By Giselle Wedemire
From the cozy sweaters and ever-present cups of warming tea to the barrage of new releases hitting bookstore shelves around the world, autumn is a season practically made for booklovers. Add the annual return of Calgary Wordfest (Oct. 9 to 15) to the mix and you’ve got yourself a reader’s cozy paradise. To make the most of this fleeting season, we’ve got the lowdown on all that Calgary has to offer bookworms. [Photo credit: iStock]
As any booklover will tell you, you can never have too many books. If you’re on the hunt for works by indie authors, look no further than Pages on Kensington. With more than 15,000 titles spanning three levels (including the basement), this shop has an awe-inspiring selection of hard-to-find, indie titles that’ll make you think twice about ordering from Amazon.
If your book collection is getting out of control, a quick trade at Fair’s Fair should sort you out and have you armed with a bevy of new-to-you reads at a fraction of the cover price. Browse the extensive selections of used books at either of the city’s two locations that boast a cozy and homey feeling that begs you to curl up and start reading your new finds then and there.
If your idea of heaven is curling up with a good book and a feline friend, look no further than the Regal Cat Café. Perfect for cat-lovers and booklovers alike, this well-lit café offers readers the opportunity to satisfy their cravings with lovingly crafted refreshments while reading, plus a view of playful and adoptable cats when it’s time to rest their eyes. For an even more purrfect respite from reading, booklovers can schedule an appointment to visit and play with these friendly felines.
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More fun things to do in Calgary this fall:
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If new books and cozy trips to cafés just aren’t cutting it for you this fall, take your reading obsession to new heights with any of the many events put on by Calgary Wordfest. Running from Oct. 9 to 15, this year’s festival will play host to a variety of events and panels featuring more than 80 writers, including Canadian songwriting legend Ron Sexsmith, New York Times bestseller Rupi Kaur and prolific Young Adult author Alice Kuipers.
Can’t get enough of your favourite reads and need a place to discuss your latest finds? Check out The Book Club Bonanza, where blogger Anne Logan will lead bibliophiles through a group discussion on recent Wordfest Book Club favourites such as Nicole Lundrigan's The Substitute and Zoey Leigh Peterson's Next Year, for Sure.
If you're not one to be star struck, Brunch with Ruth Ware will provide booklovers with the meal of a lifetime. At this sit-down brunch hosted at the Deane House, readers will have the opportunity to indulge in mouthwatering food as well as food for thought as they rub elbows with Ware, a best-selling suspense writer known for such titles as The Lying Game, The Woman in Cabin 108 and In a Dark, Dark Wood.
And if you fancy yourself a reader and a scribe, the Character Development Workshop is a can't-miss event. There, Man Booker Prize nominee and acclaimed Canadian poet/novelist Alison Pick will teach aspiring writers how to hone their craft while leading them in creativity-boosting exercises that’ll deepen their understanding of the characters they’ve created in their own manuscripts.
Whether you like to sip and shop solo or interact with your fellow readers around the city, you’ll find that Calgary has bookworm-friendly options that will suit your needs. For more information on Wordfest events, visit their website at Wordfest.com.
