The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq

This is first book in our spring series of discussions of contemporary French literature. Controversial when it was first published in France in 2000, Michel Houellebecq’s novel The Elementary Particles tells the story of two brothers whose opposite trajectories through sex and science illuminate the horrors of contemporary society. Please join us downstairs at the bookstore for what is always a lively discussion.

The Art of Fiction taught by Alex Steele

Avid readers and aspiring writers of short fiction are invited to a free writing workshop on The Art of the Short Story with Alex Steele, editor of Fiction Gallery and Dean of Faculty at Gotham Writers’ Workshop. Alex will use short lectures to explain several fiction craft elements and illustrate how these elements are used in various stories from Gotham’s anthology Fiction Gallery (Bloomsbury). Participants will be invited take part in brief writing exercises and discuss the elements of craft that go into creating a compelling short story.

Practice your Spanish with Javier Molea, our resident Spanish language literature expert. Javier owned a bookstore in Montevideo, Uruguay, where people gathered on Saturdays to discuss books. He has brought that tradition to our store. No preparatory reading is required; Borges, Cortazar, Fuentes, and all of the greatest Latin American writers are discussed.

Columbian-born author Canon tells the darkly magical story of the town of Mariquita, which is suddenly changed one morning in 1992 when a guerilla army forces every man in town to join them or die. The women left behind must struggle to build a functional society for themselves with tragic, humorous, and unexpected results. Canon has written an engrossing first novel examining the patriarchal social order.

Japanese Tea Ceremony and Reading

Ellis Avery’s highly praised novel tells the story of a Japanese tea master’s daughter who becomes one of the first women to openly practice the sacred Way of Tea ceremony as Japan is buffeted by Westernization. Avery has studied the Way of Tea extensively, and will treat customers to a demonstration of the ceremony before reading from her novel. The event will be followed by complimentary Japanese tea and pastries.

This monthly series with author and activist Mark Crispin Miller features authors whose books tackle political and public issues from a stance outside the mainstream. Peter Rost, author of The Whistleblower, was a senior executive at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. His book details the immoral and often criminal activities of his corporation, and their efforts to silence him. Join us for a discussion with the author about Big Pharma and the challenges of corporate ethics.

Celebrate the paperback release of Kurlansky’s National Bestseller, The Big Oyster. The author will read from his book, answer questions and personalize his book.

Colson Whitehead, author of Apex Hides the Hurt, and Kevin Young, author of For the Confederate Dead; Poems, will share their work with us.

Filled with evocative photographs and never-before-told stories of the colorful and glamorous, A Dash of Daring presents a riveting, behind-the-scenes look at how Editor-In-Chief Carmel Snow transformed Harper’s Bazaar into a leading light in fiction, art, social reform and American fashion. Rowlands draws on copious accounts from fashion industry insiders, influential figures and faithful colleagues and confidantes to shed light on what drove Snow and why she deserves widespread recognition.

Cartoonists Ellen Forney and Megan Kelso celebrate the publication of their provocative comics anthologies I Love Led Zeppelin and The Squirrel Mother with an evening of interdisciplinary performances.