Currently living in Dublin, I rarely make it through a day without coming across mention of something in New York – my home city – that makes me wish I could return, for a mere few hours, so as to be able to attend even just that one event.  Such is the case with a book party for the publication of Norman Lock's second novel, Shadowplay, and Joanna Ruocco's debut novel, The Mothering Coven.  Both are published by the terrific Ellipsis Press, which is hosting the event this Saturday, October 24, at Barbès, from 4-7pm; Gary Lutz will also be reading, to sweeten the deal.  Information on the event may be found here.

But the reason I mention this event – and the reason I'm so envious of those who will be able to go – is that hearing Ruocco read is truly an event not to be missed; I was fortunate enough to be able to hear her read an excerpt from The Mothering Coven a little over a year ago – the excerpt was also published in Harp & Altar, and can be found here – and am quite sad that I will not be able to hear more of her work at this event.  She is an absolutely marvelous and invigorating writer: hilarious and poignant, with a fun and distinctive prose style; more than a year on, I can remember, with an acuity my memory reserves for little else, many of the simply tremendous passages from her reading.  I greatly look forward to reading her first novel.

Unfortunately, I have not read anything by Lock, although the integrity of his publisher would indicate that he is no less worthy of attention; and Lutz should be enough to bring anyone anywhere.