Random Annoyances - Paying for Book Readings in Toronto

Perhaps I've been spoiled. Living in Boston, an intellectually thriving city that boasts such a dense gathering of ready resident writers that the supply of them exceeds the demand to hear them read, I've never had to pay a book reading.

Not even when T. Coraghessan Boyle came to the Harvard Book Store to read from his new book "Women", not even when the store had to set up television sets in other parts of the store so that the surplus of eager fans could still claimed to have inhabited the same air space as Boyle as they watched him read over a monitor, did they charge me for the reading. I got to see him in the flesh.

But here in Toronto, that doesn't seem to be the case. The demand far exceeds supply and they can charge you for it.

Take for instance, Chuck Palahniuk and his "Pygmy" Tour. Chuck's the guy who brought us "The Flight Club" and "Choke". He was here in Toronto to read from his eponymous book. The tickets, yes, tickets for the reading were sold out at $15 a pop. Larry King is coming to town to read from his new book and I would have to shell out $18 to see him. If I wanted to see him. Michael Ignatieff--distinguished professor, politician, writer, journalist, documentary filmmaker-- is gracing a brunch reading (I can't say enough about the tackiness of those two words being placed side by side.) For $40 you can eat eggs and hear him read his new book. The fee doesn't include the hardcover book "True Patriot Love", which attandees will feel great pressure to purchase and have signed after breaking bread with the man. I just want to add that you can save 50% off the cover price if you order your copy of Ignatieff's book ahead of time from Amazon.ca for the bargain price of $15, not including S&H. Neil Gaiman, $15. Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist Reading, $10. Students $5.

To be fair, there are a few readings that I am surprised are free. Miriam Toews and Anne Michaels, both highly acclaimed and widely published, will be reading at no cost, other than your time and travel expenses.

One might perhaps argue that rather than a simple microeconomics explanation of supply and demand, the true reason for event organizers to charge for events is that Torontonians are willing to pay to see their celebrity writers. Canadians, they might argue, value their writers more and hold them up to the same spotlight that shines on rock bands and movie stars.

I don't think so. I think rather it is the typically Canadian obsequious attitude that makes them think they ought to pay for everything, including readings.

Readings are opportunities for the writers to advertise their books in order to raise sales and fatten their royalties. In Toronto, people not only buy the books, but then pay for the advertisement to boot.

To me, this is like paying cover at a supermarket.