Amanda Boyden In Conversation With Alissa York at TINARS

What storms were brewing within the heart of New Orleans before Hurricane Ivan rolled into town? To celebrate the launch of her remarkable new novel about such tempests, Babylon Rolling (Knopf Canada), Amanda Boyden will have a dynamic on-stage conversation with celebrated author Alissa York. – A This Is Not A Reading Series event presented by Pages Books & Magazines, Knopf Canada and EYE WEEKLY.

Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St West, Toronto
Wednesday, August 6; 8:30pm (doors 8pm) free

BABYLON ROLLING chronicles a year in the lives of five families – black, white and Indian – whose homes line one block of Uptown, New Orleans. Acclaimed novelist Amanda Boyden employs the device of competing narrators to vividly portray the biases and thwarted dreams that lay hidden within each household. Such misgivings bubble towards the surface when a horrific accident takes place on the front lawn of Cerise Brown, a longtime resident in her late seventies. The entire neighborhood converges on the sidewalk to cast blame and, eventually, offer comfort and hope to one another. As Hurricane Ivan steadily churns his way toward the city, the budding relationships between the neighbours are put to the test. They must join forces to prepare their homes for Ivan's fury. Boyden offers a bold understanding of human nature and the prejudices we harbor. Babylon Rolling paints a powerful portrait of racism in America and a boozy, humid city on the edge of transformation.

AMANDA BOYDEN is an acclaimed author who has held a series of remarkable positions. Formerly a circus trapeze artist and contortionist, she proudly lists hanging high over the heads of Galactic and 311 in her life accomplishments. Boyden currently teaches in the English department of the University of New Orleans, where she earned her MFA. Her widely celebrated debut novel, Pretty Little Dirty (Vintage Canada), was published in 2006. She lives in New Orleans with her husband, Canadian author Joseph Boyden.

ALISSA YORK is an award-winning author and Associate Editor of Cyclops Press. She recently followed her debut, Mercy (Random House) with another highly praised novel, Effigy (Random House). Amongst her honors are the Journey Prize and the Bronwen Wallace Award. York makes her home in Toronto.

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