Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
Tons on this week. We have two of my personal favorite literary salons, Les Bleus and Table of Contents (I’m all about the great snacks), as well Michael Cunningham at McNally Jackson, a PEN Out Loud event at the Strand, and the launch of an anthology about sadness.
Send feedback, send help, send events I should have on my radar, say hi! And please share the love with other New York-based bookish folks.
Monday, November 13
Franklin Park Reading Series
Powerhouse Women Night celebrating new work by Lindsay Hunter (Hot Springs Drive), Molly McGhee (Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind), Athena Dixon (The Loneliness Files), Elyssa Goodman (Glitter and Concrete), Chin-Sun Lee (Upcountry), and Jiordan Castle (Disappearing Act). Drink specials, and a raffle for the readers' newly released books.
Free; 8-10pm; 766 Franklin Avenue, 618 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn
Dan Sinykin + Mark Krotov: Big Fiction
Writer and assistant professor at Emory University Dan Sinykin discusses his new book Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry and American Literature, in conversation with coeditor and publisher of n+1 Mark Krotov
From $8; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room New York
Amy Kurzweil: Artificial w/ Kristen Radtke
New Yorker cartoonist Amy Kurzweil launches Artificial in conversation with Kristen Radtke (Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness).
$10; 8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Lauren Elkin presents Art Monsters, in conversation with Merve Emre
Lauren Elkin discusses her book Art Monsters, which explores the intersections of art and monstrosity, in conversation with Merve Emre (the New Yorker).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Tuesday, November 14
Table of Contents
Serving three dishes inspired by the passages read, this month TOC takes place in Chelsea Market, with readings from Celina Baljeet Basra (Happy), Szilvia Molnar (The Nursery), Tembe Denton-Hurst (Homebodies), followed by a conversation led by chef and TOC founder Evan Hanczor. Tickets include one complimentary cocktail.
$35 inc. a cocktail and three dishes; 6.30-9pm; Chelsea Market - Maker's Studio, 448 W 16th Street New York
Raquel Willis + Laverne Cox: The Risk It Takes to Bloom - On Life and Liberation
Raquel Willis launches her new memoir The Risk It Takes to Bloom, in conversation is Emmy-nominated actress and activist Laverne Cox.
From $10; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room New York
Tariq Trotter in Conversation with Jon Stewart at BAM
The legendary MC of The Roots Tariq Trotter—better known as Black Thought—is joined by Jon Stewart to discuss his new book The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are. Co-hosted by Greenlight Bookstore.
From $35; 8pm; Harvey Theater - BAM Strong, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
Jazmina Barrera: Cross-Stitch w/ Chloé Cooper Jones
Jazmina Barrera (Linea Nigra and On Lighthouses) launches her debut novel, Cross-Stitch, translated by Christina MacSweeney, in conversation with Chloé Cooper Jones (Easy Beauty).
$10; 8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Katherine Vaz on Above the Salt
Katherine Vaz celebrates her latest novel, Above the Salt, followed by an extended audience Q&A.
$5 redeemable in store; 7pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, and livestreamed (free)
Experiments & Disorders
A series celebrating adventurous, cross-genre writing, curated by Tom Cole and Christen Clifford, and this time featuring Porochista Khakpour (Tehrangeles: A Novel), Marisa Crawford (The Weird Sister Collection), Stephen Ira (Chasers), and Dorothea Lasky (The Shining).
$10; 7.30pm; Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St, New York
Zahra Hankir presents Eyeliner: A Cultural History
Lebanese British journalist Zahra Hankir discusses her book Eyeliner: A Cultural History.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 6.30pm; McNally Jackson Soho, New York
Michael Cunningham presents Day: A Novel
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hours, Michael Cunningham, discusses his new novel Day, with an evening of music, drinks, and conversation.
$28 incl. a copy of the book; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Nina MacLaughlin presents Winter Solstice
A celebration and meditation on the winter season, from the meteorological to the mythological, conveyed in an essay. Lambda Literary Award finalist Nina MacLaughlin (Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung) will be joined by Nadja Spiegelman (I'm Supposed to Protect You From All This).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Catherine McNeur with Karl Jacoby
A discussion of Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science with the author Catherine McNeur in conversation with Karl Jacoby.
Free; 7pm; Book Culture, 536 W 112th St, New York
Wednesday, November 15
PEN Out Loud: Ahmed Naji + Molly Crabapple
PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write recipient Ahmed Naji joins PEN Out Loud to celebrate his new book, Rotten Evidence, translated by Katharine Halls, in conversation with National Book Award longlisted writer and artist Molly Crabapple.
Free; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room New York
Editor and Author Conversation Series
Helena de Bres presents her newest book, How to Be Multiple, as part of McNally Jackson's Writer/Editor conversation series with Callie Garnett, the editorial director at Bloomsbury Publishing.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Prince Street
Celina Baljeet Basra presents Happy, in conversation with Larissa Pham
Celina Baljeet Basra, founder of the Department of Love, a curatorial collective, presents her first novel Happy, in conversation with Larissa Pham (Fantasian).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Jazmina Barrera presents Cross-Stitch, with Hannah Lillith Assadi
Jazmina Barrera this time talking with Hannah Lillith Assadi (The Lights Are Not Yet Bells).
$5; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Hunter College MFA Reading
I know nothing. But it’s happening.
Free; 7-9pm; KGB Bar, 85 E 4th St, New York
Thursday, November 16
Les Bleus Literary Salon
Hosted by Paige McGreevy in a different venues across the city, from elegant front rooms to the backs of breweries, with a great snack spread and wine, this month it returns to Clinton Hill, featuring Tara Isabella Burton (Here in Avalon), Tracey Lien (All That's Left Unsaid), Isle McElroy (People Collide), and Vanessa Walters (The Nigerwife).
Free, BYOB; 7pm; Clinton Hill, RSVP to lesbleusnyc@gmail.com for the address
Sad Happens Book Launch
Celebrating the publication of Brandon Stosuy and Rose Lazar’s Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears, a new anthology of writing, with featured authors Eileen Myles, Joselia Rebekah Hughes, Darcie Wilder, Lily Dancyger, Nora Neus, and Jordan Sondler. With pop-up tattoos from St. Kenia!
Free; 6.30pm; Honey Moon Coffeeshop Ridgewood, 517 Onderdonk Ave, Queens
Pete’s Reading Series
Running for two decades now, Pete’s Reading Series is curated and hosted by Temim Fruchter and Brian Gresko, and this month features: Mona Awad (Rouge); Hilary Leichter (Terrace Story); Jami Nakamura Lin (The Night Parade); and C Pam Zhang (Land of Milk and Honey), with support from the Author’s Guild and Greenlight Bookstore.
Free; 7.30pm; Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
Maggie Jackson + Sherry Turkle: Uncertain - The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure
Award-winning author and journalist Maggie Jackson discusses her new book Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, in conversation with MIT professor Sherry Turkle (The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir).
From $8; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room New York
Ishion Hutchinson presents School of Instructions, in conversation with Marlon James
Ishion Hutchinson presents School of Instructions, a memorial work that excavates the forgotten experience of West Indian soldiers during World War I, in conversation with Booker Prize-winning Marlon James.
$5 for RSVP, but redeemable in-store; 7.30pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
The International Library and Celebrate Mexico Now: Stitches, Secrets, Shame
Jazmina Barrera, Christina MacSweeney, and Daniel Saldaña París come together for a conversation about travel, art, identity, and translation in a hybrid event with an optional lunch.
Free or $17 incl. lunch; 1.30pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Mexico Writes Now
Mexico’s leading voices in academia, poetry, novel and essay writing share their experiences living and working in New York City. Featuring Carmen Boullosa, Ximena Santaolalla, Naief Yehya, Álvaro Enrigue, and Oswaldo Zavala, reading their work and sharing their favorite Mexican films, photographs, and paintings with the audience.
Free; 6pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, and livestreamed (free)
Christine Evans with Helen Benedict
Christine Evans celebrates the release of Nadia in conversation with Helen Benedict (The Good Deed).
Free; 7pm; Book Culture, 536 W 112th St, New York
Kristen Gentry presents Mama Said, with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene
Kristen Gentry discusses her new book, Mama Said, a collection of linked stories set at the rise of the opioid crisis in Louisville, Kentucky, in conversation with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene (Innards). This event is part of University Press Week 2023.
Free; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Friday, November 17
(Screen)Play Press Presents
(Screen)Play Press is a New York-based company dedicated to publishing screenplays that have yet to be made into films. This week including readings from Numbers by Shari Berman, Claudine Nineteen by Paul Rachman, and The Fruit of Our Womb by Marina Shron, presented by cofounder Christine Vartoughian.
$5 for RSVP, but redeemable in-store; 7.30pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Looking Ahead: December 1
First Novel Fête
Get tickets for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Fête celebrating the seven finalists for the 2023 First Novel Prize with readings, open bar, personalized book recommendations, literary tarot, door prizes, and more. The Fête takes place before the First Novel Prize winner is announced at the more formal Annual Awards Benefit on December 5.
$45; 6.30pm; Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
I’m a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, teacher, and 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!