So, Roro and I did actually go to to Word on the Street. I have to say, I like it better up at Queen's Park. There is way more room for people to wander around and the park at the centre of things gives it a nice pastoral feel. Also, more places for people to sit, have a soft ice cream cone and read their new books (not that I'm speaking from first hand experience or anything ...)
The trouble with WOTS is ... and this is *my* issue ... I think that WOTS is a book *sale* not a book *fair*. So I always go and expect to get the latest hardcover for $.99. This, my friends, never happens. Yet I hold out hope.
The best "deals" this year (I think) was at Penguin Canada. All their hardbacks were on for $5 and their softbacks for $3. And they didn't charge me tax which is how it should be. Some of the places that listed "Hardbacks - $10" and then charged you tax .. that is not $10, my friends. Just build the GST into the price of the book. (Or better yet, there should be no GST on books!) So, at Penguin Canada I got a book for my brother for Christmas. I'd post the name of it here, but he reads this. (Drew, I may read it first .. don't think I'm cheap :-)
I also find at WOTS that there are generally good deals on magazine subscriptions. I signed up for a year of The Walrus for $20, with a couple of extra issues thrown in. Regularly $29.95. I also stopped by Spacing's booth. Picked up a couple of subway buttons (Dupont, Union and Wellesley ... Drew, one of these will be in your stocking this year! And it's not Dupont or Union.)
The independent publishers generally have some good deals ... though I am still amazed at how expensive kids' books are. Even small paperbacks. I don't know how libraries do it.
I didn't make it to the blogging panel. Around 3:00 the weather turned deadly still. And all the cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust, old hotdog and l'eau de hippie combined to make me feel a little frumbly. So Roro and I trundled home with our shiny new books. Luckily, ChrisNolan.ca posted about it (and has a pic!)