The Read: June 15-June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
7pm, 163 Court Street
Brooklyn's own award-winning writer Colson Whitehead will read from his latest novel, Sag Harbor, tonight at BookCourt. The novel follows teenager Benji Cooper during the summer of 1985. While Benji is one of the only black students at an elite Manhattan prep school, every summer he escapes to Sag Harbor in the Hamptons, where a small community of African American professionals have built a world of their own.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
7pm, 163 Court Street
Iconic 1980s New York, young and reckless love — Ann Beattie captures it all in her new novella, Walks With Men. As Beattie reads from the story tonight at BookCourt, you will cringe as the protagonist, Jane, becomes more deeply involved with Neil, a highly arrogant writer twice Jane's age, who continually lies to her.
7:30pm, 686 Fulton Street
Who knew an antibiotic could be the source of a love affair, murder, and family drama? Tonight New Yorker Lauren Belfer will read from her latest novel, A Fierce Radiance, in which the creation of penicillin sets off a series of events for TIME reporter Claire Shipley. The meticulously researched scenes will transport you to war-time New York, where the new miracle drug becomes an issue of national security.
Thursday, June 17, 20107pm, 163 Court Street
Mother and son writing duo, Mariam Cohen and Gabriel Cohen, come to BookCourt tonight to read from and discuss their latest stories. Mariam will read from her children's book, Layla's Head Scarf, while Gabriel will read from The Ninth Step, a crime novel. The books have a shared theme: the Muslim-American experience post-9/11.
7:30pm, 686 Fulton Street
For a night of laughs, join humor author Bob Powers, former Daily Show writer Jason Reich, and the hilarious Samantha Bee at Greenlight. As part of Steamboat, A Literary Humor Series, the city's funniest writers will read from and discuss there work on the third Thursday of every month. Tonight, Samantha Bee reads from her collection of personal essays, I Know I Am, But What Are You?
8pm, 123 Columbia Street
Join author Nathan Ward to watch Edge of the City, the third installment of his movies series at Freebird. Mr. Ward described the film in an essay for our Reader in Residence series. "The cargo hooks and freight cars, though real, help to disguise this hipster film wrapped inside a docks drama," he says about Edge of the City.
8pm, 43 Franklin Street
Break out that hideously ruffled sequined prom dress and head to The Diamond Bar in Greenpoint tonight. WORD Bookstore is throwing a literary matchmaking mingle, complete with the crowning of a prom king and queen. There will be drink specials, a "worst prom story" contest, and readings by two authors: Erin Bradley, author of Every Rose Has Its Thorn, and Virginia Vitzthum, author of My Blind Date Went Blind: And Other True Stories of Dates Gone Wrong.
Friday, June 18, 20107pm, 163 Court Street
You may scoff when you realize that Hartley's discussion tonight at BookCourt focuses on a cook book, but wipe that smirk off your face. Spécialités de la Maison is no ordinary collection of recipes. The book presents a diverse collection of recipes by Hollywood and Broadway celebrities, renowned socialites, noteworthy writers, members of the royalty, famous couturiers, and restaurateurs. With illustrations and short essays accompanying the recipes, you'll feel like you're peering through the dining room window of the famous.
7:30pm, 686 Fulton Street
Brooklyn independent publisher Akashic Books is the star of the evening at Greenlight Bookstore. Arthur Nersesian, author of nine books, will read from his latest, Mesopotamia, and Fort Greene author Kevin Holohan will read from his upcoming book, tentatively titled The Brothers' Lot, both published by Akashic. Mesopotamia is a satiric exploration of America's fascination with tabloid journalism told through the experiences of an alcoholic reporter.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
2-6pm, 686 Fulton Street
The main stage of FAB Fest will be filled with authors and literary talent today. If you missed the Steamboat humor series on Thursday, you can catch them on stage today, along with the national poetry slam champions, Urban Word NYC. Around 3pm, music and culture critics Toure and Nelson George — both longtime Fort Greene residents — will talk about the neighborhood and share their personal Brooklyn stories.
