97. Reading the City
september 22 to 28
Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in NYC.
We’re in big book season with some blockbuster launches this week: check out Ian McEwan in conversation with David Remnick; Patricia Lockwood with Jia Tolentino; or Mona Awad, who’s new bunny book by all accounts is even better than the last.
Also, hi new subscribers! I don’t know where you all arrived from this week but I’m very happy you found your way here. To learn more about this newsletter or to submit an event for consideration go here. And if you find this a useful resource, please share the love with your bookish friends!
Tuesday, September 23
LAUNCH | Patricia Lockwood: Will There Ever Be Another You
Patricia Lockwood (No One Is Talking About This) discusses her new novel, Will There Ever Be Another You—a vertiginous novel about a woman’s descent into illness and insanity—with The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino (Trcik Mirror).
Free, with registration; 6-7.30pm; Brooklyn Heights Library, 286 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn
LAUNCH | Sam Sussman: Boy from the North Country
Sam Sussman presents Boy from the North Country—in his debut novel, based on his Harper’s Magazine memoir essay, “The Silent Type: On (Possibly) Being Bob Dylan’s Son,” a son returns home to his dying mother to discover the astonishing truth of his origins and the secrets of a woman whose life and wisdom he is only beginning to understandand—in conversation with his editor, John Burnham Schwartz (The Commoner and Reservation Road).
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Launch | EY Zhao: Underspin
E.Y. Zhao launches Underspin—an intimate, bruising coming-of-age novel about the short and tumultuous life of a charismatic and enigmatic table tennis prodigy, as seen through the eyes of those pulled into his orbit—in conversation with Giri Nathan (Changeover: A Young Rivalry and a New Era of Men's Tennis). E.Y. Zhao will also host a reading and open play session at PingPod on the 24th.
Free; 6.30-8pm; Yu and Me Books, 44 Mulberry Street, Manhattan
Wednesday, September 24
LAUNCH | Mona Awad: We Love You, Bunny
Mona Awad launches her highly anticipated follow up to the viral sensation Bunny. We Love You, Bunny is a brilliantly written, laugh-out-loud funny, dark, and delirious novel set in the Bunny-verse—a world that Margaret Atwood declared “soooo genius.” In conversation with Melissa Albert (The Bad Ones).
$10.89; 7-8pm; First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, 119 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn
LAUNCH | Ian McEwan: What We Can Know
Ian McEwan, the Booker prize-winning author of Atonement and Saturday, launches his audacious new novel, What We Can Know—a genre-bending, time-traveling tour de force, begins at a dinner party in 2014 with the recitation of a love poem among friends and follows to 2119, in the wake of a catastrophic nuclear accident, as a lonely scholar and researcher chases the ghost of that poem—in conversation with The New Yorker's editor David Remnick. The conversation will air on The New Yorker Radio Hour.
From $55, with book; 7.30pm; 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave, Manhattan
SALON | Ditmas Lit
Hosted by Lena Valencia (Mystery Lights) and Sarah Bridgins (Death and Exes), Ditmas Lit welcomes kerry cullen (House of Beth), Allison C. Meier (Grave), Patrick Ryan (Send Me), and Cherry Lou Sy (Love Can't Feed You).
Free, with RSVP; 7.30-10.30pm; The Urbane Arts Club, 1016 Beverley Road, Brooklyn
FUNDRAISER | The Poets Table at Emily
A couple tickets left for this fundraiser and raffle for Poet’s House. Ticket includes dinner and drinks at Emily, hosted by poet Emily Hyland (Divorced Business Partners), and featuring readings from Mark Doty and Marie Howe.
From $150; 7-9pm; Emily, 919 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
LAUNCH | Mary Roach: Replaceable You
Mary Roach discusses her new book Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy—a rollicking exploration of the quest to re-create the impossible complexities of human anatomy—in conversation with staff writer for The New Yorker Tad Friend.
$5; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, Manhattan
Thursday, September 25
SALON | Craft & Release: 008 First-Generation
Six storytellers take the stage to share their narratives about being first-generation. There’s just a few tickets left, but this is a beautiful night with drinks, stories, community, and shared connections.
$45; 7-9pm; Akwaaba Mansion, 347 MacDonough St, Brooklyn
SINGLES NIGHT | Come Love a Stranger
Join Black Spring Books for a night of flirtation in a cozy, bookstore setting. Refreshments will be served and the garden will be buzzing with people who like to read. I feel like Black Spring Books is exactly where I’d want to meet a future lover.
$30; 8pm; Black Spring Books, 672 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn
RE-RELEASE | C.F. Ramuz: Into the Sun
Translators Olivia Baes and Emma Ramadan discuss Into the Sun—a radically strange and frighteningly prescient climate-disaster novel written a century ago by C. F. Ramuz, the great and eccentric Swiss-French novelist.
$5 redeemable in-store, RSVP required; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, Manhattan
Friday, September 26
FUNDRAISER | A birthday reading fundraiser & raffle for Gaza
A birthday reading, fundraiser & raffle in support of Gaza Mutual Aid Solidarity & South Brooklyn Sanctuary hosted by the The Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Featuring readings by: Cathy Linh Che, Jemimah Wei, Jenevieve Ting, Jenny Xie, Vt Hung, and Yasmin Adele Majeed.
$10, suggested donation ; 7-9pm; AAWW, 18 W 21st St suite 900, 18 West 21st Street #suite 900, Manhattan,
SALON | Pigeon Pages Literary Journal Reading Series
Pigeon Pages Literary Journal’s reading series is a literary space where emerging and established writers from all backgrounds are encouraged to nest together. This month welcomes Denne Michele, the editor-in-chief of Electric Literature and the author of When The Harvest Comes, and Kuhu Joshi (My Body Didn't Come Before Me).
$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan
LAUNCH | Kate Zambreno: Animal Stories
Kate Zambreno (The Light Room) presents Animal Stories—from a writer who has “invented a new form” (Annie Ernaux), an exploration of mortality, alienation, boredom, surveillance, and how we regard ourselves among the animals—in conversation with Claire Fallon .
Free; 7-8pm; Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
Saturday, September 27
FESTIVAL | Strand Day
All Strand Bookstore locations across New York City will host a full day of festivities marking the the bookstore’s 98th anniversary, including author signings, family-friendly activities, and a rare 20% storewide discount—The Strand’s only annual sale. With author appearances featuring Alejandro Varela, Jeff Hiller, Stephanie Wambugu, and more, and
Various; citywide
FAIR | The Empire State Rare Book and Print Fair
The fair will feature tens of thousands of books, prints and historic documents from dealers from around the world. Highlights include a signed letter from Albert Einstein to FDR, a first edition of Origin of Species, and a first edition of The Hobbit, with items at the fair to fit all budgets. Tickets to the preview night (Friday, 5–9pm; $75) include wine, canapes, live music, and first access to the books and prints, and are valid for Saturday and Sunday.
$20; Saturday, September 27th: 11am–7pm and Sunday, September 28th: 11am–5pm; Vanderbilt Hall. Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan
Sunday, September 28
SALON | Poetry in the Garden
Join McNally Jackson for their final week at Elizabeth Street Garden. If you’re a poet who would like to read, submit 2-3 poems connected to the theme “current” to art@elizabethstreetgarden.com ahead of the event. Readings are hosted by Yvonne Brooks and Joseph Reiver.
Free; 5pm; Elizabeth Street Garden, Elizabeth St, Manhattan
This post was written by a human. Please check all details before attending.
I’m a Brooklyn-based journalist and author. My debut novel Amphibian is out now from Ig, as well as Virago in the UK, and dtv in Germany. My first book, No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press) followed my childhood as the daughter of an international pot smuggler and federal fugitive. I’m here and here on Instagram.