Dear Gossips, 

The Warner Bros presentation at CinemaCon is scheduled for today. And I’m hoping that that’s why the Crazy Rich Asians trailer was released yesterday – because the studio is, presumably, beginning to build the hype around the movie in front of theatre owners ahead of its August release. That would explain why we’ve waited this long (so worth it) to see the preview. Not because the film isn’t ready. Oh it’s ready. And if you believe Roxane Gay (I always believe Roxane Gay), it’s not only ready, it’s GOOD and ready. 

Crazy Rich Asians was created by Kevin Kwan. In 2016, when The Hollywood Reporter released its list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors, Kevin wasn’t part of it. The list included no authors of colour. And, at the time, I predicted – or, rather, hoped - that when the next Power Author list came out, Kevin’s name would be on it. While that hasn’t happened yet, Kevin did make another list. Last week he was on the TIME 100, under the “icon” category. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about Kevin lately because I’m so excited about the movie but especially yesterday because three years ago, Kevin and I hung out at the Toronto Public Library’s North York Central branch when he was here promoting China Rich Girlfriend, the second book in the CRA series. Two hundred people had come to see Kevin, to support his work, and to celebrate his stories. It was the best way to spend a Monday night – with readers sharing experiences, all of us relating to each other through literature, surrounded by books and people who love them. This is what that neighbourhood should be known for. Unfortunately it’s now known for something else. 

North York Central Library is located on Yonge Street, pretty much where the van attack happened yesterday. My dad still takes out books from that library. We lived at 7 Bishop Avenue, apartment 1114, just a few blocks away, through my time in high school. That was my subway stop. That was where I learned to drive. That is still where I go for karaoke. So if you are reading this from other parts of the country or around the world who only became aware of North York yesterday, the way you met North York is not how you should know North York. Know it for the people who were lost, for the people who helped and comforted, and know it for the people who remain, those who returned this morning to put North York back together. Know it for the library that is the heart of the community, where people are brought together by the power of the story. 

Yours in gossip,

Lainey