Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
This week, a new book from Porochista Khakpour, a great lineup at Franklin Park Reading Series, Mary Gaitskill chatting to Maureen Sun about her debut novel, and a Pride celebration at the Center for Fiction. Enjoy!
As ever, tell me about your upcoming events and parties or just your preoccupations. And please share the love with your bookish friends.
Monday, June 10
Franklin Park Reading Series
Franklin Park kicks off its summer season with readings of new fiction by Teddy Wayne (The Winner), Tyriek White (We Are a Haunting), Gina Chung (Green Frog), (Housemates), Elwin Cotman (Weird Black Girls), and Temim Fruchter (City of Laughter). Hosted by founder Penina Roth, enjoy specials on craft brews and a shot at winning the readers' latest books in the free raffle.
Free; 8-10pm; 766 Franklin Avenue, 618 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn
Porochista Khakpour: Tehrangeles
Excited for a new book from Porochista Khakpour (Sick). In Tehrangeles, follow the Milanis—fast-food heiresses, LA royalty, and your newest reality TV obsession—through this tragicomic saga about high-functioning family dysfunction and the ever-present struggle to accept one’s true self. Porochista is joined in conversation by Layla Halabian, co-founder of the literary newsletter Language Arts.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer: The Fall of Roe
The Fall of Roe, the debut book from New York Times reporters Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer, depicts the breathtaking untold story of the plan to overturn Roe v. Wade and the consequences for women, abortion, and the future of America. The authors are joined by moderator Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fleishman is in Trouble) for a conversation to mark the launch. Hosted by the 14th Street Y.
$12; 7.30pm; Manny Cantor Center, 197 East Broadway, 6th floor
Tuesday, June 11
Maureen Sun: The Sisters K
Maureen Sun launches The Sisters K—a contemporary reimagining of Dostoevsky's dark classic, The Brothers Karamazov, this debut novel is a vivid and visceral exploration of rage, shame, and the betrayals of intimacy—in conversation with none other than Mary Gaitskill (Bad Behavior).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Must Love Memoir
A monthly reading series dedicated to telling personal stories, hosted by Krystal Orwig (substack: then Krystal says), this month features: Morgan Sanguedolce, Kelly McMasters (The Leaving Season), Khaholi Bailey (Miseducation of a 90s Baby, forthcoming), Barrie McIntyre (Hell Gate Bridge: A Memoir), and Hyeseung Song (Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl).
Free; 7.30pm; Jake's Dilemma, Oak Cellar Room, 430 Amsterdam Avenue, New York
Poetics of the Divine
A panel on poetry and the Qur'an as part of the Poetry Coalition’s slate of programs that reflect the transformative impact poetry has on individual readers and communities across the nation. Featuring Sahar Romani (The Opening, forthcoming), Nadra Mabrouk (Measurement of Holy), and H. M. Zafer, associate professor of global literatures at the University of Washington and a senior lecturer in African and Arabian classics at Princeton University.
Free; 7-9pm; AAWW, 112 West 27th Street #600 New York, and via live stream
Wednesday, June 12
Patrick Nathan: The Future Was Color
Patrick Nathan (Some Hell) celebrates the launch of The Future Was Color, a novel about the inextricable link between the personal and the political set against the decadence of Hollywood and postwar Los Angeles. Patrick is joined by Isle McElroy (People Collide).
Free; 6.30-8pm; Lofty Pigeon Books, 743 Church Avenue Brooklyn
Carvell Wallace: Another Word for Love
Carvell Wallace, coauthor of The Sixth Man, discusses his newest book, Another Word for Love: A Memoir—a transformative memoir situated in the struggles and beauty of growing up Black and queer in America—in conversation with Jordan Kisner (Thin Places).
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Thursday, June 13
Les Bleus Literary Salon
This month, Les Bleus Literary Salon welcomes Janika Oza (A History of Burning), Rakesh Satyal (No One Can Pronounce My Name), Nina St. Pierre (Love is a Burning Thing), Edward Vogel, NYC based writer, and Michael Wolraich (The Bishop and the Butterfly), hosted by Paige McGreevy.
Free; 7pm; near Union Square, RSVP to lesbleusnyc@gmail.com for address
E.K. Sathue: youthjuice
E.K. Sathue, a pseudonym for the author Erin Mayer, discusses her debut novel, youthjuice—American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada in this surreal, satirical send-up of NYC It-girl culture—in conversation with Rachel Harrison (Black Sheep).
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Summer Night’s Dream: An AAWW Fundraiser
Summer Night’s Dream is a celebration, community gathering, and fundraiser for the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, with the host committee of Cathy Park Hong, Hua Hsu, Amitava Kumar, Mira Jacob, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Min Jin Lee. The program of readings is following by food, drink and a dance party.
From $125; 6-10pm; Hana House, 345 Adams Street, Brooklyn
ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE! A Literary LGBTQ+ Celebration
The Center for Fiction’s annual celebration of LGBTQ+ literature returns with “the school book fair you always wished for.” Enjoy drinks and readings from LGBTQ+ writers, including Christina Cooke (Broughtupsy), Serkan Gorkemli (Sweet Tooth and Other Stories), Thomas Grattan (In Tongues), Griffin Hansbury (Some Strange Music Draws Me In), Khashayar J. Khabushani (I Will Greet the Sun Again), Myriam Lacroix (How It Works Out), Daniel Lefferts (Ways and Means), Roya Marsh (dayliGht), Joseph Osmundson (Grandview), Lucy Sante (I Heard Her Call My Name), Eric Schnall (I Make Envy on Your Disco), and Michael Waters (The Other Olympians). Hosted by Amelia Possanza (Lesbian Love Story) and Denne Michelle Norris, editor-in-chief of Electric Literature. Expect music, conversation, and, of course, books.
$10; doors, 5.45pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Friday, June 14
TENSE presents: Vagrancy and Vice
Performances by The Sunnyside Social Club, Cara Seymour, and Matthew Holtzclaw, and readings by Whitney Mallet, Ross Barkan, Beckett Rosset, August Lamm, Madeline Cash, and Anton Ivanov. Hosted by the Locker Room and Tense.
$20; 8pm-12am; 373 South 1st Street, Brooklyn
Scrappy Reading Series
Brought together by Farah Faye, five emerging and established readers will answer the question of: What does scrappy mean to you? With Dorsa Djalilzadeh (substack:
), Gina Chung (Green Frog), , Nina St. Pierre (Love is a Burning Thing), and Hannah Walker Finnie ().Free, register to attend; 7-8pm; Compère Collective, 351 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn
Kan Yama Kan Reading
Featuring readings by Mikayla Joy Dablan-Azony, Ahmad Amireh, Hannah Lillith Assadi, and Ashni, and hosted by Anthony Thomas Lombardi. All money raised will go to Gaza mutual aid. There will also be an open mic welcoming singing, poetry, or whatever you want. All ticket holders will be entered into a raffle to receive a gift bag that includes signed books or objects by the featured readers and other prizes.
$10; doors 6pm, start 6.30pm; Williamsburg, address emailed to ticket-holders
Saturday, June 15
Queer Joy Poetry Picnic
Celebrate Pride Month with an afternoon of expression at Poets House’s first Queer Joy Poetry Picnic in Teardrop Park South. Share inspiration and uplift queer voices at this come-as-you-are poetry writing meetup. Attendees will receive a Poets House pamphlet of writing prompts with their RSVP. Bring a blanket or seat for lounging!
Free, registration required; 1-4pm; Teardrop Park South, behind Poet’s House, 10 River Terrace, New York
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!
