PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature

penlive:

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Nick is the social media editor for The Millions. He studied English literature and Russian history at the University of Miami, and has worked for W. W. Norton, John Wiley & Sons, and Oxford University Press. His interests can be followed on his Tumblr, Nick Recommends.

I was a correspondent for the PEN World Voices Festival last week. You can check out the two events I covered — as well as the rest of the festival — over at their Tumblr, PEN Live.

Next week, the folks at Literary Death Match are bringing literature into the third dimension by staging “LDM TV: The Pilot.” Two shows consisting of four readers apiece will take place in Los Angeles, and performances will be judged by a killer lineup including such notables as Susan Orlean, Michael C. Hall, Moby and Tig Notaro. Full event details can be found here. For what it’s worth, I still rank Matt Gajewski’s LDM performance as my all-time favorite, so Beau Sia, Simon Rich, Daniel Alarcón and company have their work cut out for them. - Nick

vol1brooklyn: “The evening’s first half found Mitchell, a charming presence throughout the night, introducing a pair of short stories that he admired. His approach to this favored transparency — namely, reading some of the stage directions. “7:35: You talk about what you read and how it connects to your work,” he said wryly. What this led to was a quick run-through of his influences, beginning with the “holy trinity” of J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, and Ursula K. Le Guin that inspired him in his youth. (Mitchell noted later that his fondness for Le Guin’s fiction was a lifelong constant.) He cited Anton Chekhov as “my #1,” and later invoked Mikhail Bulgakov (his name drew applause; “only in New York,” Mitchell remarked) and Haldór Laxness. In the case of the latter, Mitchell singled out the Icelandic writer’s novel Independent People, speaking rapturously about it.” (via Touring David Mitchell’s Library at Symphony Space | Vol. 1 Brooklyn)
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vol1brooklyn:

“The evening’s first half found Mitchell, a charming presence throughout the night, introducing a pair of short stories that he admired. His approach to this favored transparency — namely, reading some of the stage directions. “7:35: You talk about what you read and how it connects to your work,” he said wryly. What this led to was a quick run-through of his influences, beginning with the “holy trinity” of J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, and Ursula K. Le Guin that inspired him in his youth. (Mitchell noted later that his fondness for Le Guin’s fiction was a lifelong constant.) He cited Anton Chekhov as “my #1,” and later invoked Mikhail Bulgakov (his name drew applause; “only in New York,” Mitchell remarked) and Haldór Laxness. In the case of the latter, Mitchell singled out the Icelandic writer’s novel Independent People, speaking rapturously about it.” (via Touring David Mitchell’s Library at Symphony Space | Vol. 1 Brooklyn)

nyrbclassics: To celebrate the re-release of two books by iconic British author Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim and The Old Devils, New York Review Books Classics and Vol. 1 Brooklyn present an evening dedicated to his life and work. Rosie Schaap (New York Times Magazine Drink writer and author of the forthcoming book Drinking With Men), Parul Sehgal (Editor at the New York Times Book Review) and Maud Newton (Writer and critic) will all share their thoughts on Mr. Amis. And since no celebration of the life and work of Mr. Amis is truly complete without cocktails, Brooklyn Gin will be on hand to serve gin and tonics. October 11, 2012, 7 pm – 8:30 pm Housingworks Bookstore Cafe 126 Crosby Street, New York, NY Come out tonight and enjoy a cocktail or five. We’d love to meet you.
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nyrbclassics:

To celebrate the re-release of two books by iconic British author Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim and The Old Devils, New York Review Books Classics and Vol. 1 Brooklyn present an evening dedicated to his life and work. Rosie Schaap (New York Times Magazine Drink writer and author of the forthcoming book Drinking With Men), Parul Sehgal (Editor at the New York Times Book Review) and Maud Newton (Writer and critic) will all share their thoughts on Mr. Amis. And since no celebration of the life and work of Mr. Amis is truly complete without cocktails, Brooklyn Gin will be on hand to serve gin and tonics.

October 11, 2012, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Housingworks Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby Street,
New York, NY

Come out tonight and enjoy a cocktail or five. We’d love to meet you.

Illustration enthusiasts in New York should be sure to stop by “Gorey Preserved,” an exhibition of “nearly every edition of every work published by [Edward] Gorey, in addition to illustrations for dust jackets and magazines, etchings, posters, and design ephemera” on display at Columbia University until August 10th. For those unable to stop by, Eve Bowen takes readers on a virtual walk through the exhibit and includes plenty of links to his drawings online.
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Illustration enthusiasts in New York should be sure to stop by “Gorey Preserved,” an exhibition of “nearly every edition of every work published by [Edward] Gorey, in addition to illustrations for dust jackets and magazines, etchings, posters, and design ephemera” on display at Columbia University until August 10th. For those unable to stop by, Eve Bowen takes readers on a virtual walk through the exhibit and includes plenty of links to his drawings online.

rachelfershleiser: In early June, the publishing industry takes Manhattan for Book Expo America. We’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the millions of amazing readers and writers who call the Tumblr community home. Join us at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe for free drinks, fun swag, mixing, mingling, and readings by Edan Lepucki, Alexander Chee, and Baratunde Thurston. Now doesn’t this just look like a party and a half. Go and say hi to our own Edan Lepucki!
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rachelfershleiser:

In early June, the publishing industry takes Manhattan for Book Expo America. We’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the millions of amazing readers and writers who call the Tumblr community home.

Join us at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe for free drinks, fun swag, mixing, mingling, and readings by Edan Lepucki, Alexander Chee, and Baratunde Thurston.

Now doesn’t this just look like a party and a half. Go and say hi to our own Edan Lepucki!

booksmatter: In college, one of my English professors threatened to institute a “sorry jar” policy for the females in his classes. Like the “swear jar,” the sorry jar would have required a monetary donation any time a female spoke in class and, at some point in her talking, apologized. Apparently his female students—strong, smart women in a top liberal arts college—often (unconsciously, accidentally) apologized, just for expressing their ideas. In 2011, The Atlantic published 235 pieces men and 91 by women. Harper’s: 141 men, 42 women. The London Review of Books: 504 men, 117 women. VIDA: Woman in Literary Arts compiles the above numbers every year, one of their many efforts to explore critical and cultural perceptions of writing by women. Their first annual fundraiser, hosted by Riverhead Books, will be June 18, 2012, in Brooklyn. I suggest you attend—not only to drink unlimited beer and to mingle with Emma Straub but to support this organization and the women writers out there who, every day, are fighting to be heard.
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booksmatter:

In college, one of my English professors threatened to institute a “sorry jar” policy for the females in his classes. Like the “swear jar,” the sorry jar would have required a monetary donation any time a female spoke in class and, at some point in her talking, apologized. Apparently his female students—strong, smart women in a top liberal arts college—often (unconsciously, accidentally) apologized, just for expressing their ideas.

In 2011, The Atlantic published 235 pieces men and 91 by women. Harper’s: 141 men, 42 women. The London Review of Books: 504 men, 117 women.

VIDA: Woman in Literary Arts compiles the above numbers every year, one of their many efforts to explore critical and cultural perceptions of writing by women. Their first annual fundraiser, hosted by Riverhead Books, will be June 18, 2012, in Brooklyn. I suggest you attend—not only to drink unlimited beer and to mingle with Emma Straub but to support this organization and the women writers out there who, every day, are fighting to be heard.