Reading the City
April 21 to April 28
Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
This week we have book launches from Marie-Helene Bertino, Susannah Cahalan, Sarah Schulman, Morgan Jerkins, and Lydia Millet, who will discuss the art of the short story with Jenny Offil. The Literary Saloon has returned, now at a new venue (wine bar Whoopsie Daisy) and Deborah Treisman and Jennifer Egan talk 100 years of short stories in The New Yorker.
Also, the Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl is in full swing until Saturday. Pick up a passport at any of the 26 participating bookstores, and collect stamps all week leading up to Independent Bookstore Day on April 26, to win prizes and support the literary community of Brooklyn. The Center for Fiction hosts the after party.
As ever, send over any events, and please share the love with your bookish friends!
Monday, April 21
Gretchen Rubin: Secrets of Adulthood
, the author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before, celebrates her new book, Secrets of Adulthood, offering simple truths for living with greater satisfaction, clarity, and happiness—in conversation with Kelly Corrigan (Tell Me More).
From $19; 7pm; Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Manhattan
Emily Henry: Great Big Beautiful
There’s a bunch of release parties for Emily Henry’s latest, Great Big Beautiful, namely at Greenlight (10.30pm), Book Club Bar (9.30pm), and Books Are Magic (all day), offering various swag, treats, and prizes.
Various
Tuesday, April 22
A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker with Deborah Treisman & Jennifer Egan
To mark the publication of A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker: 1925-2025, longtime fiction editor Deborah Treisman and frequent contributor Jennifer Egan come together for a conversation at Rizzoli Books.
Free; 6-8pm; Rizzoli Books, 1133 Broadway, Manhattan
Marie-Helene Bertino: Exit Zero
Marie-Helene Bertino (Beautyland) celebrates the release of her new collection of short fiction, Exit Zero, in conversation with Vinson Cunningham (Great Expectations), staff writer and theatre critic at the New Yorker.
$10; 7-8.15pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Susannah Cahalan: The Acid Queen
Susannah Cahalan (Brain on Fire) celebrates the release of her new book, The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary—the untold story of the woman who played a critical role in bringing psychedelics into the mainstream, until her audacious exploits forced her into the shadows—in conversation with Shayla Love, staff writer at The Atlantic.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Sarah Schulman: The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity
Sarah Schulman, a longtime social activist and outspoken critic of the Israeli war on Gaza, launches her new book The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity—drawing resonances between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity and provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future—in conversation with Writing Co-Chair for Bard MFA program, Shiv Kotecha. (If you can’t make this, Schulman’s Brooklyn launch is Wednesday night at Greenlight with Linda Villarosa).
$5; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, Manhattan
Bianca Mabute-Louie: Unassimilable
Award-winning sociologist, speaker, and activist Bianca Mabute-Louie presents Unassimilable: An Asian Diasporic Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century—a socio-political examination of Asian Americans who refuse to assimilate and instead build their own belonging on their own terms outside of mainstream American institutions—in conversation with Malavika Kannan (All The Yellow Suns).
$5, redeemable in-store; 7-9pm; Powerhouse Arena, 28 Adams Street, Brooklyn
Lux Magazine - Spring Issue Launch and Panel Discussion
Lux Magazine marks the launch of its Spring Issue with a panel discussion on Policing Gender in Sports. Attacks on trans athletes have become central to American politics, from Donald Trump’s early executive orders to Gavin Newsom’s podcast provocations. How can we understand the scale and viciousness of this attack? Lux contributors Emily Janakiram, Megan Lessard, and Danne Diamond discuss, moderated by Lux contributing editor Kate Redburn of Columbia Law School.
Free, with RSVP; 6-7.30pm; Brooklyn Heights Library 286 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn
Distinguished Writers Series presents Marie Howe
A reading and discussion with Marie Howe, author of collections including The Good Thief and the former Poet Laureate of New York State, as part of Hunter Creative Writing Program’s Distinguished Writer Series. Non-students should arrive early to get a day pass from security.
Free; 7:30pm; Hunter West, 8th Floor Faculty Dining Room, Manhattan
Secrets of Publishing: A Panel Discussion, hosted by Susan Shapiro
P&T Knitwear, in conjunction with PEN America, welcomes back award-winning author Susan Shapiro for a panel discussion of insider tips and tricks for navigating the publishing world. Susan will be joined in conversation by literary agents Alia Hanna Habib, Kate McKean, and Pronoy Sarkar; editors Emi Ikkanda and Krishan Trotman; and Lester Fabian Braithwaite (Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant…And Completely Over It).
$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan, and livestreamed
Wednesday, April 23
Ditmas Lit
Hosted by Lena Valencia (Mystery Lights) and Sarah Bridgins (Death and Exes), Ditmas Lit welcomes (Happier Far), JoAnna Novak (Domestirexia: Poems), Timothy Ree (Beasting), and Anton Solomonik (Realistic Fiction) to read at the Urbane Arts Club.
Free, with RSVP; 7.30pm; The Urbane Arts Club, 1016 Beverley Road, Brooklyn
Adapting The Friend
In celebration of the film adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s The Friend, the author will discuss the adaptation process with directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee in a conversation moderated by Esther Zuckerman.
$5 redeemable in-store, RSVP required; 6.30pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, Manhattan
Thursday, April 24
The Art of the Short Story: Lydia Millet on Atavists and Jenny Offil
Pulitzer Prize finalist Lydia Millet celebrates the release of her new collection of short fiction—Atavists follows families, couples, and loners alike as they navigate the trials and tribulations of contemporary middle-class America—with long-time friend, novelist, and editor Jenny Offill (Dept. of Speculation).
$10; 7-8.15pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Stories of Refugees Resilience: An evening with author Helen Benedict
Chelsea Market’s Eat Offbeat, which serves authentic meals conceived and prepared by refugees and immigrants who now call New York City home, hosts an evening of storytelling, food, and conversation with Helen Benedict, author most recently of The Good Deed. The book sheds light on the realities of displacement, the bonds formed between those forced from their homes, and the moral complexities of offering help. Admission includes appetizers and soft drinks, with the option to stay and have dinner with the author after the talk. (Dinner can be paid on site). 20% of the proceeds go to International Refugee Assistance Project.
$14.64; 6.30-8.30pm; Eat Offbeat, 75 9th Avenue, Manhattan
Vinh Nguyen: Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse
Writer and educator Vinh Nguyen celebrates the launch of The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse—an unconventional memoir of conjuring the uncertain past and a long-lost homeland, and a vital document of one family’s journey through world history—in conversation with Monique Truong (Book of Salt).
Free; 7-8pm; Yu and Me Books, 44 Mulberry Street, Manhattan
Fiction New Salon: Katie Kitamura
A reading by Katie Kitamura (Audition) followed by a conversation/Q&A with Tess Gunty (The Rabbit Hutch), and reception/signing.
Free, RSVP required; 7-9pm; Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, Manhattan
Cig Harvey: Emerald Drifters
Following her celebrated monograph Blue Violet (2021), Emerald Drifters is the new book from photographer and writer Cig Harvey, focusing on the ephemeral nature of light, pigment, and vision in an exquisite personal study of sensory experience. In conversation with Ocean Vuong (On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous).
Free; 6-8pm; Rizzoli Books, 1133 Broadway, Manhattan
The Cusp Reading Series
With , (Bound Up), Chloe Alberta, and Ruth Minah Buchwald with wine from Sun Moon Rising.
Free; 7pm; Word of Mouth, 942 Bergen St, Brooklyn
Friday, April 25
Arianna Rebolini: Better
(co-author, with Katie Heaney, of the novel Public Relations) celebrates the release of her debut memoir, Better: A Memoir About Wanting to Die—a gutsy, riveting memoir that intimately explores suicide, its legacy in families, and the often cyclical, crooked path of recovery—with New York Magazine features writer Emily Gould (Friendship).
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Alumni Reading: Aria Aber, Alia Dastagir, and August Thompson
Readings by NYU MFA alumni Aria Aber (Good Girl) and August Thompson (Anyone’s Ghost), and current student Alia Dastagir (To Those Who Have Confused You to Be a Person: Words as Violence and Stories of Women’s Resistance Online), hosted by Darin Strauss (Chang and Eng), followed by a reception/signing.
Free, RSVP required; 5pm; Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, Manhattan
Pigeon Pages Literary Journal Reading Series
Join Pigeon Pages Literary Journal for their April reading, featuring poet Carlie Hoffman (One More World Like This World) and fiction writer Natalie Ponte.
$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan
Saturday, April 26
Independent Bookstore Day
A great day to show your local bookstore some love: Book Club Bar will have ARC giveaways, discounts and themed cocktails; Greenlight has a day of readings, including from Susan Choi, Gary Shteyngart, and Denne Michele Norris, as well as custom drawing from local illustrators; Book Culture’s various locations have discounts, raffles, snacks; and the booksellers at Three Lives will bake cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats to share with their customers as a gesture of thanks, which if that isn’t a reason to buy a book from them I don’t know what is.
Free; all day; various
The Alchemy Tour with Suleika Jaouad hosted by Jon Batiste
To celebrate the debut of her new book, The Book of Alchemy, bestselling author Suleika Jaouad (Between Two Kingdoms) visits BAM for an evening of transformative storytelling and special performances. Hosted by Jon Batiste, expect a melding of conversation, music, and community.
From $45, including a copy of the book; 7pm; Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
Nailah Mathews in conversation with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
A conversation between Nailah Mathews and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Chain-Gang All-Stars) in celebration of the launch of Mathews' chapbook, better hands.
$10; 7-8pm; Liz’s Book Bar, 315 Smith Street, Brooklyn
Morgan Jerkins: Zeal
The New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing and Caul Baby, Morgan Jerkins, returns with Zeal, an epic, multi-generational novel that illuminates the legacy of slavery and the power of romantic love. In conversation with Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming).
Free; 3-5pm; The Free Black Women's Library, 226 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn
Sunday, April 27
The Literary Saloon
After a hiatus, the Literary Saloon is back, now at the charming Crown Heights wine bar Whoopsie Daisy. This month will feature Ariel Courage, Veasna Has, and Sonia Alejandra RodrÃguez, hosted by .
Free, drink purchase encouraged; 6pm; Whoopsie Daisy, 225 Rogers Ave, Brooklyn
Sunday Salon
Celebrating National Poetry Month, with a lineup of four poets exploring grief, motherhood, identity, and the body: Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Jared Harel, Robert Ostrom, and Abi Pollokoff. Hosted by Leslie-Ann Murray, Carissa Chesanek, and Wil Turner, with DJ DubSix.
Free; 5-7pm; Von Bar, 3 Bleecker Street, Manhattan
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
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 forthcoming from dtv in Germany. My first book, No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press, 2018) followed my childhood as the daughter of an international pot smuggler and federal fugitive. I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!