The Toronto launch of Tahmima Anam's A Golden Age at the Gladstone Hotel on Tuesday night aimed to capture the beauty of Bangladesh, the main setting of the novel. Melissa Nowakowski of HarperCollins Canada planned the event with Pages Books, choosing to focus on music and decor to make a statement. "We set out to find partners within the [South Asian] culture who we felt would present the beauty, uniqueness, and flair that is A Golden Age," Nowakowski said.The elaborately decorated stage by Dream Party Decor served as the focal point in the hotel's north ballroom. Gold elephants, vases with floating tea lights, and intricate wooden chairs sat atop a colourful carpet surrounded by shimmering drapery and beads. Green and pink lighting added more colour around the room, and golden yellow curtains and white sheers replaced the ballroom's usual black draping for a lighter feel.
Tej Hunjan of Contejus Entertainment provided a mix of Indian classical and urban music on drums, and served as DJ later in the evening. Because of the nature of the event—part of the "This Is Not a Reading Series" by Pages Books—Anam talked with CBC Radio's Aparita Bhandari instead of reading passages from her book. "We wanted to target those individuals who might not pick up a novel, as well as the more traditional readership," Nowakowski said. Close to 200 people attended the event.
Tej Hunjan of Contejus Entertainment provided a mix of Indian classical and urban music on drums, and served as DJ later in the evening. Because of the nature of the event—part of the "This Is Not a Reading Series" by Pages Books—Anam talked with CBC Radio's Aparita Bhandari instead of reading passages from her book. "We wanted to target those individuals who might not pick up a novel, as well as the more traditional readership," Nowakowski said. Close to 200 people attended the event.
Photo: BizBash
Photo: BizBash
Photo: BizBash
Photo: BizBash
Photo: BizBash