Book Buzz discussion

Hi everyone! This is just a reminder that our next online book club meeting is coming tomorrow, Fri. Oct. 28, on Jitsi.

If you'd still like to join us, please register at the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-i...

Even if you haven't finished the book yet, I'd love to hear your thoughts! So whether you've read one chapter or all 27 chapters, don't hesitate to come.

For those who prefer to discuss the book in person, we are also meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:00pm at the Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street). More info about this meeting can be found here:

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/d...

I have also created a discussion guide, which can be found at the following link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...

And finally, in my newest endeavour, I have begun creating a "Toronto in Literature Book Club Map", which I hope to update with each new title. It can be found at the following link:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edi...

Once again, I really loved this book! A few things really struck me. For a city that has been called "Toronto the Good", it's surprising how many violent gangs have existed throughout its history: The Brooks Bush Gang (who terrorized rural Leslieville in the mid-19th century), the Polka Dot Gang with their bright bandanas and machine guns, and the bank-robbing Boyd Gang with their multiple prison breaks are a few who stand out in this book.

The second thing that struck me was how times have changed, and yet they have not. It's hard to imagine an expensive and lavish banquet such as the scandalous "Great Gaol Guzzle" happening today. I don't think we are quite so proud of our prisons these days, which shows in the architectural care with which the Don Jail was built (compared to the utilitarian warehouse that is the Toronto South Detention Centre, its replacement). And yet despite all the best intentions incorporating the most progressive prison philosophy of the day, the Don Jail quickly turned into a notorious hellhole. Likewise, the Toronto South Detention Centre has been described as a 'hellhole' as well:

https://torontolife.com/city/inside-t...

The third thing that stuck out was how close we were to losing this piece of our history, just as we lost the original Provincial Lunatic Asylum, and so many other heritage buildings in this city. As painful as parts of our past are to remember, I'm glad the jail is still there, reminding us of where we've been, and where we hope to go.

I couldn't put it any better than the following review: "Lorna Poplak tells three stories in The Don: the history of Toronto's most famous/infamous prison; the evolving theories of incarceration and punishment through the jail's century-and-a-half life; and the shifting shape of the building and surrounding city. All well-told stories, populated by the extraordinary characters of jailors and jailed, hangmen and hanged, all confined within the long, grim history of the Don. A great read." ― Joe Berridge, author of Perfect City

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! And even if you didn't, I look forward to hearing what you thought tomorrow, or on Nov 10, or in the comments below!