August 16, 2014
Charles Bukowski Birthday Read-a-Thon
Self-proclaimed “dirty old man” Charles Bukowksi would have been 94 today, and Ecco Books hosts this free celebration at Williamsburg’s Post Office bar in his honor. They’ll distribute, aptly enough, free copies of his novel Post Office to anyone who takes part in this public reading. In addition, come to hear excerpts from Ham on Rye and Women, for what’s sure to be a colorful listening experience: Bukowski drew upon a childhood marred by abuse and bullying, and an adulthood of dead-end, low-wage jobs, alcoholism, and failed relationships. The three novels chronicle the journey of his alter ego, Henry Chinaski, through drinking, working as a mail carrier, and ultimately transforming into a literary sensation. Come for a dose of the ultimate high-brow/low-brow blend—exquisite writing about being down and out. @ Post Office Bar, 188 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, NY, 2:30 p.m.
Natalia Sylvester celebrates the release of her new novel Chasing the Sun. Set in Lima, Peru, in a time of civil and political unrest, this evocative page-turner is a perfect marriage of domestic drama and suspense. @ BookCourt, 163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY, 7:00 p.m.
August 18, 2014
Acclaimed novelist Nicholas Rinaldi (Bridge Fall Down, The Jukebox Queen of Malta, Between Two Rivers) presents his new novel The Remarkable Courtship of General Tom Thumb. An irresistible novel set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and based on the real life of Tom Thumb, a young man only twenty-five inches tall, who became America’s first internationally recognized entertainer. @ BookCourt, 163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY, 7:00 p.m.
August 19, 2014
PUNDERDOME 3000 is a pun competition for weirdos and pun-lovers alike! All are welcome to attend this wild-n-crazy round robin event, but only the first 12 individuals/duos to sign-up at the door will have a chance to compete. Pun-masters are determined through a “human clap-o-meter” system voted on by the audience. Great big kitchen appliance prizes and celebrity judges guaranteed. @ Housing Works Bookstore, 126 Crosby Street, 7:00 p.m.
Brookyn author Justin Taylor (Gospel of Anarchy) celebrates the anticipated release of his new collection of short stories Flings. From an East Village rooftop to a cabin in Tennessee, from the Florida suburbs to Hong Kong, Justin Taylor covers a vast emotional and geographic landscape while ushering us into an abiding intimacy with his characters. Flings is a commanding work of fiction that captures the contemporary search for identity, connection, and a place to call home. @ BookCourt, 163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY, 7:00 p.m.
August 20, 2014
The Spotted Pig-founder, renowned chef, and cookbook author discusses her book A Girl and her Pig: Recipes and Stories. @ Bryant Park Reading Room, 5 6th Avenue, 12:30 p.m.