This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with New Orleans native Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, author of “The Revisioners,” a moving tale of lingering racism past and present, and a family of women healers who try to move beyond it. And Daniel José Older, author of “The Book of Lost Saints,” a dazzling novel about Cuban-Americans and the legacy of the revolution in Cuba.
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:
Here in New Orleans:
- Blue Cypress Books will hold a day of signings during the Oak Street Poboy Fest, Sunday, November 3. Here’s the schedule:
- 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Marti Dumas (“ The Little Human”); Sally Asher and Melissa Vandiver (“The Mermaid's Night Before Christmas “)
- 2:15 p.m. - 4 p.m. Emma Fick (“Snippets of New Orleans”)
- 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Bryan Camp (“Gather the Fortunes”)
- Paula Munier discusses and signs “Blind Search: A Mercy Carr Mystery,”Sunday, November 3, at 2 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop.
- Jami Attenberg and Margaret Wilkerson Sexton appear in conversation with Anne Gisleson at the Hotel Peter & Paul to discusses their books, “All This Could Be Yours” and “The Revisioners,” Tuesday, November 5, from 6-9 p.m. at the Hotel Peter and Paul, 2317 Burgundy. This is also part of the Women’s National Book Association-NOLA celebration of National Reading Group Month.
- The Lakeshore Branch Library, 1000 West Esplanade, Metairie, hosts National Novel Writing Month events four different evenings during the month of November. Tuesdays, November 5, 12, 19, and Monday, November 25 from 5-8:30 p.m. National Novel Writing Month is an annual event that encourages writers to work towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30. Shannon Kitchens, a Jefferson Parish Library staff person and the municipal liaison for New Orleans, will be present to explain how the NaNoWriMo process works.
- Daniel Jose Older appears in conversation with writer/filmmaker Jamey Hatley discussing “The Book of Lost Saints,” Wednesday, November 6, at 6 p.m. at garden District Book Shop.
- The University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop will host a reading by poets Brad Richard and Jerika Marchan Wednesday, November 6, at 8 p.m., at the UNO Lakeside Campus, Liberal Arts Building, Room 197. The reading will be followed by a Q&A, booksigning, and brief reception.
- Deb Jannerson discusses and signs her novel, “The Women of Dauphine Street,” Thursday, November 7, at 6 p.m. at the Alvar Library.
- The Friends of the UNO Library hold a used book sale, Thursday, Nov 7, 10am - 6pm, Friday, Nov 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There is an admission fee for the first two hours on Thursday only. Always free for students and members!
- There's still time to buy tickets to the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library’s James Bond-themed scavenger hunt throughout the Main Library on Saturday November 9 from 6:30pm - 10:30pm. Proceeds from this ticketed fundraising event will support the Library's 2020 Summer Fun program. Friendsnola.org for tickets.
- Next weekend, it’s time for Improv NOLA: A Festival of Ideas, November 8-10, Jules Feiffer and Michael Pollan, are the headliners, and there are many other writers to meet as well. Check out improvconferencenola.com for tickets and the complete schedule.
- And coming up this month is Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans, November 21-24, at the Ace Hotel and other locations around town. The theme this year is “Mapping Change.” More details at wordsandmusic.org.
