Thu, Sep 23 at 6 pm $15; Members $12

An all-star line-up of children's book authors debate the question which is better: zombies or unicorns?

The editors of the new collection Zombie vs. Unicorns Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Justine Larbalestier (Liar) (pro-unicorn and zombie, respectively), gathered strong arguments for both sides in the form of short stories by an eclectic group of YA novelists. At this event the editors are joined by contributors Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), Libba Bray (Going Bovine), Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan), Naomi Novik (Temeraire series), and Alaya Dawn (Racing the Dark), who will argue for their side. What side are you on? Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? Ages 10 and up.

Sun, Sep 26 at 1 pm $15; Members $12

The mysterious author of the New York Times bestselling book The Name of This Book is Secret, as well as the other dangerous and daring adventures in the hugely popular The Secret series makes a rare appearance to talk about the latest installment. Ages 8 - 13.

"Equal parts supernatural whodunit, suspense-filled adventure, and evocative coming-of-age tale." (Publishers Weekly)

Sun, Oct 3 at 1 pm $15; Members $12

The author and illustrator team behind the popular Clementine-a funny, independent third-grader who has taken her place alongside such beloved book characters as Ramona Quimby, Super Fudge and Judy Moody-discuss their latest collaboration Clementine, Friend of the Week.  Ages 7 -10.        

Wed, Oct 13 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

The Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Empire Falls presents his choices from the premier story collection of the year.

Wed, Oct 20 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

The whip-smart and funny authors of  the essay collections Don't Get Too Comfortable (Rakoff) and I Was Told There'd Be Cake (Crosley) join up to examine our contemporary culture and the many ways life can go awry in New York City, as presented in their new books. 

Wed, Oct 27 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

The author of Wicked introduces stories by contemporary writers from a wonderful new collection, My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me, edited by Kate Bernheimer.  Imagine the seven dwarves living in a loft in the city.  These fairy tales are updated and jazzy, set in alternate universes or enchanted, haunting worlds out of time.

Sun, Nov 7 at 1 pm $15; Members $12

The author of the beloved books Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life and A Mango-Shaped Space talks with the 2009 Newbery Award-winner Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me) about her latest novel-a delectable concoction of mystery, friendship and humor told from the point-of-view of four narrators who find themselves in a candy-filled world of surprises. Ages 8 - 13.

Wed, Nov 10 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

An evening of stories by the late Chilean master (The Savage Detectives, 2666) and writers who inspired him.

"Bolaño has proven [literature] can do anything." -Jonathan Lethem

Part of Sonidos*

Wed, Nov 17 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

A large wooden desk with many drawers is at the mysterious center of Krauss' deeply engrossing new novel of interwoven lives. The author of the bestselling The History of Love discusses her powerfully moving new book about what is important to live for and what we shouldn't live without. 

Wed, Dec 8 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

The National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin shares some of his favorite stories.  Performances by Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone and The Office) and others.  

Mon, Jan 10 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

Only New York appearance!

The nimble and funny novelist discusses his unputdownable book:  "In his zinger of a debut, Rachman deftly applies his experience as a foreign correspondent and editor to chart the goings-on at a scrappy English language newspaper in Rome.  Chapters read like exquisite short stories." -Publishers Weekly. 

"This book is so good I had to read it twice simply to figure out how he pulled it off. . . . hilarious and heart-wrenching."-Christopher Buckley, New York Times Book Review

Wed, Jan 26 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

New stories by Danticat and others from a powerful new anthology collected by the award-winning Haitian-American author of The Dew Breaker and Brother, I'm Dying.

"Danticat's gift is to combine both sympathy and clarity in a moral tangle that becomes as tight as a Haitian community." -Time

Wed, Feb 9 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

A Rare U.S. Appearance!

The acclaimed Britiish novelist makes a rare US appearance to discuss her paired novels, which together offer an incredibly rich, nuanced and funny portrait of marriage.  Gardam will also discuss her newly-reissued wonderful early novel, God on the Rocks, giving her fans insights into the development of a master novelist's craft ("a meticulously observed modern classic"- The Independent).

Gardam is the only author to have twice been awarded Britain's prestigious Costa (formerly Whitbread) Book Award for Best Novel of the Year.  She received Britain's Heywood Hill Literary Prize for a lifetime's contribution to the enjoyment of literature.  Her novel Old Filth was selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

 "Old Filth is excellent and compulsively readable... The mracle of Old Filth is that its hero eludes sociological or psychological pigeonholing"- The New York Times Book Review

Wed, Feb 16 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

Guest curated and introduced by Batuman, author of The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People who Read Them, and Gessen, novelist, translator, and editor of the literary magazine, n+1.  Luminous classic tales and exciting new stories from the latest emerging Russian writers.

Wed, Mar 2 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

Called "a refreshingly bold act of optimism" by the Washington Post Online, this new literary magazine's cause célèbre is to get great stories out to people using the newest technology.  Co-editors Andy Hunter and Scott Lindenbaum introduce a multimedia evening featuring new stories from the magazine.

Wed, Mar 16 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

An all-star cast reads from the comic gonzo classic. 

"Very soon, I knew we would both be completely twisted.  But there was no going back and no time to rest." - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Wed, Mar 30 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

Novelists Egan (A Visit from the Goon Squad), Hustvedt (The Sorrows of an American) and Livesey (The House on Fortune Street)-the trio that brought Middlemarch and Jane Eyre to life at this book club-are back by popular demand to revisit Tolstoy's classic.

Wed, Apr 6 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

The wildly inventive Israeli master joins forces with the author of Everything is Illuminated to present an evening of surprising tales.

Wed, Apr 27 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

Haunting tales from around the world, in which the everyday intersects with fantastic and magical occurrences.

Part of Sonidos*

Wed, May 11 at 7:30 pm $25; Member $21; 30 & Under $15

Writers discuss Garcia Marquez' masterpiece-the gorgeous, moving, passionate story about the history of a family and a mythical Latin American country-which won the author the Nobel Prize in Literature. 

Wed, May 25 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

The great Irish writer presents passionate tales of love, longing and family from her first new collection in 10 years.

"Life is a raging, storming sea, which we're all in." - Edna O'Brien

Wed, Jun 8 at 7 pm $27; Member $23; 30 & Under $15

Delicious tales and comic concoctions to whet the appetite
and the imagination.