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What's better than hearing a brilliant author read and converse? Having a yummy dinner in the middle of that reading. That's exactly why we love the Brooklyn Academy of Music's book-centric program, which is one of the best reading series in NYC; the organizers pair some of the world's most gifted writers with brilliant moderators, while guests enjoy a buffet dinner (complete with wine and dessert because BAM sure knows how to please us). Each event in the BAMcafé begins with a presentation of the author's most recent work, followed by an insightful discussion about the creative process, audience Q&A and book signing.
Eat, Drink & Be Literary has just gotten better every year, and its 11th season promises to be one of the most fascinating, focusing on culturally and stylistically diverse writers and featuring Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners. Tickets are $60, including tax and tip, which, let's be honest, is a damn good deal. Check out the full lineup, January through June, below, and get your tickets early because they always sell out. New Yorkers love good literature, after all.
Wed January 27: Dinaw Mengestu
The Ethiopian-born author and MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient discusses his work, including, most recently, All Our Names, with The New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman.
Tue March 3: Tiphanie Yanique
Debut novelist and St. Thomas-native Yanique recently received the Center for Fiction's prestigious Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize for The Land of Love and Drowning (here's our review!); tonight she talks with Paris Review editor Lorin Stein about the work.
Wed March 11: Michael Cunningham
Editor Treisman joins the renowned Putlizer Prize-winning author of The Hours, The Snow Queen and more for this evening's literary feast.
Wed March 18: Lydia Davis
A woman of many talents (and many awards), Davis talks with Treisman about her writing and translating work.
Tue April 21: Chris Ware
The elusive author and creator of the unprecedented graphic novel Building Stories shares his creative inspiration with Lorin Stein.
Wed April 29: Joseph O'Neill
O'Neill's most recent display of skill is the novel The Dog, which was nominated for the Man Booker Prize; tonight he sits down with moderator Treisman.
Tue June 2: Jane Smiley
The Pulitzer-Prize winning author of A Thousand Acres presents her newest work, Some Luck, alongside Lorin Stein.
Wed June 10: Rachel Kushner
Kushner's The Flamethrowers is one of the best books of the last decade; don't miss her in conversation with Stein.