Reading Room

THU. JULY 8

“A Seahorse Year” is the sophomore novel of lesbian author Stacey D’Erasmo (“Tea”). It follows the story of a gay family thrown into chaos when 16-year-old Christopher, the son of two lesbians and a gay man, is diagnosed with schizophrenia.

FRI. JULY 9

“Kill Your Idols” is the theme of tonight’s presentation at 7 p.m. at Housing Works Used Book Café. Jim Derogatis, Carmel Carillo, and others will read from and discuss “Kill Your Idols: A New Generation of Rock Writers Reconsiders the Classics” (Barricade Books). This book includes essays by rock critics indicting the “greatness” of some of the most praised albums of our time, including The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” The Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street,” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” Singer/guitarist Tris McCall will perform songs from some of the albums addressed in the book. Jim Derogatis is the pop music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times and a contributor to Spin, Guitar World, Modern Drummer, Harp, and Playboy.com. Booklist has said of the book, “In rock crit, bombast can be as important as defensibility, and snot-nosed stridency can be a good hook. This book probably won’t change aging rockers’ regard for the albums they love (after all, these guys even make fun of ‘Sgt. Pepper’), but it will broaden most libraries’ range in rock criticism.”

MON. July 12

Borders Books and The New York Times begin their innovative series on American classic novels. The entire text of a book will be serialized over the span of a week in a tabloid-sized, full color stand-alone section of the Times.  Additionally, each featured title will receive star treatment from today’s top actors and actresses at Borders stores in the city, timed on the day the book debuts in the pages of the Times.  The series begins today, with the debut of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”  That evening, at 6 p.m. at our Columbus Circle store, Patricia Cohen, Arts & Ideas editor of the New York Times, will host an evening with Sam and Elizabeth Waterston.  Mr. Waterston created the role of Nick Carraway in the film version of the novel, and he and his daughter will lend their talents to this first offering of the special series. 

MON. JULY 13

Ted Botha will come to Barnes & Nobel Chelsea to discuss his fascinating new book, “Mongo: Adventures in Trash.” From housewives to the homeless and everyone in between, some are full time collectors, and others are just hobbyists, but they all have one thing in common: “mongo – any discarded item that is rescued from the trash.” 7p.m.

TUE. JULY 13

“In No Debate: How the Two Major Parties Secretly Ruin the Presidential Debate,” by author and lobbyist George Farah, who argues that the Commission on Presidential Debates mainly serves to exclude third party candidates from participating in what are, ultimately, glorified press conferences. With November looming this is an event no voter should miss. 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble Chelsea

WED. JULY 14

Celebrate Bastille Day with The Paris Review at Housing Works Used Book Café at 7 p.m. with Paula Fox, Melvin Jules Bukiet, Nathaniel Bellows and quirky music duo One Ring Zero and celebrate the release of “The Paris Review Book for Planes, Trains, Elevators, and Waiting Rooms” (Picador, July 2004), the ultimate theme anthology designed for those everyday moments of waiting. Admission is free, but donated books are welcome and encouraged.

“Novel Jews” literary series at KGB Bar is throwing Isaac Bashevis Singer a 100th birthday bash at 7 p.m. at the KGB Bar 85 East 4th St. Bring your dybbuk for apple strudel, schnapps and readings of Bashevis’ never-before-published short stories with: Isaiah Sheffer, artistic director of Symphony Space in New York City and host of NPR’s “Selected Shorts,” Daphne Merkin, author of the novel “Enchantment” and “Dreaming of Hitler,” an essay collection, and Jeff Sharlet, co-editor of “Killing the Buddha: A Heretic’s Bible.” Free at KGB Bar.

List of Recommended Venues: