There's a lot going on at Green Apple Books on the Park, the neighborhood's go-to for book titles new and old. With multiple author events coming up, plus Bookstore Day on the horizon, we thought it high time to catch up with the store's roster of events and happenings.
This week, two free author events will be held with debut novelists Sarah Gerand and Cate Dicharry (and early next month, the notable Norwegian Karl Ove Knausgaard comes to town). Since expanding to 9th Avenue last year, the bookseller has steadily increased the number of readings and discussions it hosts; this month, there are ten different events on the calendar.
To transform the space, employees roll away racks and displays at the rear of the store to clear room. According to assistant manager Emily Ballaine, audiences have ranged in size from 30 to 100.
Author Sarah Gerard (photo by Rick Ochoa)
Tonight, Sarah Gerard will discuss Binary Star with author Ottessa Moshfegh. Gerard’s novel about an anorexic astronomy student and her alcoholic boyfriend on a road trip is “like a novel-shaped poem about addiction, codependence and the relentlessness of the everyday,” according to a review in The New York Times.
Publishers have sharply reduced spending to promote new books in recent years, so Gerard used Kickstarter to fund an extensive book tour that's taken her around North America. Gerard said she first conceived the book as a memoir but decided to write it as a novel over concerns about “who might feel exposed by this story.”
Ottessa Moshfegh, author of the novel McGlue, will lead tonight’s discussion. “We are very excited about this novel, and love to support the publisher, Two Dollar Radio,” said Ballaine. To RSVP, visit the event’s Facebook page.
Tomorrow night, Cate Dicharry will read from her novel, The Fine Art of Fucking Up, which follows the story of an art school administrator who goes to great lengths to save a Jackson Pollock painting from a 100-year flood.
Her publisher describes the book as "a painfully hysterical examination of what is truly worth saving, and mastering the art of letting go.” Dicharry will be joined at the event by Rebecca Rubenstein, a writer with literary magazine Midnight Breakfast. There’s no cost to attend, but RSVP on Facebook to reserve a spot.
Next Monday at 7:30pm, science-fiction author Brian Catling will read from his novel, The Vorth, and on Tuesday, April 28th at 6pm Green Apple Books on the Park will host an all-ages Story Time.
More festivities are in store for California Bookstore Day on Saturday, May 2nd, when Green Apple Books on the Park will celebrate with an "alternative book cover contest" open to all. Use any medium to create a cover of your own imagining for any book of your choosing, then submit your artwork either by bring in a hard copy into the store, or emailing it to chris {at} greenapplebooks {dot} com by 3pm on Saturday, May 2nd. Judging the contest will be illustrator Roman Muradov, Chronicle Books Children's Design Director Kristine Brogno, and illustrator Shannon May.
Also in the works for Bookstore Day is a "Pop-up Pirate Store" hosted by 826 Valencia, an "author portrait" photo booth, printmaking with Three Fish Studios, beer from Social Kitchen and more (here's the full lineup).
Author Karl Ove Knausgaard (Photo: Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
To round out the roster of upcoming events with a bang, Sunday May 3rd will see an appearance from literary sensation Karl Ove Knausgaard, who'll be signing copies of the fourth volume of his autobiographical My Struggle series at 3pm.
The author, who is currently a North American road trip amply documented by the New York Times Magazine, has written 3,500 pages in his epic autobiographical series, which spans six novels (the fourth installment is newly translated into English). More details on the event page here, and if you'd like a signed book, you'd best order it ahead of the event.
Green Apple Books On The Park is located at 1231 9th Ave. between Irving and Lincoln and is open from 10am to 10pm every day.
