shinan govani
#SPOTTED: KEVIN KWAN IN TORONTO FOR “RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS”
International best-selling author Kevin Kwan shot to fame quickly in 2013 with what would go on to be the first in his Crazy Rich Trilogy, Crazy Rich Asians. Based on his childhood in Singapore and all the extravagances he witnessed, the story centers around the most-talked-about event of the year, a super high-profile wedding. Warner Bros. currently has its film adaptation in production and we cannot wait anymore!
The second book in the Trilogy, China Rich Girlfriend also was a bestseller and the New Yorker who once worked for Interview Magazine and Martha Stewart Living, was in Toronto tonight to sign for fans the final book in said Trilogy, Rich People Problems released domestically by Doubleday Canada. Jealousy, couture and a heated battle over inheritance are recurring themes in the juicy read.
Moderated by our dear friend Shinan Govani, the signing was preceded by a conversation. Kwan tells the audience, that his aunts have a hard time believing that people would want to read about people like her and he even takes a few snaps of the audience holding up his books to prove this to her!
On the central characters in his Trilogy, he says “They’re classist, they’re racist. It is what it is. You have lots of old culture and and new people who just want to show off and enjoy their money. And why shouldn’t they after years of deprivation?”. He adds that just 20 years ago there were no billionaires in China.
On his Trilogy being set in multiple locations, Kwan says “I wanted to start off in Singapore as it’s not written about much, and then Hong Kong and so forth, circling back to Singapore for the third book to give people different types of people, cultures and societies in Asia. That was always the plan.”. The story travels as far as Vancouver and the Philippines, with a shoutout to Toronto.
See some Snaps of the Event below. Hover mouse over left and right to navigate slideshow:
Purchase Rich People Problems here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: ALLISON WILLIAMS IN TORONTO FOR HBO’S “GIRLS”
“Of the Cast, I think she’s most likely to have a long, lasting Film Career”, The National Post‘s Shinan Govani whispers into my ear. The “she” whom he is referring to of course is Allison Williams, Star of HBO‘s hotly-buzzed Series Girls, which sees a DVD/Blu-ray release next week – getting a bit of Promo here in Toronto. Govani hosted an intimate In-Conversation-With in the east-end of the City tonight with the stunning Actress, who happens to be the Daughter of NBC Anchor Brian Williams and also a Graduate of Yale herself.
Williams who arrived fashionably late understandably after a jam-packed day of Press which had her visit CBC, Corus and also MuchMusic for an appearance on New.Music.Live, looked nothing short of breathtaking. Every eye in the room was glued to the Beauty, who plays the role of Marnie on the Emmy-nominated Series, penned/produced/acted by It-Girl Lena Dunham.
Fame had to wait for Williams, whose Parents insisted that she completed her Studies before entering Show Business, telling us “College delayed my attempts at the Industry. I’m lucky and grateful.”. On her new-found Fame, she admits that she is still grappling with that. “No matter what age you are, it’s really tough”, says Williams. “What happens is this twist where people refer to me by my Character name – which is weird, but really isn’t considering the nature of my work”. As well, she is flattered by the Sex and the City comparisons which Girls receives much criticism for – a matter which Govani pointed-out right away as being the “Elephant in the Room”.
She reveals that she feels an instant connection to Fans who tell her they too are a “Marnie“, because she understands truly what that means. Williams however, wouldn’t give-away too many details about whether or not Marnie and Dunham‘s Hannah will reconcile their Friendship in the forthcoming second season of the Series. “I will say though that love is never lost”, she hints with tact as HBO Executives watched carefully.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Williams quickly, answering the one single question on everyone’s mind. And yes, she confirms to me that her stunning Red Dress is in fact by Oscar de la Renta. Truly down-to-earth and well-spoken, we chatted about the amazing selection of Music heard on Girls and she tells me, “Oh, Lena normally has say over that, but I might have helped get songs by Robyn and Ellie Goulding in”.
Season One of HBO‘s Girls is in-stores on DVD/Blu-ray on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Season Two of the Series premieres on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 9:00 PM.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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