had Thien sign my copy of Certainty her face lit right up — I didn’t see anyone else get their books sign and Hage left right after the event finished. I am happy that I can make somebody’s day by doing that but in a case like this I don’t like to be the only one.

J.