Book Scene: Blogs and Bookers

The ever-improving IFOA has a blog, gearing up for the fest in October. The literary equivalent of TIFF (very nearly. Well, they will be), the IFOA brings in all the best international talent for readings and discussions and signings. Get your tickets as of Sept 5. Fest runs Oct 18-28.

Man Booker Prize longlist announced.

The only canuck representin' is Mary Lawson for The Other Side of the Bridge (which isn't actually out until September). You probably read the subtle, simple and very good Crow Lake.

The current front-runner is David Mitchell's unusally straightforward Black Swan Green, which is already earning comparisons to Catcher in the Rye.