This week on The Reading Life: Kiese Laymon, author of “Heavy: An American Memoir.”
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:
Le Petit Theatre is partnering with Octavia Books for a Book Club, to be hosted by Christina Pellegrini and including special guests from each production. The first meeting is Sunday, October 14, at 1 p.m. at Le Petit Theatre; the book for discussion is “Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong," by Terry Teachout.
Poet Melinda Palacio reads from “Bird Forgiveness,” Sunday, October 14, at 3 p.m. at the Maple Leaf Bar.
Bonnie Morris signs “The Feminist Revolution: The Struggle for Women’s Liberation,” Sunday, October 14, at 4 p.m. at Octavia Books.
C. Morgan Babst signs the paperback of “The Floating World,” and appears in conversation with Anne Gisleson, author of “The Futilitarians,” Tuesday, October 16, at 6 at Octavia Books.
Apricot Irving signs her memoir, “The Gospel of Trees,” and appears in conversation with Lavinia Spalding, Tuesday, October 16, at 6 at Garden District Book Shop.
Anne Boyd Rioux, author of “Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters,”leads a two-part reading and discussion of "Little Women," beginning Tuesday, October 16, at 6 p.m. at the Mid-City Branch Library.
Newbery award-winning children’s book author Kathryn Lasky signs the books in her "Bears of the Ice "series, “The Den of the Cubs” and “The Quest of the Forest Forever,” Wednesday, October 17, at 4:30 at Octavia Books.
New Orleans 300 presents Maurice Ruffin discussing “Ancestral Suits,” the life of Patrina, Wild Queen of the Red Hawk Hunters, the first woman to lead a Mardi Gras Indian tribe, Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the New Orleans Main Library 219 Loyola.
Kiese Laymon signs “Heavy: An American Memoir,” and appears in conversation with Maurice Ruffin, Thursday, October 18 at 6 at Garden District Book Shop.
Ken Foster and photographer Traer Scott discuss and sign “City of Dogs: New York Dogs, Their Neighborhoods, and the People Who Love Them.” Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at Antenna Gallery, 3718 St. Claude Ave.
Former Congressman Bob Livingston discusses and signs “The Windmill Chaser: Triumphs and Less in American Politics,” Friday, October 19, at 6 at Garden District Book Shop.
Florence Dore signs “Novel Sounds: Southern Fiction in the Age of Rock and Roll,” Friday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Octavia Books.
Elizabeth Desimone, an instructor in the Jefferson Parish Library’s Internet Technology group and a creative writer, discusses “Tech Tools for Writers,” Saturday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie.The presentation is part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the South Louisiana chapter of Romance Writers of America. Open to the public.
Ann Lamott discusses and signs her new book “Almost Everything: Notes on Hope,” at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, 7100 St. Charles Ave. Saturday, October 20, at 6:30. This is a ticketed event; tickets include a signed copy of the book and are available at octaviabooks.com or Eventbrite.com.
The Friends of the Jefferson Public Library will conduct its semi-annual Big Book Sale from Thursday, Oct. 18 to Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd. at the Lake, Kenner. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 18-Oct. 20, and 12 noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Parish Library.
The Louisiana Book Festival is coming up November 10 on the grounds of the State Capital in Baton Rouge, with a full day’s programming by Louisiana writers. An important offering is the series of WordShops for aspiring writers at the State Library Friday. November 9, with such well-known writers as Suzanne Hudson and Joe Formichella, Josh Wheeler, Jonathan Evison and Tessa Fontaine. Sign up now, as these fill up quickly. For information about fees and registration, go to Louisianabookfestival.org. The Festival is also looking for volunteers; check out the web site for info.
