Recorded on Thursday,
May 17 at 6:30pm
Time: 54 minutes 21seconds
43.6 MB
What you will hear:
A unique series
for sophisticated writers, readers, and eaters,
Eat, Drink & Be Literary continues
the momentum of the past two sell-out series,
bringing major contemporary authors to BAMcafé
for intimate dinners, readings, and discussions
that are always entertaining and engaging.
There is a brief introduction
by Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the
National Book Foundation, presenter of the National
Book Awards. Gary Shteyngart reads from his novel
Absurdistan.
An interview follows by moderator Jessica Hagedorn.
Shteyngart talks about life as a Russian-Jewish
writer and a New Yorker. He speaks about his literary
influences and answers questions from the audience.
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Photo: Marion Ettlinger
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| Photo:
Marion Ettlinger |
The featured author and moderator is:
Gary Shteyngart
"Why praise it first?
Just quote from it-at random. Just unbutton its
shirt and let it bare its chest. Like a victorious
wrestler, this novel is so immodestly vigorous,
so burstingly sure of its barbaric excellence, that
simply by breathing, sweating and standing upright
it exalts itself."—THE NEW YORK TIMES
ON ABSURDISTAN
"The Russian Debutante's
Handbook was highly autobiographical, a young
man's first novel. Like all young men I was focused
on myself, inwardly. I could write a dialogue of
Russian parents, I can put together an American
girlfriend, but it was hard for me to focus beyond
that. As I got older and the narcissism of the early
20s died away, I became a better listener, interested
in what other people have to say."—GARY
SHTEYNGART
Born in Leningrad and raised
in the United States, Gary Shteyngart is the author
of the critically acclaimed novels The Russian
Debutante's Handbook and Absurdistan.
He lives in New York City.
Jessica Hagedorn,
moderator
Born and raised in the
Philippines, Jessica Hagedorn moved to the United
States in her early teens. Recipient of a Guggenheim
Fiction Fellowship and a National Endowment for
the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship (among other
awards), her novels include The Gangster of
Love, Dogeaters, and Dream Jungle.
Her theater work includes the stage adaptation of
Dogeaters, and her film work includes screenwriting
for Fresh Kill.
Eat, Drink & Be Literary
is sponsored by Bloomberg.
