Reading the City
February 26 to March 1
Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
Monday night alone is jam-packed, with Jonathan Lethem at BPL, a book launch from Sloane Crosley, and the #YeahYouWrite Reading Series. Later in the week, the Authors Guild examines the impact of AI with Hari Kunzru and Steven Levy, beloved British author Dolly Alderton takes to the stage, and poet Phillip B. Williams launches his debut novel with a musical evening at National Sawdust.
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, 26 February
#YeahYouWrite Reading Series
An evening of literary cocktails, dinner, a rapid-fire Q&A, and an open mic, as well as readings from Aaron Jacobs (Time Will Break the World), Asha Lemmie (The Wildest Sun), Daniel Lefferts (Ways and Means), and Kerri Schlottman (Tell Me One Thing). Email lisa@yeahyouwriteevents.com for a spot.
Free; 7pm; Someday Bar, 364 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
Jonathan Lethem on the Making of Boerum Hill, A Triple Portrait
For this BPL Presents event, iconic Brooklyn novelist Jonathan Lethem delivers a slide show essay, “The Making of Boerum Hill Considered as a Triple Portrait: Helen Buckler, Jervis Anderson & L.J. Davis,” revealing the archival investigations behind his fictions of Brooklyn in the heyday of the Brownstoner movement.
Free but register online; 7-8.30pm; Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
The Frenemy Panel: Leah Konen & Friends
In celebration of the paperback launch of Leah Konen's Keep Your Friends Close—a twisty tale of lies, mysteries, and murder where a friend turns out to be something else—Leah is joined by Brooklyn authors Andrea Bartz (The Spare Room), Zakiya Dalila Harris (The Other Black Girl), and Kimberly McCreight (Friends Like These) for a discussion of some of fiction's most toxic female friendships. Wine reception to follow.
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Sloane Crosley: Grief Is for People w/ Sigrid Nunez
Sloane Crosley (Cult Classic) launches her new book, Grief Is for People, a memoir exploring multiple kinds of loss following the death of her closest friend. She is joined in conversation by Sigrid Nunez, who has published nine novels, including, most recently, The Vulnerables.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Herbal Supplements Reading Series
This monthly reading series is themed “Lovey Dovey” for February, and features Dave Quiñones, Gold Carson Sánchez, Heather Akumiah (Bad Witches), Devin Trice, M Iamartino, and Molly Hodson. Thanks to reader Chelsea for sending this one my way!
Free, but donations for the writers encouraged; 8pm; Cherry On Top, RSVP for the address
Tuesday, 27 February
Read the Room
Hosted by journalist Kathleen Squires and her husband Ronnie Rodriguez in their event space in Little Italy, the ticket includes chef-prepared food and really great wine. As ever, it sold out within 24 hours, so sign up to the newsletter to hear about the next one!
$45 inc. food and drink; 6.30-8.30pm; 132 Mulberry Street, No. 502, New York
A.J. Finn: End Of Story
Join A.J. Finn (The Woman in the Window) for the launch of his new novel End Of Story.
$5; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
Tony Kushner: The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures
As part of the Center for Fiction’s Story/Teller series, featuring actors reading from new works of fiction, playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) presents the first print publication of The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures. He will be joined by Isaac Butler (The Method: How the 20th Century Learned to Act) to discuss the work after a reading by actor Linda Emond (Succession).
$50, including a signed copy of the book; 7pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Wednesday, 28 February
Ditmas Lit
Hosted by Lena Valencia and Sarah Bridgins, Ditmas Lit is dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of emerging and established writers in all genres. It returns this month featuring readings from Tania Pabón Acosta, Elyssa Goodman (Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City), Vida James, and Rachel Rear (Catch the Sparrow).
Free; 8pm; Hinterlands Bar, 739 Church Ave, Brooklyn
AI & Copyright: Literary Arts in the Age of Machines
BPL Presents partners with the Authors Guild to examine AI's impact on literary arts and culture. The discussion panel includes Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger, Authors Guild president Maya Shanbhag Lang (What We Carry), Hari Kunzru (Red Pill), and WIRED editor-at-large Steven Levy (Facebook: The Inside Story), engaging with questions at the bleeding edge of the AI debate.
Free but register online; 7-8.30pm; Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Diana Khoi Nguyen & Cindy Juyoung Ok: Root Fractures & Ward Toward
A double book launch with two poets. National Book Award finalist Diana Khoi Nguyen presents Root Fractures, her second poetry collection, while Yale Younger Poet Cindy Juyoung Ok presents her debut Ward Toward. They will be joined in conversation by Ken Chen, the executive director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Jill McCorkle: Old Crimes with Amy Hempel
As part of the Center for Fiction’s Art of the Short Story series, Jill McCorkle (Life After Life) celebrates her new collection, Old Crimes and Other Stories, in conversation with short-fiction writer Amy Hempel (Sing to It).
$7.50; 7pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Thursday, 29 February
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, this month it returns to Clinton Hill, featuring Tobias Carroll (In The Sight), Hilary Leichter (Terrace Story), Brad Riew (
), and Tyriek White (We Are a Haunting)Free, BYOB; 7pm; Clinton Hill, RSVP to lesbleusnyc@gmail.com for the address
Local Poet Showcase at Lofty Pigeon Books
A night of readings from six local poets, featuring Emily Cordes, Hafizah Geter (Un-American), Chantal House (Reaching for the Sun), Caolan Madden, Joshua Mehigan, and Holly Mitchell (Mare’s Nest).
Free; 6.30-8pm; Lofty Pigeon Books, 743 Church Avenue Brooklyn
The New Historia & The Strand Present: Barbara D. Savage with Merze Tate
Co-presented with The New Historia, author, historian, and professor Barbara Savage discusses her new book Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar, in conversation with a panel of scholars and The New Historia members, including Gina Luria Walker, Nancy Kendrick and Namita Luthra.
Free; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
Terese Svoboda: The Long Swim & Roxy and Coco
Terese Svoboda discusses her latest books, short story collection The Long Swim, exploring womanhood and humanity, and Roxy and Coco, a mythical reimagining of fabled women. Terese will be joined in conversation by Caroline Hagood (Filthy Creation) and Joan Silber (Secrets of Happiness).
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Alex Alberto: Entwined with Chloe Caldwell & musical guest Aly Tadros
This has been a year of books rethinking the bounds of relationships—a new addition to the catalogue comes from Alex Alberto with their series of genre-blending essays, Entwined, telling the story of Alex’s decade-long polyamorous journey towards a new kind of family. Alex is joined in conversation by Chloe Caldwell (I’ll Tell You in Person) and the event includes a musical performance by writer and musician Aly Tadros.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Saturday, 2 March
Phillip B. Williams: Ours
Poet Phillip B. Williams (Mutiny) presents a musical celebration of his novel, Ours, featuring a reading and live musical interludes from Chicago’s genre-defying Akenya and British soul musician Jerome Thomas.
$20; 7.30pm; National Sawdust, 80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
An Evening With Dolly Alderton
British author, screenwriter, columnist, and journalist Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love) has released a new novel, Good Material, and will share her stories with a New York audience for the very first time—expect anecdotes from her 'Dear Dolly' readers, musings on her own adventures in life and love, and audience questions.
From $28; 3pm & 7.30pm, Symphony Space, Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 2537 Broadway, New York
Sunday, 3 March
Book Exchange & Bookish Mixer
These events tend to sell out, so get tickets fast for this one. The NYC-based Book Club for Book Hoes, run by creator and organizer
, host these book exchanges and mixers. Tables are set up by genre. Bookish cocktails and merch are available for purchase. All tickets include one entry into the raffle. Check-in from 3:50-4:30pm.$13; 4-6pm; Nighthorse, the event space at 66 Greenpoint Bar, 66 Greenpoint Avenue, 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!
