February events at Greenlight Bookstore!

It's an amazing month of events at Greenlight, starting TONIGHT with Amy Sohn! Click on the Facebook link for complete descriptions and to RSVP. See you in the bookstore!

Thursday, February 4, 7:30
Amy Sohn reads from Prospect Park West
Park Slope resident Amy Sohn's satiric novel of Park Slope mommy culture, Prospect Park West, has been much discussed in print and online - but the conversation isn't over yet! Join us for a reading by Amy Sohn herself, followed by a discussion with the Greenlight Bookstore Moms Book Club. Contact book club coordinator Sharon Ng at sharonng@hotmail.com for info about joining the book club.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)


Friday, February 5, 7:30
Maaza Mengiste reads from Beneath the Lion's Gaze
Brooklyn author Maaza Mengiste's debut novel is an epic tale of a father and two sons in the wake of Ethiopia's bloody revolution in the 1970s. Claire Messud writes in Bookforum: "Beneath the Lion's Gaze is an extraordinary novel, which...tells stories that nobody can want to hear, in such a way that we cannot stop listening."
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)


Monday, February 8, 7:30
A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears in words and music
Antonino D'Ambrosio reads from A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears (Nation Books)
Music by Anthony Roman & David Milone of Radio 4 and Anthony Rizzo
Local writer, filmmaker, photographer and musician Antonino D'Ambrosio writes about Johnny Cash's album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian, in his new book A Heartbeat and a Guitar. The book has been praised by Jim Jarmusch, Chuck D, and the late Howard Zinn. D'Ambrosio will tell the story of Bitter Tears this evening with words and music, along with friends and fellow musicians Anthony Roman & David Milone of Radio 4 and Anthony Rizzo. The performance will be followed by a discussion/q&a.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)

Tuesday, February 9, 7:30
Padgett Powell reads and discusses The Interrogative Mood with Matt Weiland
Since the publication of his first novel Edisto in 1984, Padgett Powell has been hailed as one of America’s most original and compelling writers of fiction. His latest novel, The Interrogative Mood, pushes the experimental envelope: it’s composed entirely of questions. Powell gets some questions asked of him this evening by his editor at Ecco, Fort Greene resident and fellow author Matt Weiland.
RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Thursday, February 11, 7:30
Full Spectrum and Greenlight Bookstore present THE STAR-CROSSED LOVERS
Tonight's event is a free panel discussion with four creators who explore the bittersweet nature of romantic love. Join us while musician/singer-songwriter Trevor Exter, author/journalist Lynn Harris, singer-songwriter Tamar-kali, and author/poet/playwright Mo Beasley discuss the ideas and experiences behind their work, and the prickly thorns that can bloom with desire. Moderated by musician / transformational counselor K. Neycha Herford. For information about Full Spectrum, visit www.fsexperience.com.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)


Friday, February 12, 7:30
Champagne, chocolate and crafting with Esther Smith, author of The Paper Bride
Esther Smith creates handmade books and letterpressed ephemera the old-fashioned way with her husband Dikko Faust at Tribeca studio Purgatory Pie Press. (Their typography designs are a special favorite of Greenlight Bookstore: Esther and Dikko designed our bookstore's logo!) With her new book The Paper Bride: Wedding DIY from Pop-The-Question to Tie-The-Knot and Happily Ever After, Esther brings the same DIY sense of fun to romance and wedding preparations. Greenlight celebrates the book with a special evening reception: enjoy champagne and chocolate in the store while learning some of the crafts from the book! Great for couples planning their special day, or for a girls' night out!
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)
Please note: craft materials and refreshments are first come, first served. RSVPs are especially helpful for this event, as they'll let us know how much to provide!

Monday, February 15, 7:30
Blogger/Author Pairings: Marie Mutsuki Mockett reads and discusses Picking Bones From Ash with Amanda Recupido
Introduction by Ron Hogan
Our monthly Blogger/Author Pairings series features a noted literary blogger hosting a book or author that they are passionate about. Amanda ReCupido's blog The Undomestic Goddess discusses feminist issues, and author Marie Mutsuki Mockett has been a guest contributor. Mockett's novel Picking Bones From Ash explores the struggles women face in accepting their talents in a multi-generational story of mothers and daughters. ReCupido and Mockett will discuss fiction, feminism, and more in the latest installment of our lively discussion series. The discussion will be introduced by series curator Ron Hogan, creator of the blog Beatrice.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)


Thursday, February 18, 7:30
Steamboat: A Literary Humor Series
On the third Thursday of every month, join hosts Bob Powers (author of Happy Cruelty Day) and Jason Reich (former writer for "The Daily Show"), as they welcome the city's best humor writers for a night of wine-addled text-based hilarity. This evening's featured comic writers/performers include Edith Zimmerman, who writes stories on her blog that are hopefully not true; Will Hines and Rob Lathan, authors of the self-help parody Get Psyched!; and Elna Baker, author of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)


Monday, February 22, 7:30
Discussion and tasting with Louisa Shafia, author of Lucid Food
Williamsburg resident Lousia Shafia has worked at pioneering vegan and raw food restaurants, and founded her catering company Lucid Food with a mind to bringing earth-friendly practices to the world of fine catering. Her new cookbook Lucid Food: Cooking for an Eco-Conscious Life teaches the home cook how to make earth-friendly food choices. For this evening's event, Louisa will be shopping at the Fort Greene Farmer's Market and preparing some tasty winter treats to share, while teaching audience members how they can make these dishes and other lucid delights.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional).

Tuesday, February 23, 7:30
John Bartelstone discusses The Brooklyn Navy Yard with Ted Hamm
The historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, adjacent to Fort Greene, is one of the last remnants of Brooklyn's industrial supremacy. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, the first monograph by New York based architectural photographer John Bartelstone (published by Brooklyn press powerHouse Books), offers a quiet and striking look at the Yard as a time capsule of industrial New York. Bartelstone will discuss the photography and history of the Yard with Ted Hamm, editor of the quintessential Brooklyn arts and culture paper The Brooklyn Rail.
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)

Thursday, February 25, 7:30
Words and music with Rick Moody and John Wesley Harding
Brooklyn artists Rick Moody and Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding) both have the rare distinction of being recognized for their talents as writers and as musicians. Rick Moody is the author of The Ice Storm, The Diviners, Demonology, The Black Veil, and other novels and nonfiction works, and has performed with the Wingdale Community Singers and One Ring Zero. Wesley Stace is the author of the novels Misfortune and By George, and as John Wesley Harding has released 15 albums and performed with Iggy Pop and Bruce Springsteen. For this special evening at Greenlight, Rick and John plan to read from new unpublished work. They'll also play together as the band Authros, described by Rick as "really just the two of us and an acoustic guitar."
RSVP for this event on Facebook (optional)

Strength in Numbers

Well, results from this weekend are in, the numbers have been run and the good news is: we raised a significant amount of money for donation to Haiti relief. Thanks to everyone - especially to our anonymous matching donor - for helping to make it happen.

Adding up the various components (10% of the store's sales + matching donations + corporate matching donations) we raised $4,515. This will be split between donations to The Red Cross and Partners in Health, which is our anonymous donor's charity of choice.

Again, thank you. None of us could ever have raised a sum like this on our own, but there's strength in numbers and it really made a difference.

--- Rebecca.

Donating 10% of This Weekend's Sales to Haiti - read on for full details

At Greenlight we have been very fortunate in the short life of our new bookstore and we are mindful of it every day. We are thankful for our store's good fortune, and for our own personal fortune for living in a part of the world that has an infrastructure and amenities that are sorely lacking elsewhere. The past week's news about Haiti is an especially tragic event and it makes us want to give back in return. With that very much in mind, Greenlight Bookstore is pledging to donate 10% of our store's sales for Sat 1/23-Sun 1/24 to the Red Cross for aid to Haiti.

Taking this a step further, if any customer is willing to match the bookstore's donation of 10% of the weekend's sales, I will also personally match what the store donates. Just think - if you pledge to match Greenlight Bookstore's donation, all of a sudden one sum becomes tripled because I will do the same. That's some strength in numbers, for sure, and it would mean a lot to me if one (or a few) of you would step up to this challenge.

--- Rebecca.

January Events at Greenlight!

With the holidays behind us, it's time to ramp up our events programming for the New Year. We're thrilled with the lineup of authors and other creators slated to appear at Greenlight this month; read on for a bit about what's coming up, and visit our Facebook events page for more info or to RSVP. See you in the bookstore!

Monday, January 11, 7:30 PM
Katharine Weber reads & discusses True Confections with Levi Asher of Litkicks
Introduction by Ron Hogan of Beatrice
The second installment of our Blogger/Author Pairings series, in which a noted literary blogger hosts a book or author that they are passionate about. Katharine has hinted that there will be free candy at this event; don't miss this sweet combination!
RSVP on Facebook

Thursday, January 21, 7:30 PM
Steamboat: A Literary Humor Series
Featuring Josh Lieb, Tami Sagher, and Gabe Liedman
Hosted by Bob Powers, Jason Reich & Scott Jacobson
On the third Thursday of every month, join Bob Powers (author of Happy Cruelty Day) and Jason Reich (former writer for The Daily Show) as they welcome the city's best humor writers for a night of wine-addled text-based hilarity. This kickoff event features a Daily Show producer, a writer for 30 Rock, a middle-school evil genius, and more!
RSVP on Facebook

Saturday, January 23, 3:00 PM
Nick Flynn signs The Ticking Is The Bomb
Nick Flynn is the author of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, and he signs his new work of nonfiction this Saturday afternoon at Greenlight. Please note: this is a signing only and not a reading event.
RSVP on Facebook

Tuesday, January 26, 7:30 PM
Piecebook Reloaded: Rare Graffiti Drawings, 1985-2005
Slide show and conversation with authors Sacha Jenkins and David Villorente and contributing artists TBA
Piecebook Reloaded is a tribute to the work of New York City's graffiti community in its most private form: the sketches and drawings that fill hundreds of "piecebooks" circulated among some of the greatest artists in the community. Sacha and David, are longtime Brooklynites and will host a talk and signing with some of the contributors.
RSVP on Facebook

Friday, January 29, 7:30 PM
Joshua Ferris reads from The Unnamed
Former Brooklynite Joshua Ferris (author of Then We Came To the End) has a riveting new novel in The Unnamed. The book is number 1 on the Indie Next List and a staff favorite, and we're delighted to be able to host Josh in his former hometown!
RSVP on Facebook

Story Time in January
Kids and parents can join us every Saturday at 10:30 AM for a Story Time reading from a rotating cast of storytellers. We have some great authors reading at Greenlight in January! We've included the highlights here; for more information, subscribe to our "Kids at Greenlight" mailing list using the button below.

Saturday, January 9, 10:30 AM Michele McSween reads Gordon and Li Li
Greenlight Bookstore is proud to host Mandarin classes from local language school Lango, in the store on Wednesdays beginning January 13! To kick things off, local author Michele McSween shares her lovable pandas Gordon and Li Li, in a book designed to teach Mandarin words to the littlest learners.

Saturday, January 16, 10:30 AM Colin Bootman reads The Steel Pan Man of Harlem
Award-winning local author and illustrator Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad, a heritage which he credits with leaving an indelible mark on his creative expression. Join Colin as he reads from his newest picture book, The Steel Pan Man of Harlem, a retelling of "The Pied Piper of Hamlin" that's infused with the intoxicating rhythm of steel drums and set among the streetscapes of Harlem.

All events at Greenlight Bookstore are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. RSVPs are appreciated to give us a sense of what to expect, but seating is first come, first served. Closest subways are the C to Lafayette, G to Fulton, or any train to Atlantic/Pacific;click here for a map.

Holiday Hours

Days until Christmas, and the bookstore is bustling! We thought we'd better let you know our holiday hours, in case you're planning to stop in for some last minute gifts or pre-party browsing. Our regular hours are 10 AM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday, and 12 noon to 8 PM Sunday, but there are some exceptions coming up.

Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) we're scheduled to close at 8:00 PM. (But the evening crew might stick around later if enough of you make it worth their while, and there may be some merrymaking and louder-than-usual music!)

Christmas Day we'll be closed. (Even booksellers need a holiday!)

Saturday, December 26, we're open as usual, including Story Time for kids at 10:30 -- a nice option especially if you've got family visiting. We're open regular hours most of the week.

Thursday, December 31 (New Year's Eve) we'll close at 8:00 PM

Friday, January 1 (New Year's Day) we'll open at 12 noon (rather than 10 AM) and stay open until 10 PM as usual.

Here's wishing you and yours the holidays you most wish for-- whether it's partying or relaxing, being sociable or spending time on your own, feasting or cleansing, traveling or staying home. And of course, happy holiday reading!

Toure, the Grinch, and other events!

Tomorrow morning (Saturday December 19) at 10:30 AM, you can catch our last event before Christmas: Touré reading How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Touré is a noted novelist, cultural and literary critic, and TV personality (Greenlight was honored to have him speak at our launch party in October).

He's also a local parent and a Greenlight customer, and a great fan of the work of Dr. Seuss, including his essential story of Christmas humbuggery redeemed.

Join Story Time at Greenlight as Touré reads How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, and a cornucopia of other Seuss favorites. We'll have lots of Seuss classics on hand (they're great gifts for all kinds of folks), and everyone is welcome to enjoy the story of the heart that grew two sizes down in Whoville!

After Story Time, it's a great time to do a little shopping at Greenlight. We've got a storeful of beautiful books for everyone on your list, and our talented and bookish staff will be on hand to help you find the perfect book for everyone.

In the meantime, we've uploaded our January events to our Facebook page. Click here to see the great stuff we've got scheduled for the first month of 2010, from world-class novelists to hugely talented graffiti artists.

See you in the bookstore!

Holiday Book Picks from Greenlight

It's been a great season for new books, so you've got many wonderful choices for the readers on your list. To help you narrow things down, the owners and staff at Greenlight Bookstore would like to offer some of our top book picks for gift giving this year in a few categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Gift Books, Cookbooks, and Children's Books. (Of course, we're happy to help with personalized gift recommendations when you visit too!)

Fiction

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis ($30 hardcover)
* staff favorite
Virtuoso storyteller Davis gets the star treatment she deserves in this beautiful collection, with a cover that evokes classic 1960s design.

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann ($18.75 hardcover / $15 paperback)
The 2009 National Book Award winner for Fiction, set in 1970s New York, is now available in paperback; we also have the lovely hardcover edition available for 25% off the list price of $25.

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli
($29.95 hardcover)
This epic story of one man's search for love, meaning, sanity, and perfect architectural proportions has been hailed by many as the graphic novel of the year.

The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov
($35 hardcover)
*staff favorite
Nabokov's last novel was a draft in progress at the time of his passing. This book contains facsmile reproductions of his original handwritten manuscript and is a gorgeously designed item to be coveted; it's almost more 'object' than 'book'.

Nonfiction

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (hardcover $29.99)
Brooklyn local Foer brings his thoughtful lyricism and unique insights to bear on the thorny issues of vegetarianism and industrial farming.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher Mcdougall (hardcover $24.95)
* Rebecca favorite
Narrative non-fiction at its best; this book takes you into the obscure world of ultramarathoners, and explores the elusive tribe of Terahumara Indians, who are the world's greatest distance runners. It is a 'trust me on this' kind of book - amazingly engaging.

Stitches by David Small (hardcover $24.95)
* Jessica favorite
Small's graphic novel memoir rivals Fun Home in its dark and moving portrayal of a family and an artist's coming of age; he's a children's book illustrator too, but here his art is both poignant and terrifying.

Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith (hardcover $26.95)
* staff favorite
Smith's fierce intelligence and subtle, hilarious wit are on display in these essays, on topics from Middlemarch to feminism to the Obamas.


Gift Books

Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955-Present by Gail Buckland (hardcover $40)
* Jessica favorite
A companion to the stunning exhibit now up at the Brooklyn Museum, this exciting collection of rock and roll photographs by noted photographers is a perfect choice for music fans.

The City Out My Window: 63 Views on New York by Matteo Pericoli (hardcover $21.99)
The artist behind Manhattan Unfurled reveals the city in a series of charming sketches of views from apartment windows, with companion essays by the windowgazers both famous and obscure.


The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles:
Craftsmanship, Elegance, and Function by Jean-Pierre Praderes (hardcover $50)
* Rebecca favorite
In high quality illustrations and photographs, this book illustrates the pure beauty of bicycle design. It is partly an art book and partly a history of bicycle design, and it would grace any coffee table it was lucky enough to land on.

Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present by Deborah Willis (hardcover $49.95)
Tied to an exhibit that was up at NYU, Willis has curated over a hundred years of photographs highlighting African American beauty, creating a gorgeous and long overdue retrospective. A truly stunning book.


Cookbooks

Momofuku by David Chang and Peter Meehan (hardcover $40)
Containing both the story and the recipes behind Chang's legendary NYC restaurants (Momofuku Noodle Bar, Ssäm Bar, Ko, and Milk Ba), this cookbook has been the hot item of the season!

The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor by Matt and Ted Lee (hardcover $35)
The South Carolina-bred Lee Bros. are now part-time Brooklyn locals, and their new cookbook is a delicious taste of the South with an eye toward simplicity and healthy, creative variations.

Larousse Gastronomique: The World's Greatest Culinary Encyclopedia, Completely Revised and Updated by Librairie Larousse (hardcover $90)
This is the blowout gift for foodies: a completely revised and updated edition with full color photographs of the work that has been the go-to cooking resource since 1938, which Julia Child named as the book she would choose if she could only have one in her kitchen.

I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot (hardcover $45)
First published in 1932, this is the gorgeously packaged classic cookbook used by French home cooks. Newly translated into English for the first time, it's a clear, practical, comprehensive introduction to French cuisine.



Children's Books

The Silver Spoon for Children by the Editors of Phaidon Press (hardcover $19.95)
The bestselling cookbook in Italy now comes in a version just for kids, who can learn how to make everything from Pizza Margherita to Forest Ice Cream.

Kids Go! by They Might Be Giants (hardcover $19.99)
Fun for the kids, nostalgia for parents, New York's own quirky rock duo created this irresistible sing-along book (which includes a DVD music video) that's guaranteed to get kids dancing.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen (hardcover $16.99, paperback $6.99)
Holding a special place in our hearts, Michelle read for our very first Story Time, and her story of a lion, a librarian, and when it's okay to break the rules remains a beloved favorite.

The Little Prince Pop-Up by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (pop up $35)
This new version of the beloved classic contains both the complete text of the original book, plus ingenious, interactive pop-ups that make it a beautiful gift.

As always, you can order any of these books by sending us an email at info@greenlightbookstore.com, calling (718) 246-0200, or stopping by the store.

Happy Reading and Happy Gifting!

Make the Most of the Holidays at Greenlight!

A bookstore is a warm and bustling place in the month of December. Booksellers rush around carrying stacks of books, pausing to help customers pick out just the right title for a nephew, sister, partner, or best friend. Customers mull over their lists, exclaim over old favorites and new discoveries, and find room in the stack for a little something just for themselves. Wrapping paper rustles, the cash register chings, and everything seems rather twinkly and full of good cheer.

We're bursting with excitement for our first ever holiday season at Greenlight Bookstore, and our excitement overflowed recently in an email to our customers with lots of ideas for how to make the most of the bookstore this season. So we're reproducing it here for you blog readers.

* Shop Brooklyn 2009!
Greenlight is a proud participant in this year's Shop Brooklyn initiative, which encourages re-discovering the riches of Brooklyn by shopping at independent, locally owned merchants -- something we strongly believe in! As part of the initiative, we're offering our own Brooklyn Bonus:
On Mondays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every purchase at Greenlight Bookstore enters you in a weekly raffle with the chance to win FREE BOOKS!
Winners will be contacted on Wednesdays and Fridays. Make sure to check out the Shop Brooklyn partners in your neighborhood for other great Brooklyn Bonuses!
Greenlight also offers customers a great bonus every day of the year: our Friends of Greenlight frequent buyer program. It's free to sign up; just give your name at the cash register and we'll track your spending at the store. Every time you reach $250 we will give you a present (a book or other item) from our selection of Greenlight Gifts!

* Make a Wish List! Book lovers can be hard to buy for. Luckily, there's an easy way to make an online wish list -- and direct would-be book buyers to Greenlight for their purchase!
Just visit the IndieBound.com website, a project by and for independent booksellers. In addition to helping you discover bookstores and other independent businesses near you, IndieBound lets you create a user profile which you can use to pick your favorite bookstores, meet other book people, and make lists of books you've read or books you want. There's a great short video on making a wishlist here. You can even email your whole list to anyone you'd like. While you're on IndieBound, you can make Greenlight one of your favorite stores, so everyone will know you want your books from Fort Greene/Clinton Hill's own indie bookstore. Happy listing!

* More Than Just Books!
Books make great gifts, of course (stay tuned in the days ahead for a postwith our book picks of the season). But in case you're curious, here are a few of the other potential gifts you'll find now available at Greenlight.

* Music CDs from NPR's Discover Songs series
* Cards for any occasion, including boxed holiday cards
* Maps of Brooklyn and surrounding areas
* Puzzles, games, stickers, activity books, craft kits, and paper dolls for kids
* Blank books and journals, including Moleskines
* Annual calendars and planners

* And We Also Offer...
* Gift Cards: Need a gift for a special book lover? Greenlight Bookstore now has gift cards, available in any amount. Perfect for stockings, inexpensive to mail (a hint to out of town relatives!), and ideal for the friend or loved one who just needs to pick out their own gift.
* Free Gift Wrapping: We're happy to wrap your books in our distinctive Greenlight style, so you can take one more thing off of your to-do list.
* Shipping: We ship via UPS Ground to anywhere in the U.S. We'll carefully wrap and pack up your books to send.
* Special Orders: If we don't have the book you are looking for in stock, we're happy to try to order it for you. We can get nearly any book in print, sometimes as quickly as a few days after you place your order. You can place your order by phone or email as well.


Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or just a Happy New Year, we'd love to welcome you into our glowing little corner of the world, and help you find the best present for everyone on your list. After all, there's no gift like a book.

The Giving Thanks Post

Okay maybe it's obvious, but just because something is obvious doesn't mean it goes without saying. We at Greenlight are so thankful.

Thankful for our community.
Thankful for the warm reception we've received since (and even before) we opened.
Thankful for the strength of our staff.
Thankful for our business partnership, and the friendship that has developed out of it.
Thankful for how beautiful the space turned out.
Thankful for the books!
Thankful for the way Greenlight Bookstore has enriched our lives.
Thankful that a bookstore dream has turned into a bookstore reality.

We're also thankful to so many individuals for how they've helped us along the way and today seems like the right day to say a public thank you to everyone listed below; from the bottom of our bookstore hearts:

A Public Space
Alexis Akre
Philip Alcabes
Kelly Amabile
Stephanie Anderson
Susan Avery
Michael Bagnulo
Scott Ballum
Judith Baumel
Jeff Beardsley
Sarah Bendit
Jon Bennett
Betty Bennett
Carolyn Bennett
Amy Bennett
Lauren Bierbaum
BOMB Magazine
Bookforum
Kat Bounds
Samy Brahimy
Hesky Brahimy
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation
Brooklyn Public Library
Adam Bunderson
Eric Busta
Cake Man Raven
Greg Calender
Douglas Calhoun
Mike Campbell
Tobias Carroll
Ed Champion
Dale Charles
Ruth Chow
Zinzi Clemmons
Steve Colca
Sean Concannon
Cynthia Conigliaro
Tom Conoscenti
Toby Cox
Dear Dave
deFT Projects
Der Schwarze Kölner
David Doerrer
Avin Domnitz
Angie Duker
Nick During
Erik DuRon
Jennifer Egan
Electric Literature
Daryl Ellerbe
Lissi Erwin
David Ewalt
FAB Alliance
Dikko Faust
Melvin Fitting
Hillary Frileck
Gina Gagliano
Jasmine Gilden
Lindsey Gorton
Michael Greenberg
Greene Grape Provisions
Michael Gross
Dale Hall
Lisa Heller
Elke Hofmann
Ashley Housholder
Brigid Hughes
Hugo Construction Corp.
Betsy Hulsebosch
Rachel Hyman
David Jacobs
Scott Jacobson
Letitia James
Joseph Jordan
Phillip Kellogg
Tiana Kennedy
Russell Kivler
Susanna Ko
Paul Kozlowski
Eleanor Krisemen
Pat Kutz
Archie Kutz
Sunny Lai
Iris Lasn
Andy Laties
Gillian Lay
John Leary
Susan Lerner
Ruth Liebmann
Simon Lipskar
Eleanor Lovinsky
Patrick Lunn
Amanda Lydon
Marty Markowitz
Marquet Patisserie
Ben Mattison
Elizabeth May
Carolyn Mayers-Williams
Shelby McCoy
Jesse McManus
Sarah McNally
Adam Meagher
Dan Mechanic
Daniel Meeter
Jawad Muaddi
NFT Guides
Sharon Ng
Donald O'Connor
Tim Olson
Orien O'Neal
Adrienne Onofri
Christine Onorati
Bianca Maria Orlando
Pace University Small Business Development Center
Roz Parr
Natalie Peart
Jarrett Pelletier
Maura Phelan
Laura Piquado
Manoj Plakal
Mutter John
Pratt Area Community Council
Purgatory Pie Press
Jane Queller
Daniel Rabuzzi
Joshua Rutner
Steve Sachs
Olyver Salazar
Shelf Awareness
Deborah Shiff
Marggie Skinner
Esther Smith
Derek Steele
Ronni Stolzenberg
Frederick Tang
Jamie Taratoot
Ellen Tarlow
Tio
Toure
Peiheng Tsai
Elaine Tunnicliffe
Sherry Wasserman
Brette Weinkle
Kim Westfall
Colson Whitehead
Mark Wingerson
Lois Wingerson
Lisa Winn
Lynsay Wolfe
Lia Yaranon Hall
Jon Zeitlin

Mentors, Muses & Monsters Event Tonight!

Monday, November 23, 7:30 PM
Mentors, Muses & Monsters: 30 Writers on the People Who Changed Their Lives (The Free Press)
Featuring editor Elizabeth Benedict
With contributors Alexander Chee, Mary Gordon, Martha Southgate, and Lily Tuck
Hosted by Beatrice.com's Ron Hogan

A cavalcade of local authors kicks off our new series of Blogger/Author Pairings, in which a literary blogger hosts a real-world reading.

Pioneering blogger Ron Hogan, creator of Beatrice and book industry journalist for GalleyCat, hosts this event for a new anthology exploring the varied relationships of writers with those who have influenced them, for better or worse.

The book's editor Elizabeth Benedict (author of The Practice of Deceit and others) will discuss the project of Mentors, Muses & Monsters, and her own relationship with Elizabeth Hardwick.

Alexander Chee (author of Edinburgh) will read from his essay on taking a class with Annie Dillard.

Mary Gordon (author most recently of Reading Jesus) will talk about her two Barnard mentors, Elizabeth Hardwick and Janice Thaddeus.

Martha Southgate (author of Third Girl from the Left) reads from her piece on an influential book, Harriet the Spy.

And Lily Tuck (National Book Award winning author of The News from Paraguay) talks about the influence of Gordon Lish on her own work.

Join us for a lively conversation about influence, identity, and the writing life.

You can RSVP on Facebook for this event; RSVPs are appreciated (to help us get an idea of attendance), but NOT required, and seating is first come, first served.

Introducing, Our Staff

If you've been in the store you may have met them already, but we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to our team of smart, savvy, well read booksellers. We caught them with the bookstore's resident stuffed bear, or in the midst of the festivities at our launch party -- though they're all consummate professionals, you can tell there's a lot of laughter with this lot!


More often than not, you'll find DEBORAH making our children's section shine -- as a neighborhood mom and a former employee of the lovely (late) Chinook Bookshop in Colorado, she's gained lots of experience! She's a master at recommending just the right book for just the right child (and she's a cookbook expert too!)


ELEANOR grew up spending lots of time in a wonderful independent bookstore that her mother co-owns, named Inkwood Books. She brings natural exuberance with her to the store every day, in between classes at NYU (where Jessica was studying when she got her first bookstore job!).

BRETTE is also a bookseller's daughter (her father owned a small independent bookstore), and a former teacher, and also worked at Goering's Bookstore in Gainsville, Florida. As the Mistress of Receiving, she makes sure books get unpacked, checked in and sorted correctly, and she's also a great hand with recommendations.


JASMINE is an art student at Pratt Institute, Fort Greene's own prestigious art and design school. Her bookselling experience comes by way of Manhattan's fantastic radical bookstore and cafe Bluestockings, and she brings a native New Yorker's sensibility to Greenlight.

Before moving to NY for an internship at The Feminist Press, NATALIE was working at a great bookstore that opened last year in Texas called Legacy Books. Natalie has a wonderfully gracious style with anything she takes on, whether it's buying stationary, talking books with customers, or working on compiling a list of our many local authors.


ALEXIS is a former buyer and manager of Olsson's, a bookstore in Washington DC that sadly closed their doors in 2008. Lucky for us though, she's just relocated to NY and brings her prodigious knowledge and skills to Greenlight. Alexis helps make sure the trains run on time, coordinating everything from staff schedules to inventory records with dry wit and aplomb.


JESSE is an artist who hails from Minneapolis, where his mother owns a well known children's bookstore named Wild Rumpus. He's the one who has been doing the drawings on our sandwich board! You can talk to him about any author from Nabokov to R. Crumb in the bookstore, and find his work on his website and in the comics anthology Kramer's Ergot.


DARYL is our newest hire; the only person we have hired since we opened our doors, and she's fitting right in! A former Waldenbooks employee and a recent Sarah Lawrence grad, she's got endless energy and might be the only person on staff who talks even faster than Rebecca!


That's the staff! Along with Jessica and Rebecca, they're the folks who are hard at work making Greenlight into the best bookstore it can be. Stop in and say hello, check out their staff picks, chat with them about your own favorites, and share the bookstore experience with our crew!

Jhumpa Lahiri, Matt Weiland, and L.J. Davis tomorrow night!

This one is going to be amazing -- don't miss it!


Friday, November 13, 7:30 PM NYRB Classics 10th Anniversary Celebration Featuring publisher Edwin Frank With authors Matt Weiland, Jhumpa Lahiri, and L.J. Davis

NYRB Classics began publishing in 1999, with beautiful trade paperback reissues of classic but previously out-of-print texts, each introduced by a noted writer or scholar. Greenlight joins in celebrating the publisher's 10th anniversary with a distinctly local reading and reception.

NYRB Classics publisher Edwin Frank will introduce three readers. Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth) will discuss and read from Mavis Galant's story collection The Cost of Living, to which she wrote the introduction. Matt Weiland (State By State) will expound on the joys of George Stewart's quirky history Names On the Land, which he introduces. L. J. Davis, one of the few living writers republished by NYRB, will read from his 1971 novel A Meaningful Life, a comic and cathartic urban masterpiece set in a crumbling Brooklyn brownstone.

The reading will be followed by a wine and cheese reception catered by Greene Grape Provisions -- your chance to meet some of the authors and publishers that define Fort Greene and Brooklyn. Join us for a celebratory anniversary event!

This event is free and open to the public. You can RSVP on Facebook - RSVPs are appreciated (to give us an attendance estimate) but not required. Seating is first come, first served. Please note: there is NO PHOTOGRAPHY at this event.

Jonathan Lethem at Greenlight tomorrow night!

It's our first-ever author event, and boy are we excited!

At 7:30 PM on Thursday, November 5, Brooklyn's unofficial laureate Jonathan Lethem (author of Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude) reads from his new novel Chronic City, a surreal and witty epic set in a Manhattan almost like our own. The oddball cultural savant Perkus Tooth is an unforgettable character, and the journey our hapless narrator takes through Perkus' world of stranded astronauts, dog hotels, giant tigers, and alternate realities that bleed into city politics is a trip well worth taking

Jonathan is reading the ENTIRE 467 page novel aloud over the course of eight reading events in New York City -- Greenlight Bookstore is proud to host Reading Number 5! Join us for a reading, followed by a signing and reception with the author. Then the true fans can stick around for a second round of reading, as long as it takes to get through 1/8 of the book!

Rebecca and Jessica both LOVE this novel to the point of obsession -- we're thrilled to have Jonathan for our first sit-down author event. Don't miss the chance to meet one of Brooklyn's greatest literary authors at Brooklyn's newest independent bookstore!


This event is free and open to the public. You can RSVP on Facebook -- RSVPs are appreciated (to give us an attendance estimate) but not required. Seating is first come, first served.

Can't make it to the event, but craving a signed copy of Chronic City? You can email us or call (718) 246-0200 to request a signed copy be held or shipped to you. Even request personalization! Contact us as early as possible -- we may run out!

The Launch Party Recap Part II

We finally got the other set of photos off the camera! Battery chargers go missing so easily in new stores, where gadgets and wires and cords don't have permanent homes yet. So indulge us in one last quick party recap -- then we'll move on to new topics.

People began arriving around 7 and the place filled up fast



Champagne from Greene Grape and beer from the beer garden up the street started flowing and good eats from Provisions, Marquet and The (legendary) Cake Man made their way around



Meanwhile, the Candlewick bear was a little antisocial and kept working, so someone put a tag on his back, which wasn't very nice. He cheered up later and joined the party though.



Then around 7:45 the speeches began. We kicked it off with our Councilwoman (and a great friend to the bookstore) Letitia James



Then Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said a few words, charming everyone as usual (notice Jessica's husband 'covertly' downing a drink while taking a break from serving champagne at out makeshift bar)



Poor Elissa Olin, who recently opened her own store on Myrtle Avenue was stuck out in the rain because by this point we were too crowded



Then local author Touré came on to say a few words about Brooklyn literary culture



It was so great to be surrounded by dear friends



Then Jessica and I said our words, our Thank Yous, and we toasted, hugged, cried, and commenced to enjoying a fine fine party