On September 23, 2012, I went to Queen’s Park to check out Word on the Street. It’s literary event that has been taking place every September for many years in Toronto. The event provides literary organizations such as bookstores, publishers, and authors with a marketplace to advertise and sell books.
I thought it was an ok event and it was my first time at Word on the Street. It is definitely a family friendly event with tents for authors to speak about their books, stalls selling books, and tents for authors to sign books. At the northern part of the site, there was a kid-friendly market place with reading and activity tents. I went to the festival knowing I wasn’t going to buy books but I could see it as a great event to go to if you do intend to pick up a few books. I overheard some of the bookstore staff at one of the tents saying that the books are typically priced the same as in their bookstore with a few marked lower. The only difference is you’re not paying the taxes at the event but you would at the bookstore.
One of my colleagues had mentioned that there is a great book sale Victoria College that takes place over the weekend that Word on the Street happens. While I was at the Word on the Street I decided to go check it out. I actually enjoyed the Victoria College Book Sale very much. There were old books, new books, and academic books. The sale was worth rummaging through since there were some great finds. It’s a great building too and a book sale is the perfect opportunity to admire the building’s interior as well.
