80. Reading the City
May 27 to June 1
Welcome back to Reading the City—coming to you a day late after the long weekend!
This week, I’m keen to check out Paula Bomer’s new novel and Amie Souza Reilly’s essay collection, and both Ditmas Lit and the Scrappy Reading Series have some great writers on the bill. The Miranda July and Elif Bautman author talk is already sold out, obvs, but you can still join the waitlist here. And McNally Jackson’s Preservation of Rights festival is ongoing with talks including “Where Do Human Rights Go From Here?” and “In Criticism, What's Fair Game?” Also, happy 3rd birthday to P&T Knitwear! Pop in on Wednesday for $3 sale books, 30% off staff picks, and more.
You may notice a new logo and banner on the newsletter today! The three pillars reflect how reading events and bookstores offer third spaces that support the literary community of the city and bring us together. Read more about it here. With special thanks to designer Áine Mullaly for turning my ramblings into reality!
And one more change: I’ll always keep Reading the City a free resource, but from now on the Booking Ahead section—featuring events I know are likely to sell out ahead of time—will be behind a paywall as a gesture of thanks to paid subscribers, who help me set aside the time each week to do this work.
As always feel free to get in touch with feedback, suggestions, or events you’d like me to include. And please share the love with your bookish friends!
Tuesday, May 27
Paula Bomer: The Stalker
Paula Bomer (Tante Eva) celebrates the launch of The Stalker, her thrilling novel about an “Untalented Mr. Ripley, a Dumb American Psycho” attempting to manipulate his way through New York City in the early '90s. She will be joined by Sam Lipsyte for a reading, conversation, signing, and reception.
Free; 6.30-8pm; Lofty Pigeon Books, 743 Church Avenue Brooklyn
Iman Mersal: Motherhood and Its Ghosts
Iman Mersal celebrates the launch of Motherhood and Its Ghosts—continuing her investigation into the archive, Iman Mersal sifts through representations of one of history’s most elusive figures: the hidden mother—in conversation with Dayna Tortorici, writer and co-editor-in-chief of n+1.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Jordan Thomas: When It All Burns
Jordan Thomas presents When It All Burns—a hotshot firefighter’s gripping firsthand account of a record-setting fire season—in conversation with @Kate Aronoff, a staff writer at The New Republic. In partnership with .
Free; 7pm; Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
Amie Souza Reilly: Human/Animal
celebrates the publication of her debut book, Human/Animal—an essay collection chronicling long-term harassment of the author and her family by two brothers in their suburban neighborhood, that also asks larger questions about civility, care, and the line between human and animal—in conversation with (Death and Other Speculative Fictions).
$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan
Paul Eli: The Last Supper
Paul Elie (The Life You Save May Be Your Own) launches The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s—in this immersive group portrait, Elie traces the beginning of our age through the lives and work of Martin Scorsese, Madonna, Andy Warhol, U2, and many others—in conversation with Ada Calhoun (Crush).
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Wednesday, May 28
Ditmas Lit
Hosted by Lena Valencia (Mystery Lights) and Sarah Bridgins (Death and Exes), Ditmas Lit welcomes , the owner of Taylor & Co. books; , the co-host Pete's Reading Series and author of You Must Go On: 30 Inspirations on Writing & Creativity; Leila Taylor (Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread and Darkly: Black History and America’s Gothic Soul); and (Leave: A Postpartum Account).
Free, with RSVP; 7.30-10.30pm; The Urbane Arts Club, 1016 Beverley Road, Brooklyn
Laureates in Conversation: Patricia Spears Jones and Jacqueline Woodson
Patricia Spears Jones, New York State Poet Laureate, and , New York State Author Laureate, come together for a thought-provoking conversation moderated by writer, playwright, and educator Mahogany L. Browne. In partnership with the NYS Writers Institute.
$10; 7-8.15pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Jonah Bromwich: Dragon On Centre Street
Jonah Bromwich celebrates the publication of his debut book, Dragon on Centre Street: New York vs. Donald J, Trump—a gripping, absurd, and outrageous story of power, attention, and America's future, told through the eyes of the journalist who was in the courtroom each day, capturing every dramatic twist and turn. Jonah will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maggie Haberman.
$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan
Letters & Sodas
Bringing together standup comedy, humor pieces, fiction, and essay readings, Letters & Soda celebrates its one year anniversary, with a lineup featuring Charu Sinha (Vulture, McSweeney's), Samantha Mann (Elle, The Cut, Vogue), (Vanity Fair, People), Justin Catchens (UCBLK, 89 Cavs), Kenice Mobley (Netflix, HBO, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon), with more to come.
$5; 6.30 pm doors, 7 pm show; The Greats of Craft in Long Island City, 10-15 43rd Ave, Queens
Thursday, May 29
Noel Rubinton on John McPhee
A conversation with Noel Rubinton for his new book, Looking for a Story: A Complete Guide to the Writings of John McPhee with NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith.
Free, register online; 7pm; Book Culture, 536 W 112th St, Manhattan
Friday, May 30
Scrappy Reading Series
Hosted by , five readers explore what it means to be “scrappy.” Featuring Lena Valencia (Mystery Lights), Tracy O'Neill (Woman of Interest), Marisa Crawford (DIARY), Paula Bomer (Stalker), and Chelsea Fonden, poet and co-host of the Tadpole Reading Series in Bed-Stuy. Also enjoy the current exhibit, Queer Clouds, featuring the works of designer-artists Will Eatough and Will Fryer.
Free, register to attend; 7-8pm; Compère Collective, 351 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn
Craig Mod: Things Become Other Things
(Kissa by Kissa), a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo, presents Things Become Other Things—a transformative 300-mile walk along Japan's ancient pilgrimage routes and through depopulating villages inspires a heart-rending remembrance of a long-lost friend, documented in poignant, imaginative prose and remarkable photography—in conversation with Lynne Tillman (Thrilled to Death).
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Saturday, May 31
Zine Fest with Burner Phone
, a totally offline, DIY, Riot Grrrl inspired zine with a mission of rejecting apathy and chasing radical feeling and action, is hosting a mini Zine Fest at Hive Mind Books to celebrate the release of its latest issue, SPIT (in the face of apathy). Stop by to meet local zine makers and stay for a reading at 6pm.Free; 2-6pm; Hive Mind Books, 219 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn