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The Toronto Book of Love
Exploring Toronto’s history through tantalizing true tales of romance, marriage, and lust.
Toronto’s past is filled with passion and heartache. The Toronto Book of Love brings the history of the city to life with fascinating true tales of romance, marriage, and from the scandalous love affairs of the city’s early settlers to the prime minister’s wife partying with rock stars on her anniversary; from ancient First Nations wedding ceremonies to a pastor wearing a bulletproof vest to perform one of Canada’s first same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Home to adulterous movie stars, faithful rebels, and heartbroken spies, Toronto has been shaped by crushes, jealousies, and flirtations. The Toronto Book of Love explores the evolution of the city from a remote colonial outpost to a booming modern metropolis through the stories of those who have fallen in love among its ravines, church spires, and skyscrapers.
Toronto’s past is filled with passion and heartache. The Toronto Book of Love brings the history of the city to life with fascinating true tales of romance, marriage, and from the scandalous love affairs of the city’s early settlers to the prime minister’s wife partying with rock stars on her anniversary; from ancient First Nations wedding ceremonies to a pastor wearing a bulletproof vest to perform one of Canada’s first same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Home to adulterous movie stars, faithful rebels, and heartbroken spies, Toronto has been shaped by crushes, jealousies, and flirtations. The Toronto Book of Love explores the evolution of the city from a remote colonial outpost to a booming modern metropolis through the stories of those who have fallen in love among its ravines, church spires, and skyscrapers.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryCanada
528 pages, Paperback
Published February 16, 2021
17 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Adam Bunch
3 books40 followersAdam Bunch is an award-winning storyteller who brings the history of Toronto and Canada to life. He's the author of The Toronto Book of the Dead and The Toronto Book of Love, the host of the Canadiana documetnary series, and the creator of the Toronto Dreams Project. He's taught history at George Brown College and created writing workshops for the Toronto Public Library. He's spoken at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum, and his writing has appeared in publications such as Spacing Magazine and The Huffington Post. His work popularizing Canadian history was recognized with an honourable mention for a Governor General's Award in 2012.
In a previous life, he was a music journalist: editor-in-chief of SoundProof Magazine and The Little Red Umbrella, a contributor to PopMatters and Sun Media's 24 Hours commuter newspaper, and a member of the jury for the Polaris Music Prize.
He's lived in Toronto since he was a few weeks old, growing up along the Humber River, rasied on stories of snowstorms, jazz clubs and wartime romances.
In a previous life, he was a music journalist: editor-in-chief of SoundProof Magazine and The Little Red Umbrella, a contributor to PopMatters and Sun Media's 24 Hours commuter newspaper, and a member of the jury for the Polaris Music Prize.
He's lived in Toronto since he was a few weeks old, growing up along the Humber River, rasied on stories of snowstorms, jazz clubs and wartime romances.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 27, 2021
I absolutely loved the Toronto Book of Death and just had to read the Toronto Book of Love as well. I did like the Death book more but the Love book is also great enough to get 5 stars.
I love his ability to keep the book at the love theme while telling us about important people and events in Toronto history and keep it so interesting. It makes me want to go to the Toronto area where it took place and learn more about the people in those stories. I want to read more about the Powell family who took a great part of this book, no matter how conservative they wanted to be they seem to be the wildest family in Toronto's history. And Alexander Wood who is one of the "maybe gays" and whose story would definitely be very interesting.
Love Adam Bunch's writing. He makes Toronto's history seem so rich and exciting and he introduced so many people who created this country and made it as great as it is in a very special way that makes them seem more human and fascinating. This is how history should be delivered to people.
I love his ability to keep the book at the love theme while telling us about important people and events in Toronto history and keep it so interesting. It makes me want to go to the Toronto area where it took place and learn more about the people in those stories. I want to read more about the Powell family who took a great part of this book, no matter how conservative they wanted to be they seem to be the wildest family in Toronto's history. And Alexander Wood who is one of the "maybe gays" and whose story would definitely be very interesting.
Love Adam Bunch's writing. He makes Toronto's history seem so rich and exciting and he introduced so many people who created this country and made it as great as it is in a very special way that makes them seem more human and fascinating. This is how history should be delivered to people.
March 11, 2021
I read a lot of Toronto history books and articles. I think I am not overstating that we might have finally turned a corner on proper inclusion and attribution of Toronto's first history-- Indigenous history. It's has become pretty standard in most books now; isn't that great?
Bunch must be praised for tilting the balance of the book toward stories of Indigenous peoples, women, and the LGBTQ2S community. The volume is exemplary in raising the voices of those too often left unheard. He takes the nerdiness out of local history; his stories are readable, accessible and very engaging.
There are stories in here that would be of interest to anyone -- whether you are a reader steeped in the city's history or you are just learning to better appreciate our past.
I love that the first chapter is framed by a document held in one of the coolest places in the city, the Thomas Fisher Library, and any book that includes Frances Loring and Florence Wyle gets my eager vote; so I admit that I was biased to liking this book. Plus it's Adam Bunch. Come 'on!
Bunch must be praised for tilting the balance of the book toward stories of Indigenous peoples, women, and the LGBTQ2S community. The volume is exemplary in raising the voices of those too often left unheard. He takes the nerdiness out of local history; his stories are readable, accessible and very engaging.
There are stories in here that would be of interest to anyone -- whether you are a reader steeped in the city's history or you are just learning to better appreciate our past.
I love that the first chapter is framed by a document held in one of the coolest places in the city, the Thomas Fisher Library, and any book that includes Frances Loring and Florence Wyle gets my eager vote; so I admit that I was biased to liking this book. Plus it's Adam Bunch. Come 'on!
July 26, 2021
A history of Toronto through a series of romances, marriages, heartbreaks and childbirths. The book begins with a centuries old document in the Thomas Fisher rare books library that discusses courtship and marriage practices among the Wendat people and ends with an interactive google map where anyone can contribute the location and story of a memorable kiss. The chapters capture the changing attitudes toward marriage and domesticity over the course of Toronto's history and demonstrates that Toronto was a city of diverse cultures and worldviews from its founding. The writing is engaging and there are fresh perspectives on well known historical figures. Highly recommended.
February 11, 2023
4.5 stars
April 27, 2023
Learned more about Toronto in a very entertaining way. The nerd in me would have loved a map in the book wit some indications where the stories took place.
March 4, 2021
I live in Toronto and I'm always looking for books about the history of Toronto so that's why this one caught my eye.
The stories are all focused on love with a Toronto connection. The first story tells the story of a French soldier named Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce de Lohontan, a baron who centuries ago had been sent to Canada to wage war again the first First Nations. He published a series of books about his travels through the Indigenous lands of North America. The last story is about "The Michaels", Michael Stark and Michael Leshner, who in 2003 entered into the first legal same-sex marriage in Canada.
Other stories include Lieutenant-governor John Graves and Elizabeth Simcoe, the duel between John White and John Small because White had spread rumours about Small's wife, the leaders in the War of 1812, John and Jemima Howard and their tomb in High Park, Ernest Hemingway hating Toronto, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the Napalm Girl (Phan Thi Kim Phuc), Margaret Trudeau, and more. At the back of the book, there is an extensive bibliography and suggestions for further reading.
I found this book interesting and liked the writing style. It was written in a straight-forward manner with not a lot of details but just enough. When I came across something especially interesting I wanted to know more about, I would stop and Google the subject for more information. I think anyone living in Toronto (and elsewhere) would find this book worth reading.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/03...
The stories are all focused on love with a Toronto connection. The first story tells the story of a French soldier named Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce de Lohontan, a baron who centuries ago had been sent to Canada to wage war again the first First Nations. He published a series of books about his travels through the Indigenous lands of North America. The last story is about "The Michaels", Michael Stark and Michael Leshner, who in 2003 entered into the first legal same-sex marriage in Canada.
Other stories include Lieutenant-governor John Graves and Elizabeth Simcoe, the duel between John White and John Small because White had spread rumours about Small's wife, the leaders in the War of 1812, John and Jemima Howard and their tomb in High Park, Ernest Hemingway hating Toronto, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the Napalm Girl (Phan Thi Kim Phuc), Margaret Trudeau, and more. At the back of the book, there is an extensive bibliography and suggestions for further reading.
I found this book interesting and liked the writing style. It was written in a straight-forward manner with not a lot of details but just enough. When I came across something especially interesting I wanted to know more about, I would stop and Google the subject for more information. I think anyone living in Toronto (and elsewhere) would find this book worth reading.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/03...
June 2, 2021
This book had both pros and cons in my opinion. I feel a bit mislead about what the text was going to be about. I thought it was really going to go into depth about these love story but it was more like bite sized pieces of history ~loosely~ strung together by the topic of love. If it were just marketed as a quick Toronto history book I would’ve been much happier. That said, Toronto is a city that’s quick to forget it’s own history so it was nice to actually get a chance to learn about these home grown stories. And I did find myself agreeing with a lot of the author’s opinions that were laced throughout. Solid 3 stars.
August 3, 2021
I'm in love with my city. Those around me probably wish I wasn't in such a, uh, passionate relationship with Toronto so I'd shut the hell up about a mural I've found or a new transit vehicle the TTC acquired or a positive interaction with a stranger or an art installation or an inspiring protest or a hidden trail or some incredible architecture- Point made.
The thing is, I don't really like history, or at least not in large quantities. It's fantastic in theory, but inevitably my mind drifts. I can't get into it; even regarding topics I love. So when I found myself utterly engrossed in a non-fiction 500-page history of relationships/love and the creation of Toronto, flipping pages, wishing my copy wasn't from the library so I could flag it within an inch of it's life and making lists of places around the city to re-visit - well. I barely recognized myself. There I was talking with my poor Mother, a history major with a special interest in Canadian history who had long given up on the idea of converting me, patiently listening me fervently attempt to explain that "No really, this stuff is so. Cool. 'Cause it just makes you see your surroundings differently with more depth, and all these forgotten stories, y'know?" Yes, Nico. I think she knows. Her degree tends to imply it.
Often I was riding the bus, reading about a building that housed a legend of the city while passing it by and absolutely losing it. A large part of what made that experience possible was the writing, which was fantastic. A factual account that highlighted Indigenous culture, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, multiculturalism - all the best parts of Toronto - through the lens of love. It was incredibly well researched but it all flowed so well that it didn't feel like clunky textbook writing - it simply felt like someone sitting me down and telling me story after story of the people who built my favourite city in the world.
This book made me want to take a week and entirely rediscover my own city. I'm actually currently planning just that. Buildings I've seen a thousand times I can look at with new eyes, the Bluffs I live 10 minutes away from seem different somehow, a mural with faces I now recognize and respect, a church, a street, a sculpture. The stories were so rich that it makes my well-known surroundings feel richer too.
No punches were pulled and some chapters were appropriately brutal in their accounts of the suffering some people faced or the land that was stolen, not discovered. The story behind Liberty Village hit me particularly hard, and Zebulon Pike/the explosion at Fort York/general account of the War of 1812 felt so impossibly oppressive. But there was so much inspiration to be found too; sources of pride. The Michaels. The Blackburns. The unrelenting tenacity of those who's vision of a better Toronto is still felt today. The Howards and the history of High Park gave such cool context. Mazo de la Roche's story made me want to read her work. The history of the TTC livery is such a cool anectote I've already told to two (mostly) willing people. The stories of Joni Mitchell and Jackie Shane made me listen to their music (Shane is particular was such a treat). I can't tell you how many streets I learned why they were named what they were named.
I wish I could take the contents of this book and download it into my brain. Never in a million years did I think that I would be waxing poetic about a non-fiction book. Look, I don't read nonfiction. I have 1100+ books on my Goodreads shelves and a whopping 55 of them are nonfiction. But here we are. I was already in love with my city but I've fallen, quite impossibly, a little bit harder. But hey, maybe that's appropriate considering these stories are focusing on love. We still have a lot farther to go, but learning how many people have struggled and bled and died to make the city amazing makes me even more proud to call Toronto my home.
The thing is, I don't really like history, or at least not in large quantities. It's fantastic in theory, but inevitably my mind drifts. I can't get into it; even regarding topics I love. So when I found myself utterly engrossed in a non-fiction 500-page history of relationships/love and the creation of Toronto, flipping pages, wishing my copy wasn't from the library so I could flag it within an inch of it's life and making lists of places around the city to re-visit - well. I barely recognized myself. There I was talking with my poor Mother, a history major with a special interest in Canadian history who had long given up on the idea of converting me, patiently listening me fervently attempt to explain that "No really, this stuff is so. Cool. 'Cause it just makes you see your surroundings differently with more depth, and all these forgotten stories, y'know?" Yes, Nico. I think she knows. Her degree tends to imply it.
Often I was riding the bus, reading about a building that housed a legend of the city while passing it by and absolutely losing it. A large part of what made that experience possible was the writing, which was fantastic. A factual account that highlighted Indigenous culture, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, multiculturalism - all the best parts of Toronto - through the lens of love. It was incredibly well researched but it all flowed so well that it didn't feel like clunky textbook writing - it simply felt like someone sitting me down and telling me story after story of the people who built my favourite city in the world.
This book made me want to take a week and entirely rediscover my own city. I'm actually currently planning just that. Buildings I've seen a thousand times I can look at with new eyes, the Bluffs I live 10 minutes away from seem different somehow, a mural with faces I now recognize and respect, a church, a street, a sculpture. The stories were so rich that it makes my well-known surroundings feel richer too.
No punches were pulled and some chapters were appropriately brutal in their accounts of the suffering some people faced or the land that was stolen, not discovered. The story behind Liberty Village hit me particularly hard, and Zebulon Pike/the explosion at Fort York/general account of the War of 1812 felt so impossibly oppressive. But there was so much inspiration to be found too; sources of pride. The Michaels. The Blackburns. The unrelenting tenacity of those who's vision of a better Toronto is still felt today. The Howards and the history of High Park gave such cool context. Mazo de la Roche's story made me want to read her work. The history of the TTC livery is such a cool anectote I've already told to two (mostly) willing people. The stories of Joni Mitchell and Jackie Shane made me listen to their music (Shane is particular was such a treat). I can't tell you how many streets I learned why they were named what they were named.
I wish I could take the contents of this book and download it into my brain. Never in a million years did I think that I would be waxing poetic about a non-fiction book. Look, I don't read nonfiction. I have 1100+ books on my Goodreads shelves and a whopping 55 of them are nonfiction. But here we are. I was already in love with my city but I've fallen, quite impossibly, a little bit harder. But hey, maybe that's appropriate considering these stories are focusing on love. We still have a lot farther to go, but learning how many people have struggled and bled and died to make the city amazing makes me even more proud to call Toronto my home.
April 21, 2021
"Toronto has earned its reputation as a city that doesn't always appreciate its past.....The city has its own heirlooms. Toronto has been the scene of countless romances, and no matter how many buildings come crashing to the ground, the evidence is all around us. The city's love stories can be found in a forgotten monument, or an old poem, or the name of a west-end street."
After reading about lonely NYC, it was nice to read about love in Toronto. As Adam Bunch points out, Toronto is not known for its exciting history and new developments are constantly being built over the old. Bunch's collection tells a lot of fascinating and engaging love stories from Toronto's history that bring the city alive in a new way. A lot of the names in The Toronto Book of Love sound familiar from the names of different buildings, streets, businesses, or history classes of yore. However, Bunch's telling of their stories adds a more personal look into their lives, loves, and accomplishments rather than the dry facts usually associated with them. I'll be walking Toronto's streets with a new appreciation for their past and hopefully one day, embarking on my own Toronto romance. Will definitely be picking up Bunch's Toronto Book of the Dead as well.
I did wish there were images to accompany the stories. I think a book like this has a lot of potential for reader interactivity.
After reading about lonely NYC, it was nice to read about love in Toronto. As Adam Bunch points out, Toronto is not known for its exciting history and new developments are constantly being built over the old. Bunch's collection tells a lot of fascinating and engaging love stories from Toronto's history that bring the city alive in a new way. A lot of the names in The Toronto Book of Love sound familiar from the names of different buildings, streets, businesses, or history classes of yore. However, Bunch's telling of their stories adds a more personal look into their lives, loves, and accomplishments rather than the dry facts usually associated with them. I'll be walking Toronto's streets with a new appreciation for their past and hopefully one day, embarking on my own Toronto romance. Will definitely be picking up Bunch's Toronto Book of the Dead as well.
I did wish there were images to accompany the stories. I think a book like this has a lot of potential for reader interactivity.
February 15, 2021
An absolutely fantastic collection of tales about love and heartbreak and how they shaped Toronto. Following up on the “Toronto Book of the Dead” Bunch’s storytelling shines through again as he takes the read through the history of Toronto through the lens of love and romance.
Bunch is a masterful story telling who captivates the reader and describes these tales in vivid detail. The stories Bunch tells are engaging, funny, and at times, heart breaking. It’s a fascinating way to view the history of Toronto, and learn more about the personal lives, the ups and downs, of some of Toronto and Canada’s most famous people.
Bunch is a masterful story telling who captivates the reader and describes these tales in vivid detail. The stories Bunch tells are engaging, funny, and at times, heart breaking. It’s a fascinating way to view the history of Toronto, and learn more about the personal lives, the ups and downs, of some of Toronto and Canada’s most famous people.
July 5, 2024
I first discovered this book in this in Toronto's First Post Office, or the Fourth York Post Office National Historic Site. The title got me and the book delivered! Although it must be said that I found the second half much more engaging than the first. The Blue School Boys chapter was my favourite... Maybe I have issues. It also gave me Superache by Conan Gray vibes. Doesn't help that many of the stories end sadly...
I also liked how much I learned (Kit Coleman is an icon), especially since some of it felt deliciously gossipy. It's crazy how people and places don't really change...
I also liked how much I learned (Kit Coleman is an icon), especially since some of it felt deliciously gossipy. It's crazy how people and places don't really change...
September 8, 2021
This book was so interesting! It is about people historically in Ontario, mostly Toronto from the 1600's to the present day. Some I had heard of before and some I had not. Some are connected to famous parks, buildings, and statues in Toronto. Some stories are heartwarming, whereas others are sad.
Overall, this book was heavily researched and is recommended to anyone who has lived in Ontario, particularly Toronto.
Overall, this book was heavily researched and is recommended to anyone who has lived in Ontario, particularly Toronto.
February 21, 2021
This book tells the history of Toronto through romantic - and sometimes scandalous - stories of love, from Mrs. Simcoe and her young officer to Maggie Trudeau and the Rolling Stones and from First Nations wedding ceremonies to Canada’s first same-sex marriage. Despite the occasional error, this book brings Toronto's history vividly to life.
January 5, 2022
Fantastic read spanning centuries, includes Indigenous stories taking place many years ago and examines Toronto love tales right up until a few years ago. Author Adam Bunch does much to illustrate the city has plenty of interesting history. Now have excursions planned to see more of this history— fodder for fun staycations. Follow Bunch on Twitter for more historical notes on the area.
March 23, 2021
This - and the Toronto Book of the Dead - should be required reading on every high-school syllabus in Ontario. So much of our history is either whitewashed or overlooked. Adam Bunch manages to make history exciting and interesting.
May 28, 2021
Preferred his first book, but this was still a delightful read.
Lots of short and interesting stories about the city in which I was born and raised. References tales of Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Billy Bishop and others.
Lots of short and interesting stories about the city in which I was born and raised. References tales of Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Billy Bishop and others.
May 14, 2021
Talk about research! It takes incredible skill to weave such compelling short snippets of history all linked around a theme.
August 10, 2021
Adam Bunch has written another winner, presenting the fascinating history of Toronto - and Canada - through love stories. I highly recommend this read.
October 5, 2021
4.5 rounded to 5. The beginning was a bit of a slog to get through.
November 2, 2022
The best way to tell history is by telling the stories of the people who lived it. ❤️🤍
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews