Hamilton Public Library hosts book club celebrating award-winning Hamilton author, Anuja Varghese
By: Erica Boyle, Arts and Culture Contributor
The Hamilton Public Library celebrated the end of last year’s Hamilton Reads program on Nov. 14, 2024, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Valley Park Branch. This year, Hamilton Reads featured Chrysalis, Anuja Varghese’s debut book.
Chrysalis was published in 2023 and won both the Governor-General award and the Writers Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2+ Emerging Writers in 2023. Additionally, Chrysalis was awarded the Fiction Award at the 31st Annual Hamilton Literary Awards which took place at the HPL’s Central Branch on Dec. 12, 2024.
Hamilton Reads is an annual book club that celebrates reading and shines a spotlight on a recommended book each year. Readers can pick up the book and give their thoughts at the event. This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and bond over a shared love of reading.
“Doing Hamilton Reads over the past year has been so cool for me . . . I’ve got to spend time with a whole bunch of different book clubs, I didn’t even realize there were that many book clubs that the library runs. I got to do a writing workshop. So just so many cool things throughout the year that have both helped promote the book but also just allowed me to connect with different kinds of readers in Hamilton and that’s been really neat,” said Varghese.
[Hamilton Reads] allowed me to connect with different kinds of readers in Hamilton and that’s been really neat.
Anuja Varghese, Author of Chrysalis
The event included Varghese reading from Chrysalis and being interviewed by Sanaa Humayun, a Hamilton artist and artistic director at Hamilton Artists Inc., a local non-profit run by artists. The event was a great opportunity for readers to gather and have some fun. There were complimentary snacks and students from the Abhinaya Performing Arts Centre performed a traditional Bharatanatyam dance.
Varghese lives in Hamilton with her partner, two kids and two cats. She works for the YMCA in Hamilton in addition to being an author.
Varghese discussed what she hopes readers will take away from her book in an interview with The Silhouette. “I hope that anyone that picks up the book sees something of themselves somewhere in these stories. The stories all really focus on women and girls in moments of transformation. They focus on women of colour and queer folks and just the ways that we’re kind of robbed of power in different ways in our lives, and the ways that we can then pull some of that power back,” said Varghese.
I hope that anyone that picks up the book sees something of themselves somewhere in these stories. The stories all really focus on women and girls in moments of transformation.
Anuja Varghese, Author of Chrysalis
Varghese then mentioned her hope that McMaster students will discover an interest in short stories. “Short story collections are not something that a lot of people sort of naturally pick up. So, I hope that if it’s not something you would normally pick up, I hope it encourages people to give short stories a try,” said Varghese.
Currently, Varghese is working on a fantasy series set in medieval India. Readers interested should check out her website or social media for more information. More news about that will soon be released, so stay tuned! For the readers out there who want to get involved with the library, Hamilton Reads is the perfect program for you.
The shortlist for the thirtieth annual Hamilton Literary Awards was announced in November and contains celebrated local writers and their works
On Dec. 14, the Hamilton Arts Council will be holding their thirtieth annual Literary Awards. The shortlist has been announced, featuring 16 local authors and their works. The categories are fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's books and the Kerry Schooley Book Award.
The HAC partners with the Hamilton Public Library to hold the event. The ceremony will feature live readings by shortlisted writers, along with the live announcement of the winner of each category.
Megan Divecha, the program and community engagement coordinator at HAC, explained a bit about the awards' history. The Literary Awards first began in 1993 and have since become an annual tradition that recognizes and celebrates local authors from the Hamilton community.
The Awards are meant to bring the city's growing literary community together and to expand the audiences of local literature. Divecha explained that the purpose of the awards is to help build audiences for local authors and to grow professional networks for authors and community members interested in literacy. The Awards offer opportunities for interacting with publishers, local booksellers and the authors themselves.
"If this audience member is new to the literary art scene in Hamilton, then I hope they walk away with an appreciation for how rich the literary art scene is in [the city]. And if they're already entrenched in that literary art scene, then I hope they make connections to grow their personal and professional networks," said Divecha.
"If this audience member is new to the literary art scene in Hamilton, then I hope they walk away with an appreciation for how rich the literary art scene is in [the city]. And if they're already entrenched in that literary art scene, then I hope they make connections to grow their personal and professional networks."
Megan Divecha, program and community engagement coordinator, Hamilton Arts Council
This year, the Literary Awards are being hosted by Anuja Varghese, winner of this year's Governor General's Literary Fiction Award.
The process for organizing the event begins in March, when applicants can submit their books for consideration. Once applicants are confirmed to be eligible, their applications are brought before an adjudication panel comprised of 15 Canadian literary arts professionals, three for each category. After each book is scored, the shortlist is announced and then planning for the ceremony begins.
Divecha herself recalled being inspired by the excerpts read by the authors when she was a student attending the Awards. Having been impacted by hearing live readings at past awards ceremonies, she hopes that other students can also feel inspired that way.
If students are interested in being more involved in the literary arts, the Awards are a great way to meet with people in the industry. At the same time, they are also a great way to see artistry and creativity make local history.
Tickets start at the accessible rate of $5, and there are a limited number available. They can be bought here. Divecha encourages students to get in contact with her if they would like more information about the event, the shortlisted authors or ticket prices.
