Well it’s been quite a while since I last got to close my eyes in a room full of writers and be transported by someone’s words. I miss it dearly, but there are some amazing literary events happening via Zoom. And while we can’t spend our days spontaneously popping into the bookstore, or browsing the library shelves for hours, we can most definitely enjoy the treasures that are our local booksellers.

Outdoor Book Club November 10

I had not been to the Howland Public Library in Beacon since February and I finally went in last week to pick up some requests. I felt giddy with excitement. The vibe, however, was serious. The librarians are keeping things ship shape in there, so follow the rules, friends. The library book club is going outside, weather permitting. Join them November 10th at Memorial Park to discuss "The Night Tiger" by Yangsze Choo at a 6’ social distance. Bring a chair and a sweatshirt!

What books did I request, you are wondering? Well, I picked up the hilarious combination of Untamed by Glennon Doyle and Rock and Roll Bob (for my kindergartner). “Haha!” I said to the librarian. “I am not a cliché at al!” He did not laugh. (Justice I miss you). I have resisted reading Untamed since it was published in July, for reasons that are obvious if you know me at all, or maybe even if you don’t know me because this is a small town, but I decided to just go for it. I read the whole thing in one night, cried my eyes out, and promptly returned it. I’m super glad she’s bravely sharing her story with the wide world of Oprah’s Book Club readers, but honestly she’s a little Basic B for me.

A little more my speed is Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown which is taking me weeks to read, in part because I’m underlining everything. It is an incredibly powerful compilation of words and thoughts on transformative justice, radical pleasure and honesty and self-awareness. Preach. I’m going to have a discussion group around this book via Zoom on November 8th, and if you want to join in you can email me at phoebe@littlebeaconblog.com.

A Book Store All To Yourself! And Book Club For Kids

And I didn’t stop at the library! I finally got my first Unemployment payment since I started filing in June and I went and dropped a bundle of it at Split Rock Books in Cold Spring. It was a totally orgasmic 30 minutes of private shopping because they are only open by appointment for one lucky reader at a time. They have a whole bunch of Zoom book clubs coming up in November: The Kids Book Club is for ages 8-11 and meets Thursday, November 5th at 4pm. Next Book: Class Act by Jerry Craft. The Graphic Novel Book Club meets Tuesday November 24th at 7pm and is tackling the amazing Watchmen by Alan Moore. On November 19th is the Fiction Book Club and they will be reading The Other by Thomas Tryon.

Beacon’s own Binnacle Books is also open for appointment only browsing and while you are there, sponsor a book for a prisoner through the amazing Beacon Prison Books Project. I have a few books on my list that I’ve seen on their killer Instagram feed (follow them if you aren’t) that I want to go get. 

Writing Labs And Workshops

I just started an online writing workshop with the New York Writer’s Workshop, in the city, and it looks like there’s loads of workshops with some heavy hitters lined up at The Hudson Valley Writer’s Center.

If you want a less formal group writing environment, I just learned about Hudson Valley Performing Arts Laboratory provides free bi-weekly remote Writing Labs. These Labs provide a space for experienced and aspiring writers to set goals, read and workshop their work, and provide support to one another. And if you develop your work with the Writing Lab, you also have the opportunity to share your completed work (or portions of your completed work) at one of their readings. Dates for the rest of the year are 11/3, 11/17 and then the reading on 12/4.. Please register for the next workshop at hvpal.org/events or email info@hvpal.org for more details. 

Poetry Power!

Want to hear some amazing crème-de-la-crème poets? The Newark-based Dodge Poetry Festival is online this year and if you pay-what-you-can, you can access the recordings of the readings after it ends on November 2nd.

Sarah Lawrence College has a great online event on November 11th when they bring together essayist Rachel Cohen and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Vijay Seshadri.

And there are so many good things happening at The Poetry Project in the city and now you can check them out without getting on the train. Plus! Their beautiful website just alerted me that you can pre-order We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics from Nightboat Books. This collection brings together seventy-two intergenerational trans poets writing against capital and empire. Yum!

Happy writing and reading, my friends! Maybe I’ll see you around down once the leaf-peeping insanity dies down next week.