Events for readers have gotten a whole lot more interesting in recent years — and, it appears, more plentiful. Book clubs have moved into some unusual places (hint: you can get your steps in while walking with one; you can sip a drink at a restaurant or bar at others). And between in-person events and online discussions, curious readers can stay very engaged with books, authors, and other readers.
The selected events list below offers some suggestions to get you started on a reading adventure. Going forward, you might want to check in regularly on local library and bookstore sites to find what’s most appealing to you — now and in the future.
Coming up in the series: An interview with the owners of Nyack’s iconic Pickwick Bookshop, and, as the summer stretches before us, book-related events for kids.
Book Clubs and Discussions
Shakespeare Reading and Discussion Group
Explore all things Bard through readings, movies, and discussions
June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 (and into July)
4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Nyack Public Library, Community Meeting Room
59 S. Broadway, Nyack
Nonfiction Book Group
“Daughters of the Bamboo Grove” by Barbara Demick
June 4, 2:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. (and every first Thursday)
Nyack Library, Creative Lab
59 S. Broadway, Nyack
Fantasy Book Club
“The Library of Amorlin”
June 4, at 6:30 P.M.
The Sparkle Bookstore
642 Main St., Sparkill
The group meets on the first Thursday of each month. Email armand@sparklebooks.store to be added to the mailing list.
On the Trail Book Club
“Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth’s Extinct Worlds”
June 4, 8:30 A.M. to 9:30 A.M.
Get your steps in while discussing fascinating true tales.
Through Valley Cottage Library, but meet at
Congers Lake Memorial Park
8 Gilchrest Road, Congers
Book Club: Beyond the Book — a Biography Club
“Yes Please” by Amy PoehlerJune 9, 2:30 P.M, to 3:30 P.M.
June 9, 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Valley Cottage Library
110 NY 303, Valley Cottage
This biographies and memoirs book club explores the stories of fascinating people, the lives they led, and the art they created.
Tune Out: Audiobook Walking Club
June 13, 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (weather permitting)
Pearl River Library, 75 E. Central Ave., Pearl River
Go on a small walk down Central Ave. and listen to the audiobook of your choice with others.
Silent Book Club
June 18, 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Nyack Library, Community Room
59 S. Broadway, Nyack
Read your book of choice in the company of others who love to read. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Book and Pub Club
(From the Valley Cottage library)
June 16, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 P.M.
The Burger Loft, 3 N. Broadway, Nyack
Join librarians in local bars and restaurants for book discussions over food and drinks. Meet to discuss “The Safekeep” by Yael van der Wouden.
Book Discussion at the Library
“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See
June 16, 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Pearl River Library, Learning Lab
80 Franklin Ave., Pearl River
Beer and Books
(From the Pearl River Library)
June 30, 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Meet at Defiant Brewery
6 Dexter Plaza, Pearl River
Meet with others for a lively book discussion of Vera Wong’s “Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” by Jesse Q. Sutanto. You must be 21 to participate.
Author Talks, Readings, and Discussions
Talks by Bestselling Authors and Thought Leaders (virtual, ongoing)
Your Ticket to the Best State Fair Crafts with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig
June 3, 2:00 P.M.
A discussion about the history and significance of craft at state fairs. This series of talks is ongoing in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.
Local Author Event: Eileen Bellew
June 6, 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Pearl River Library
Longtime Pearl River resident Eileen Bellew launches her new book “After John Jumped,” the story of her resilience and courage after her husband perished in the Black Sunday fire.
Memoir vs Fiction: A Conversation About Genre
June 10, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Big Red Books
120 Main Street, Nyack
When writers draw from personal or lived experiences, some choose memoir and others fiction. What difference does that make to the reader? Authors Daria Sommers and Jocelyn Jane Cox explore this and other questions.
Jewish Voices Series: Maira Kalman in Conversation with Ross Benjamin
June 11, 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
The Big Red Books event will take place at
The Angel Nyack, 18 S. Broadway, Nyack
Maira Kalman has written/illustrated more than 30 books for adults and children, has been a frequent contributor to the New York Times and The New Yorker, and more. Ross Benjamin is an award-winning translator of German-language literature.
Reading & Book Signing with author Amy Ferris
June 18, 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Big Red Books, 120 Main Street, Nyack
Author, screenwriter, editor, and playwright Amy Ferris in conversation with B.K. Jackson. Ferris’ newest book, Amy In Retrograde, was published March.
Author Meet & Greet and Book Signing with Nitsan Tal
“Something’s Up with Dad”
June 20 at 2:00 P.M.
The Sparkle Book Store
642 Main Street, Sparkill
This is a memoir about the impossible reality of bipolar disorder and the toll it takes on the people who long to help their loved ones through it.
