Ian McEwan stuck in Toronto thanks to potentially inspirational volcano

Ian McEwan stuck in Toronto thanks to potentially inspirational volcano

It’s nice to know there’s one stranded European not throwing a hissy fit for being stuck in Toronto due to Iceland’s flight-stopping volcanic ash cloud. And it’s even nicer when that person is Ian McEwan. The British author wrapped up his three-week reading tour for his new novel, Solar, here in T.O. Being a glass-half-full kind of guy, he’s embracing his extended time in Canada. He’s even using the theme of being stuck in a country against your will as potential inspiration for a new novel, reports the Star.

McEwan says he likes Toronto and has no desire to pout over delayed flights. “The last thing I want to do is get in a state of mind where I’m just sitting here twiddling my thumbs,” he told the paper. “Here’s this beautiful spring in Canada, and we should explore it.”

McEwan’s options range from staying in Toronto to flying to Quebec City to accepting an offer to shack up in a vacation home in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Not too shabby. If he stays in Toronto, might we suggest checking out the Blue Jays? They could really use the extra attendance.

British writer Ian McEwan happy to be grounded in Toronto [Toronto Star]