NYers headline JCC fair

The Jewish book festival features some 25 authors.

Woody Allen and Anne Roiphe are just two of the impressive headliners at this year's Cherie Smith Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver Jewish Book Festival, which will feature literary readings, author signings, book launches, creative writing workshops, school field trips, a young authors' tea and numerous children's programs.

Allen kicks things off Nov. 7, when he speaks, via live satellite broadcast from New York, with psychoanalyst Dr. Gail Saltz about the psychological themes behind his creativity. Saltz is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital and mental health contributor for NBC TV's Today Show. She will spend an hour and a half in conversation with Allen, then local spectators will have the chance to ask Allen a question as he opens the floor to an international audience of viewers. The evening, which includes a screening of Allen's movie Manhattan, will be hosted by Province movie critic David Spaner, whose book Dreaming in the Rain: How Vancouver Became Hollywood North by Northwest is expected to be published this spring.

More thought-provoking entertainment comes a few days later when Mark Leiren-Young's award-winning play Shylock comes to Vancouver Nov. 10 for a special, one show only, benefit performance for the book festival. Directed by John Juliani, the play will star actor John Huston, a member of the Métis nation of Saskatchewan who is currently in Vancouver starring in the Arts Club production The Weir.

Then the main event begins, opening on the evening of Nov. 16 with renowned columnist and author Roiphe, with musical entertainment by Vancouver's Saul Berson Jazz Quartet. Roiphe's articles have appeared in Vogue and Family Circle and she writes a regular column for the New York Observer. She will be in town from New York to read from her most recent book, Married: A Fine Predicament, and the memoir 1185 Park Avenue, as well as touch upon the process of autobiographical writing, based on her own experiences with the genre.

Over the course of the six-day event, Nov. 16-21, festival-goers will have a chance to meet all of the participating authors: Roz Davidson, Anne Dublin, Sarah Ellis, Steve Floris, Josh Freed, Mark Laba, Mark Leiren-Young, Karen Levine, Glenda Leznoff, Dave Margoshes, Chaim Milikowsky, Sharon Promislow, Norman Ravvin, Nancy Richler, Chava Rosenfarb, Ellen Schwartz, Linda Sky Grossman, Daniel Snowman, Spaner, David Stephens, Richard Teleky, Karen X. Tulchinsky, Irene N. Watts and Tom Wayman.

Closing the festival is Rebecca Wigod, books editor of the Vancouver Sun, in conversation with local author Richler Nov. 21. Richler has written Throwaway Angels, which was short-listed for the Arthur Ellis First Novel Award, and her most recent book, Your Mouth is Lovely, was recently reviewed in the Bulletin. (See the September archives of www.jewishindependent.ca.)

During the festival, there will be new books for sale. As well, there will be used books, videos, CDs and cassettes for sale from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. The Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library asks anyone who would like to donate Jewish, popular fiction, children's, art or history books to drop them off at the library before the festival begins.

The Nov. 7 Allen-Saltz discussion starts at 5 p.m. There will be a short dinner break before the screening of Manhattan – advance orders for the paper bag dinner catered by Chagall's must be made by Oct. 31. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $10 for dinner.

The Shylock performance Nov. 10 is at 8 p.m.; tickets are $20 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. The Nov. 16 Roiphe reading and talk starts at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $25 and $18 for students or seniors.
The closing event Nov. 21 takes place at 7 p.m. and there is no charge for admission, however, reservations are recommended and they should be made through Hadassah-WIZO at 604-257-5151 by Nov. 11.

All of the book fair events take place at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, 950 West 41st Ave. For tickets and information, call 604-257-5111 or visit www.jccgv.com.

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