TUESDAY
Release for Jacob Victorine’s Flammable Matter
April 19 at 7 p.m. at WORD Bookstore, 126 Franklin Street.
Jacob Victorine’s first book of poetry, Flammable Matter, bears witness to the metaphorical immolation of oppressed bodies in our world. It’s a raw and powerful testament to living through trauma. He’ll be joined by Rico Frederick, a Trinidadian author of the poetry collection Broken Calypsonian, and Justin Woo a Chinese-American poet and artist.
WEDNESDAY
Book Launch: How to Smoke Pot (Properly)
April 20 at 7 p.m. at Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street (DUMBO).
Now that New York has legalized medical marijuana, some say it’s only a matter of time till the city (and the rest of the country) goes the way of Colorado. So its high (heh) time we had a guide to help the uninitiated navigate this brave new post-pot-prohibition world. Dan Bienenstock, Weed Eater columnist and Bong Appetit producer for VICE Media, is prepared to share his wealth of knowledge with you in his new book, How to Smoke Pot (Properly): A Highbrow Guide to Getting High. From weed etiquette to marijuana history to sex tips under the influence, this book has got something for newbies and experts alike. He’ll be joined by Krishna Andavolu and Abdullah Saeed, two VICE producers.
THURSDAY
Bad Women: A Discussion About Women, Character, and Likeability
April 21 at 7 p.m. at The Strand, 828 Broadway.
In life and in fiction, women often must pass through the gauntlet of public opinion. Their “likeability” and “femaleness” are up for grabs as topics of debate and they are frequently the targets of virulent harassment. Presented by Buzzfeed Books and Joyland Magazine, a panel of four accomplished female fiction writers will discuss this phenomenon and their own experiences. The panelists are Emily Schultz, who is the co-founder of Joyland Magazine; Chloe Caldwell, who is the author of the novella, Women, and the essay collection Legs Get Led Astray; Anna North, a member of the New York Times editorial board and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Jezebel and BuzzFeed; and Jenny Zhang, author of the poetry collection Dear Jenny, We Are All Find, released by Octopus Books.
On Pretentiousness: Dan Fox in Conversation with Asad Raza. Moderated by Christian Lorentzen
April 21 at 7 p.m. at McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince Street.
Why does pretentiousness get such a bad rap? Dan Fox, the editor of Frieze, Europe’s magazine of art and culture, aims to unpack this loaded word with his new book, Pretentiousness: Why it Matters. Fox makes the case that, while “pretentious” is often used pejoratively, it also connotes a willingness to stand out and is an essential ingredient in some of the art and culture we admire. So what does our disdain and anxiety about pretension say about us? Fox will be joined by filmmaker Asad Raza and Christian Lorentzen, book critic for New York magazine’s Vulture, and editor-at-large at the London Review of Books.
