Lit Boston: What's Happening in September?
In the September 2021 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, taking place virtually. See below for our list of local literary happenings.
Tina M. Campt presenting A Black Gaze: Artists Changing How We See
Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Tina M. Campt—the Owen F. Walker Professor of Humanities and Modern Culture and Media at Brown University—for a discussion of her latest book, A Black Gaze: Artists Changing How We See. She will be joined in conversation by Sarah Lewis, an associate professor at Harvard University in the Department of History of Art and Architecture. Register here.
Virtual: Nichole Perkins and Farrah Rochon
Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event featuring Nichole Perkins, author of Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be, and Farrah Rochon, author of The Dating Playbook! Prepare for a talk that spans memoir to romance with lots of pop culture, dating real talk, humor and more. This event is free and open to all, hosted virtually on Crowdcast. Register here.
Anna Qu with Nicole Chung, Made in China
Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event with Anna Qu, author of Made in China: A Memoir of Love and Labor, hailed as "Gripping . . . Well written . . . Brilliantly insightful" by Kirkus Reviews. Anna will be joined in conversation by bestselling author Nicole Chung (All You Can Ever Know)! This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Kate Clifford Larson: Walk with Me
Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
THIS EVENT IS NOW VIRTUAL. Celebrate the release of Walk with Me: A Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer with scholar and author Kate Clifford Larson. Register here.
Katherine Applegate with John Schu: Willodeen Launch Party
Wednesday, September 7 at 6:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Celebrate the launch of Willodeen with author Katherine Applegate and John Schu! This event is free to attend, but books purchased on the registration page include a signed Willodeen bookplate and an art print exclusive to Brookline Booksmith! Register here.
Anne-Marie Slaughter presents Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics
Tuesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Anne-Marie Slaughter—CEO of renowned think tank New America and author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family—for a discussion of her latest book, Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics. She will be joined in conversation by Fatema Sumar, Vice President of Compact Operations at the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation and author of the forthcoming memoir, The Development Diplomat: Working Across Borders, Boardrooms, and Bureaucracies to End Poverty. Register here.
September Grubby Desk Lunch - Remote
Wednesday, September 8 at 12:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Join our FREE Grubby Desk Lunch Series live via easy to use video conferencing. Join us on Wednesday, September 8th from 12:30pm-1:15pm. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Register here.
Adam Harris presenting The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal—and How to Set Them Right
Wednesday, September 8 at 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Atlantic staff writer Adam Harris for a discussion of his book The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal—and How to Set Them Right. He will be joined in conversation by Natasha Warikoo, professor of Sociology at Tufts University and the award-winning author of The Diversity Bargain: And Other Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities. Register here.
Alka Joshi in Conversation With Erica Bauermeister
Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Join us for a fabulous conversation between Alka Joshi and Erica Bauermeister as they discuss Alka's follow-up to The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur!. Register here.
Lloyd Schwartz presenting Who's on First?: New and Selected Poems
Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Lloyd Schwartz—acclaimed poet, scholar, and longtime classical music critic for NPR’s Fresh Air—for a discussion of his latest poetry collection, Who's on First?: New and Selected Poems. He will be introduced by fellow poet Gail Mazur, author of They Can’t Take That Away from Me and Land's End: New and Selected Poems. Register here.
Elly Fishman presenting Refugee High: Coming of Age in America
Thursday, September 9 at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes award-winning writer Elly Fishman for a discussion of her book Refugee High: Coming of Age in America. She will be joined in conversation by Jacqueline Bhabha, Director of Research at the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights and author of Can We Solve the Migration Crisis?. Register here.
Book Talk - SPIN: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story
Thursday, September 9 at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by The West End Museum
Come learn about Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, the young mother of three who in 1894 left from the West End on an around-the-world cycling trip. Register here.
Grubbie Debuts: Judy Bolton-Fasman with Tova Mirvis, Asylum
Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Join Porter Square Books and Grubstreet in the latest installment of the Grubbie Debuts series, featuring GrubStreet graduate Judy Bolton-Fasman for the launch of her debut memoir, Asylum, a Memoir of Family Secrets. Judy will be joined in conversation by Tova Mirvis. This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Marlowe Granados presenting Happy Hour: A Novel
Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and GrubStreet welcome Marlowe Granados—co-host of The Mean Reds podcast and author of The Baffler advice column "Design for Living"—for a discussion of her debut novel, Happy Hour. She will be joined in conversation by Stephanie Lacava, author of The Superrationals and the forthcoming I Fear My Pain Interests You. Register here.
Jennifer Hochschild presenting Genomic Politics: How the Revolution in Genomic Science is Shaping American Society
Friday, September 10 at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes renowned political scientist Jennifer Hochschild—the Henry LaBarre Jayne Professor of Government and African and African American Studies at Harvard University and co-author of Do Facts Matter?—for a discussion of her latest book, Genomic Politics: How the Revolution in Genomic Science is Shaping American Society. Register here.
A.K. Blakemore presenting The Manningtree Witches: A Novel
Friday, September 10 at 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and GrubStreet welcome acclaimed poet A.K. Blakemore for a discussion of her debut novel, The Manningtree Witches. Register here.
Kaija Langley with Jacqueline Woodson, When Langston Dances
Friday, September 10 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event with local debut author Kaija Langley for her new picture book, When Langston Dances! Kaija will be joined in conversation by award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson. A starred review from Kirkus Reviews described When Langston Dances as "the absolute embodiment of Black boy joy, this is a beautiful and important book." This virtual event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Atticus Lish presenting The War for Gloria: A Novel
Friday, September 10 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes acclaimed novelist Atticus Lish—author of the PEN/Faulkner Award–winning Preparation for the Next Life—for a discussion of his latest novel, The War for Gloria. Register here.
Fistin Mwanza Mujila and J. Bret Maney
Saturday, September 11 at 2:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
This event will take place virtually on Zoom. Click the button above to register. Join the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith for a virtual event with author Fiston Mwanza Mujila and translator J. Bret Maney to discuss and celebrate the release of The River in the Belly: Poems. Register here.
Rajani LaRocca with Melissa Stewart, The Secret Code Inside You
Saturday, September 11 at 4:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join us to celebrate the launch of brilliant local author (and MD) Rajani LaRocca's newest picture book, The Secret Code Inside You: All About Your DNA! Rajani will be joined on-screen by award-winning author Melissa Stewart (Fourteen Monkeys). This event is virtual, free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Adam Kucharski presenting The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread—and Why They Stop
Monday, September 13 at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series, the Harvard University Division of Science, and the Harvard Library welcome epidemiologist Adam Kucharski for the paperback release of his acclaimed book The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread—And Why They Stop. Register here.
Belmont Books Bookclub - Hamnet
Monday, September 13th at 3:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Our book club meets once a month on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Right now, all meetings are held on Zoom. All are welcome for casual discussions of fiction and nonfiction books. Occasionally, a meeting will feature a visit from a local author whose book we are reading. Please email [email protected] to register. Register here.
Meredith Ireland with Karen M. McManus, The Jasmine Project
Monday, September 13th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join us in the Zing patio space for an outdoors, in-person celebration of Meredith Ireland's debut YA novel, The Jasmine Project! Meredith will be joined in conversation by Karen M. McManus. This event is free and open to all, taking place just outside the store in the Cafe Zing patio space. Seating is limited - so if you plan to join us, please RSVP at the form below so we can be sure to put out chairs for your whole party and send any weather updates! Register here.
Hank Phillippi Ryan: Her Perfect Life
Monday, September 13 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Celebrate the release of Hank Phillippi Ryan's Her Perfect Life with Hank, Jenna Blum, and MYSTERY GUESTS! Books purchased on the registration page will be signed and personalized to you, by Hank herself! Register here.
Jim Downs presenting Maladies of Empire: How Colonialism, Slavery, and War Transformed Medicine
Monday, September 13 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Jim Downs—the Gilder Lehrman-National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Civil War Era Studies and History at Gettysburg College—for a discussion of his latest book, Maladies of Empire: How Colonialism, Slavery, and War Transformed Medicine. He will be joined in conversation by Sven Beckert, acclaimed author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History. Register here.
Antoni Porowski: Let’s Do Dinner at the Wilbur Theatre
Monday, September 13 at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $47
An Event by The Wilbur Theatre
Join Queer Eye star and New York Times bestselling author Antoni Porowski for a special evening to celebrate the publication of his next cookbook, Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner. Tickets include a copy of the book! This event is hosted live and in person by (and at!) the Wilbur Theatre. Register here.
Frank Bidart presenting Against Silence: Poems
Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series is thrilled to welcome Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Frank Bidart for a discussion of his latest, highly anticipated poetry collection, Against Silence. He will be joined in conversation by Garth Greenwell, celebrated author of What Belongs to You and Cleanness. Register here.
Cindy Weinstein and Bruce Miller Boston-Area Launch, in Conversation With Rachel Adams
Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join us for a fascinating event with Professor Cindy Weinstein and Dr. Bruce Miller as they discuss their book, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain, with Professor Rachel Adams. Cindy and Bruce's perspectives as caregiver and neurologist, respectively, will provide a fuller understanding of Alzheimer's. Register here.
E.C. Osondu with William Pierce
Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $26
An Event by Brookline Booksmith
This event will take place in person. Join the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith for an in-store event with E.C. Osondu, author of Alien Stories. He'll be in conversation with writer and AGNI coeditor William Pierce. Register here.
Evan Osnos presenting Wildland: The Making of America's Fury
Tuesday, September 14 at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store, Politics and Prose, and Books & Books welcome Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Evan Osnos for a discussion of his latest book, Wildland: The Making of America's Fury. Register here.
Edward Glaeser and David Cutler presenting Survival of the City: Living and Thriving in an Age of Isolation
Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes urbanist Edward Glaeser and public health expert David Cutler for a discussion of their latest, co-authored book, Survival of the City: Living and Thriving in an Age of Isolation. Register here.
BraveSpace: Ethical Storytelling - Fierce Urgency of Now!
Thursday, September 16 at 1:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by City Awake
Educate the audience on concepts of ethical storytelling; encourage dialogue about how negative narratives affect lived experiences. Register here.
Kat Chow presenting Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir
Thursday, September 16 at 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Kat Chow—acclaimed journalist and founding member of NPR's Code Switch team—for a discussion of her debut memoir, Seeing Ghosts. She will be joined in conversation by Bryan Washington, author of the award-winning story collection, Lot, and the novel, Memorial. Register here.
Maria Tatar presenting The Heroine With 1001 Faces
Thursday, September 16 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes renowned folklorist Maria Tatar—the John L. Loeb Research Professor of Folklore and Mythology and Germanic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University—for a discussion of her latest book, The Heroine With 1001 Faces. Register here.
Fiona Sampson presenting Two-Way Mirror: The Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Friday, September 17 at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Fiona Sampson—critically acclaimed author of In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein—for a discussion of her latest biography, Two-Way Mirror: The Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She will be joined in conversation by National Book Award–winning poet Mark Doty. Register here.
Sharyll Cashinn presenting White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality
Friday, September 17 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Sheryll Cashinn—the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Civil Rights and Social Justice at Georgetown University—for a discussion of her latest book, White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality. She will be joined in conversation by Tomiko Brown-Nagin, award-winning legal historian and author of Courage to Dissent: Atlanta and the Long History of the Civil Rights Movement. Register here.
Virtual: Cassandra Khaw with P. Djèlí Clark, The All-Consuming World
Friday, September 17 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual talk with Cassandra Khaw for the release of their debut novel, The All-Consuming World - described by Publishers Weekly as "an adventure that doubles as a cathartic scream"! Khaw will be joined in conversation by P. Djèlí Clark (A Master of Djinn). This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Randall Kennedy presenting Say It Loud!: On Race, Law, History, and Culture
Monday, September 20 at 4:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University welcome renowned legal scholar Randall Kennedy for a discussion of his latest book, Say It Loud!: On Race, Law, History, and Culture. He will be joined in conversation by celebrated historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., creator and host of the Emmy Award–winning docuseries Finding Your Roots, and author of Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow. Register here.
T.C. Boyle: Talk to Me
Monday, September 20 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Celebrate the release of T.C. Boyle's Talk to Me! Books purchased on the registration page will receive a signed bookplate! Register here.
Leigh Patel presenting No Study Without Struggle: Confronting Settler Colonialism in Higher Education
Monday, September 20 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Leigh Patel—professor of educational foundations, organizations, and policy at the University of Pittsburgh—for a discussion of her latest book, No Study Without Struggle: Confronting Settler Colonialism in Higher Education. She will be joined in conversation by Jarvis R. Givens, the acclaimed author of Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching. Register here.
Rhonda Magee presenting The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness
Tuesday, September 21 at 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Rhonda Magee—professor of law at the University of San Francisco and mindfulness-based stress reduction educator—for a discussion of her book The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness. Register here.
Yuri Herrera and Lisa Dillman with Betina Gonzalez
Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
This event will take place virtually on Zoom. Join the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith and Third Place Books for a virtual event with author Yuri Herrera and translator Lisa Dillman to discuss and celebrate the release of Three Novels. They will be in conversation with writer Betina González. Register here.
Shruti Swamy, The Archer
Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event with Shruti Swamy for the release of her new novel, The Archer! This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Meredith Hall and Simon Van Booy
Wednesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event featuring two brilliant writers discussing their latest novels, Meredith Hall (Beneficence) and Simon Van Booy (Night Came with Many Stars)! This event is virtual, free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
Brad Ricca with Daniel Barbarisi: True Raiders
Thursday, September 23 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Celebrate the release of True Raiders with author Brad Ricca, in conversation with Daniel Barbarisi! Register here.
Kristin Hannah in Conversation With Christina Baker Kline
Thursday, September 23 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Sign up to participate in the next event in Macmillan’s Book + Author series: a virtual book club event with Kristin Hannah for her #1 bestseller The Four Winds. We've partnered with Macmillan to bring this opportunity to book club members across the country, who can tune in to hear a discussion with fellow author Christina Baker Kline and participate in the live Q&A. Register here.
September Friday Night Writes - Remote!
Friday, September 24 at 5:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Join us for a Friday Night Writes Session on Friday, September 24th, from 5:30pm-6:30pm and log into GrubStreet Remote for some writing! In 60 jam-packed minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some great writing exercises. Register here.
Picture Book Hour: Kaija Langley
Sunday, September 26 at 10:30 AM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Join us for a reading of When Langston Dances with picture book author Kaija Langley, followed by a Q&A! Register here.
Jane Ward in Conversation with Virginia Pye
Sunday, September 26 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join us as we celebrate the launch of Jane Ward's new book, In the Aftermath, as she discusses it with author Virginia Pye! Register here.
How to Tell Stories to Children Workshop
Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join us and authors Joseph Sarosy and Silke Rose West for a workshop on how to tell stories to children, based on their book by the same name! This workshop is aimed at parents, grandparents, and educators, and will provide examples, resources and tools for helping you connect with your kids through storytelling. Register here.
Deborah Tuerkheimer presenting Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers
Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes Deborah Tuerkheimer—the Class of 1940 Research Professor of Law at Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law—for a discussion of her latest book, Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers. She will be joined in conversation by journalist and legal commentator Emily Bazelon, author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration. Register here.
Monthly Bedtime Storytime
Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Put on your jammies, and join authors Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou (The Proudest Color), Gabe Jensen (Neverwoof), and Julie Stamm (Some Days: A Tale of Love, Ice Cream, and My Mom's Chronic Illness) for our monthly bedtime storytime! Register here.
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