Reading the City
February 12 to 18
Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
Book-land may be recovering from AWP, but New York doesn’t rest. This week, we have literary salons from Franklin Park and Pete’s Reading Series, a host of Valentines-themed events (yes to queer love letter readings at Bluestockings Cooperative), and an exciting return of Hunter’s Distinguished Writers Series with Porochista Khakpour. And, to close out the week, an evening of spoken word and Bach’s cello suites starring poet Amanda Gorman.
As ever, send feedback, send help, send events I should have on my radar, say hi! And please share the love with your bookish friends.
Monday, February 12
Franklin Park Reading Series
This month, Franklin Park celebrates Marie-Helene Bertino and her new novel Beautyland. She’ll be joined by Emily Shultz (Sleeping With Friends), Sidik Fofana (Stories from the Tenants Downstairs), Christina Cooke (Broughtupsy), Will Mountain Cox (Roundabout), and Anita Gail Jones (The Peach Seed). Hosted by founder Penina Roth, expect drink specials and a raffle for the readers' latest books. Otherwise, books are for sale from Unnameable Books.
Free; 8-10pm; 766 Franklin Avenue, 618 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn
Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez: My Side of the River: A Memoir
Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez launches her debut memoir, My Side of the River, charting her experience of becoming an "unaccompanied homeless youth" in high school due to broken immigration laws. She is joined in conversation by Jessica Hoppe, writer and creator of NuevaYorka, followed by a wine reception.
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
The Café & Bar Presents Drink & Draft Night
Hosted by Josh Krigman, Drink & Draft is a night to get you unstuck and inspired in your writing, through a series of visual prompts and style experiments. Optional sharing; all genres welcome; no experience necessary.
$25 incl. first drink from the Cafe & Bar; 6-7.30pm; Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Tuesday, February 13
Kelly Link: The Book of Love
The debut novel from bestselling short story author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link (Get in Trouble), The Book of Love follows three teenagers who become pawns in a supernatural power struggle. Kelly is joined in conversation by Hilary Leichter (Temporary).
$10, redeemable in store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Katherine Arden: The Warm Hands of Ghosts
New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden launches The Warm Hands of Ghosts, her latest historical fantasy novel set during World War I, in which a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise. Katherine is joined in conversation with novelist Naomi Novik (Uprooted).
From $5; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
Scott Guild: Plastic
A release party for musician-turned-author Scott Guild’s debut novel Plastic, which casts our current climate of gun violence and environmental destruction in a surprising and surreal new mold. The evening features musical guest Stranger Cat and author Kyle Dillon Hertz (The Lookback Window) in a line-up of readings, conversation, and a live performance from the tie-in record Plastic: The Album.
$5 to RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Wednesday, February 14
Queer Love Letters: An Evening with Close Friends Collective
I can’t think of a better way to spend Valentines: Join Close Friends Collective—the group of public historians who brought you the Queer History Walking Tour of the Lower East Side—for a night of readings of queer, historical love letters.
Free; 6-8pm; Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore, 116 Suffolk Street, New York
Criminal Live: 10th Anniversary Tour
The excellent true crime podcast Criminal celebrates its 10th anniversary with an evening of brand new stories, told live by host Phoebe Judge and Criminal co-creator Lauren Spohrer.
From $45.25; 7pm; The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, New York
Thursday, February 15
Hunter’s Distinguished Writer Series: Porochista Khakpour
A reading and discussion with critically acclaimed author of two novels, a memoir, and a collection of essays Porochista Khakpour, whose latest novel Tehrangeles is out in June. The Hunter Creative Writing Program reading series invites notable writers for intimate class visits, open to students and the public. Non-students should arrive early to get a day pass from security.
Free; 7:30pm; Hunter West, 8th Floor Faculty Dining Room, New York
Maura Cheeks: Acts of Forgiveness
As part of the the Center for Fiction’s “On America” series, Maura Cheeks discusses her debut novel, Acts of Forgiveness, a moving story of ambition and inheritance and an insightful addition to the conversation about reparations. Writer, editor, podcaster, and advocate Jennifer Baker joins Maura in conversation about her writing and research, the implications of reparations movements, and what leaving behind a legacy truly means.
From $7.50; 7pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Pete’s Reading Series
The stellar lineup this month includes Hannah Lillith Assadi (The Stars Are Not Yet Bells), Marie-Helene Bertino (Beautyland), Annie Liontas (Sex with a Brain Injury), and Pete’s own Temim Fruchter (City of Laughter), who hosts alongside Brian Gresko. Books for sale from Greenlight Bookstore.
Free; 7.30pm; Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
Roxana Robinson: Leaving
Roxana Robinson reads from her upcoming novel, Leaving, an engrossing exploration of the vows we make to one another, the tensile relationships between parents and their children, and what we owe to others and ourselves.
Free; 6-7.30pm; The Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Avenue, New York
Jennifer Belle: Swanna in Love
Bestselling author Jennifer Belle (High Maintenance) launches her first new novel in over ten years with Swanna in Love, a wild exploration of adolescent desire from a 14-year-old girl’s point of view. She is joined in conversation by Julie Klam (The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters: A True Story of Family Fiction).
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Molly Roden Winter: More
Writer and musician Molly Roden Winter discusses More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, the journey of a woman becoming her most authentic self as she explores sex and relationships outside her marriage, in conversation with Maaza Mengiste, 2020 Booker Prize finalist and author of The Shadow King.
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Emily Farris: I'll Just Be Five More Minutes
Emily Farris, the writer and host of the Mother Mother podcast, launches her memoir-in-essays, I'll Just Be Five More Minutes—an honest and heartwarming collection about discovering you have ADHD at age 35—in conversation with cartoonist Emily Flake.
Free; 7pm; WORD Brooklyn, 126 Franklin St, Brooklyn
Friday, February 16
After Dark: A Sexy Galentine’s Celebration at The Strand
A panel of bestselling romance writers including LJ Shen (Damaged Goods), Sara Cate (The Home Wrecker), Xio Axelrod (Love on the Byline), and Sophie Lark (Brutal Prince), come together to discuss relationships and love in literature, moderated by KJ Micciche.
From $5; 7pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
Booking for Love: LGBTQ+ Edition
A bookish take on speed dating, the aim is to have guests go on 12 mini-dates over the evening, with a book of your choosing as a chat prompt. If both parties are into continuing the conversation, you’ll each receive information about how to get back in touch. Happy hour specials at the Café & Bar.
$25; 6-8pm; Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Saturday, February 17
An Evening of Poetry and Bach
Dorn Music presents cellist Jan Vogler alongside celebrated poet and bestselling author Amanda Gorman (The Hill We Climb And Other Poems) for a one-night-only evening that integrates Bach cello suites with spoken word poetry.
From $17.50; 8-10pm; Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, New York
Nerd Nite NYC Book Launch + 21st Birthday Party
One of the things I love about writing this newsletter is discovering NY scenes I knew nothing about. Enter Nerd Nite, a roving series in which experts present short, accessible science talks. It’s been going for 21 years so I’m really behind the times. Celebrate their birthday and the launch of the founders Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski’s debut book, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite, illustrated by Kristen Orr, with an evening of their greatest hits, featuring talks on the science of dating apps, sex catapults (?), human parasites, and so on.
$15; 7-10pm; Littlefield, 635 Sackett Street, Brooklyn
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
I’m a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and teacher, and the author of No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press) and Amphibian (forthcoming from Virago). I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!
