This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Rick Bragg, whose new memoir and cookbook is "The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table.” Delicious! And WWL news anchor Sheba Turk previews her new memoir," Off Air: My Journey to the Anchor Desk.”
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:
- Heather Hoeksema discusses and signs "Flashlights: 9 Girls Stories for Grownups," Tuesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St., New Orleans.
- Lauren Marino discusses and signs "What Would Dolly Do: How to Be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World,” Wednesday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania, New Orleans.
- W. Bruce Cameron discusses and signs “A Dog’s Way Home,” (he is also the author of “A Dog’s Purpose”), Wednesday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Louisiana SPCA.
- Rick Bragg discusses and signs “The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table.” Thursday, May 3 at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books.
- Sheba Turk discusses and signs “Off Air: My Journey to the Anchor Desk.” Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie.
- Poets David Rowe and Caroline Zimmer read Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m. at the Maple Leaf Bar.
- And here’s a fun fact: The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library will be making the rounds of the city on May 1, Give NOLA Day, filling up all 200 Little Free Libraries with books in just 24 hours. Follow their journey on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and don’t forget to support the Friends.
- Just a reminder: The Main Library of the New Orleans Public Library is closed through May 13 for renovations.
- Two big shout outs: Tulane professor and award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward was named one of the Time 100, the magazine’s annual list of the most influential cultural figures. And Emily Nemens, co-editor of The Southern Review, has been named editor of The Paris Review. Bravo to both!
- Coming up June 1-3 is the annual Walker Percy Weekend in West Feliciana Parish, with an emphasis this year on the work of Shelby Foote as well. Check out walkerpercyweekend.org to buy tickets; the event is headquartered at Conundrum Books in St. Francisville.
- And here at The Reading Life we’re celebrating New Orleans Tricentennial by putting together a list of 300 great books about New Orleans. Send us your favorites to Labooks@wwno.org and see if they make the list!