DUMBO

Brooklyn Book Festival ‘Bookend’ event features acclaimed writers on John O’Hara

Brooklyn BookBeat

September 9, 2013 From powerhouse Arena
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The upcoming Brooklyn Book Festival, to take place Sunday, Sept. 22, will commence with a week of “Bookend” events. The lit festivities begin Monday, Sept. 16, and that evening DUMBO’s powerHouse Arena and Penguin Classics will present bestselling mystery writer Lawrence Block, The Paris Review editor Lorin Stein, and The New York Times writer-at-large Chip McGrath. They’ll discuss John O’Hara, who’s had more stories published in The New Yorker than anyone in the history of the magazine. The discussion will be moderated by author Steven Goldleaf.

John O’Hara (1905-1970) received instant acclaim for his first novel, “Appointment in Samarra,” and quickly came to be regarded as one of the most prominent writers in America. He won the National Book Award for his novel “Ten North Frederick,” his fourteen novels include “A Rage to Live,” “Pal Joey,” “Butterfield 8,” and “From the Terrace,” and his more than four hundred short stories have been collected in twelve volumes.

Lawrence Block has been writing award-winning mystery and suspense fiction for half a century. His most recent novels are “Hit Me,” featuring Keller, and “A Drop of the Hard Stuff,” featuring Matthew Scudder, who will be played by Liam Neeson in the forthcoming film “A Walk Among the Tombstones.”

Lorin Stein is an American critic, editor, and translator. He is the editor of The Paris Review.

Charles McGrath is the former editor of The New York Times Book Review and former deputy editor of The New Yorker. He is currently a writer a large for The New York Times.

Steven Goldleaf is a professor of English literature at Pace University and the author of “John O’Hara: A Study of Short Fiction.” He lives in New York City.

The powerHouse Arena + Penguin Classics present series was created in a response to anyone who asks whether classics are still being read, and what purpose they serve in contemporary culture. Panels composed of the best of the present—leading contemporary writers, critics, artists, and industry insiders—will lead conversations about the best of the past. The powerHouse Arena is a longtime curator of engaging literary programming that celebrates the community books inspire off the page. In an age when many argue that print is increasingly losing relevance, powerHouse Arena + Penguin Classics present an enthusiastic counterattack. 

The Sept. 16 event will begin at 7 p.m. Drinks will be served. powerHouse Arena is located at 37 Main St. in DUMBO. RSVP appreciated: [email protected].

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