A Guide to the Must-See Events at the Brooklyn Book Festival
Who? New!
This is a great opportunity to hear debut novelists read from their own work. This year’s group includes A.X. Ahmad (The Caretaker), Caleb Crain (Necessary Errors), Ursula DeYoung (Shorecliff), Michele Forbes (Ghost Moth), and Ayana Mathis (The Twelve Tribes of Hattie). I’m especially excited to hear from Brooklyn’s own Caleb Crain, but the entire line-up is impressively strong. 11am, Borough Hall Courtroom
Arts and Politics in Fiction
Rachel Kushner (The Flamethrowers) and Nicholson Baker (Traveling Sprinkler) wrote two of my favorite books of the year (of the past few years, to be honest) and so I’m pretty excited to hear them talk about art and how to use it to effect societal change. Joined by Alex Gilvarry (From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant), I have no doubt that this panel will be thought-provoking and insightful. 12pm, Brooklyn Historical Society Auditorium
Idols, Gods, and Kings
Who would miss the opportunity to see Tom Wolfe, and hear him talk about his latest novel (Back to Blood)? Not me. Wolfe is joined by authors Teddy Wayne and Cristina García for what is sure to be a witty, fascinating discussion of power and those it corrupts, aka everyone. 3:30pm St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
Art Spiegelman and Jules Feiffer in Conversation
Art Spiegelman and Jules Feiffer—the crème de la crème in the world of graphic art—talk about their storied careers, including everything from working at the New Yorker to designing, um, Garbage Pail Kids. And while working for the New Yorker and winning the Pulitzer Prize is impressive, let’s face it, the real gift bestowed upon posterity is the Garbage Pail Kids. 4pm, St. Francis Auditorium
Let’s Talk About (Writing) Sex
Doin’ it and doin’ it and doin’ it well. Rare is the writer who can actually write sex in a way that is, well, sexy. Most sex writing is terrible, which is why this panel is a must-see. Sam Lipsyte especially is one of the most impressive modern sex writers—he always strikes the perfect balance between perverse, funny, messy, and recognizable. Also with Amy Grace Loyd and Susan Choi. 5pm, Main Stage