On a sweltering summer night in Miami, is there anything better than listening to a discussion about books, small presses, and the history of Jai-Alai? Last Thursday, an eclectic mix of mostly young attendees settled atop plush couches in The Standard Spa, Miami Beach lobby for a lecture given by…
Rejoice, Miami. We’re about to get a hell of a lot more literary starting June 21. For over 15 years, Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation (VONA) has offered workshops to writers of color, launched community writing programs and events, hosted faculty readings, and more. Originally based out of San…
On Monday night, Books & Books and Temple Judea hosted a discussion between beloved YA writer Judy Blume and WLRN’s editorial director and arts reporter Alicia Zuckerman. There aren’t too many authors that can draw a crowd of die-hard, life-long readers, but Blume—whose books include the childhood classic, Are You…
Summertime means longer daylight hours, no school (for the lucky ones), and plenty of leisurely holiday time. Unlike the lackluster blockbuster season where schlock reigns, these next few months are a time to bask in the literary hits of spring and anticipate stellar new releases chock full of fantasy, romance,…
If you think the Holocaust is a subject better left untouched, then you haven’t read The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard. You should, not just because it’s well crafted, but also because he’s one of our finest (and most overlooked) writers. Currently a professor at Williams College, he’s penned…
Nearly two decades have passed since Chuck Palahniuk published his iconic, anti-materialistic novel Fight Club. Adapted by David Ficher into a 1999 film, the book and movie achieved cult status, fans begged Palahniuk for a sequel. The novel left our unnamed narrator in a mental hospital, shot in the face by his…
Painters and writers have a lot in common. Writers often sketch out a scene, articulating the fine details of a tableau of their readers. Painters frequently employ elements of storytelling, weaving narratives between brushstrokes. Vanessa Garcia is a local painter and writer whose debut novel, White Light, incorporates elements of…
Loss is a universal truth. As horrific as it is to face the loss of a loved one, especially in a very sudden way, but even in death, there is always a reminder that life is a force that can’t easily be stopped, or as author Elizabeth Alexander’s husband told…
Poet Elizabeth Jacobson has a new approach to poetic inspiration: texting. Jacobson will be leading O, Miami’s Poetry Texting workshop, a two-hour session that marries the now-mundane act of texting with the art of poetry. The idea behind the workshop is that partners will produce poetry by texting lines back…
Poetry in the Park, the crown jewel of O, Miami, is back at SoundScape Park for its second year bringing the masses the written word. This year, the unintentional theme of the event seems to examine the intimate versus the public. Attendees will be surrounded by poetry, including “O, Hi…
It’s been six days of O, Miami. Have you encountered a poem, yet? That’s the goal of the O, Miami Poetry Festival—to deliver a poem to every person in Miami-Dade County. Founded in 2011, O, Miami coincides with the celebration of National Poetry Month, which was established by the Academy…
Despite the thrilling exploits that have spammed the breadth of human history, the topic can be deadly dull, particularly in the context of freshman core. For many people, their only experience with historical events is via overtired teachers and textbooks. But when it comes to the work of writer Erik…
Tonight Books and Books welcomes National Book Award Winner, Phil Klay. Klay’s story collection, Redeployment, sketches the lives of the young American men deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Klay, a former Marine who served in Iraq, draws fully-formed characters, and his collection is no mere celebration of military heroics. Rather,…
Rita Dove’s Sonata Mulattica brings the whirlwind life of 18th century biracial violinist George Polgreen Bridgetower to modern audiences. Fans of her work will be able to hear Dove read from her poem at, “History’s Crevices: Sonata Mulattica’s Forgotten Prodigy” at the University of Miami this Thursday. Dove, a former…
P. Scott Cunningham is a familiar face on the Miami arts scene. The founder of O, Miami has done something that might seem nearly impossible: turned Miami into a poetry town. But Cunningham wants even more from the Magic City. He wants a “whole different level of engagement with literature…
Just last week, Nathaniel Sandler moved Bookleggers’ headquarters into an enormous loft space just north of downtown. Most books are still in cardboard U-Haul boxes and black plastic crates stacked on top of each other in the back of the main office space. A giant logo for Creative Lifestyle Realty,…
Ever since writing Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh has been renowned for his twisted plots and characters.The Scottish author now lives part-time in Chicago and part-time in beautiful, sunny South Beach. As a Miamian, reading his latest release, The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins, is like a perverted look at your own…
Tigertail Productions has made its name in South Florida as the “pioneer of innovative art,” and the tradition continues with two new poetry residencies beginning in February. Poets and spoken-word artists Andrea Assaf and George Yamazawa will give Miami’s youth the opportunity to learn more about themselves and the creative…
Writers and literary minds, rejoice! Perhaps one of the most prestigious writing workshops in the country is making a move and taking up a permanent residence at the University of Miami. The Voices of our Nations Arts Foundation, better known as VONA, is relocating from the West Coast to our…
For most of us, the concept of paying it forward began and ended with the credits of a Haley Joel Osment movie. For Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, it’s a lifelong lesson. Fernandez, who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba at 12, started private equity firm MBF Healthcare Partners in Coral Gables…
Kendall native Mandy Baca is an unlikely historian. Her first loves aren’t the dusty archives and musty-smelling books that normally keep historians company, rather they’re the aromatic spices of the kitchen. Baca is a trained gastronome, she earned a master’s degree in Italian gastronomy and tourism from the University of…
Since President Obama announced that the U.S. would begin the process of normalizing relationships with Cuba, there have been many loud voices more than willing to offer opinions. But the cacophonous landscape is often more defined by extreme positions that – for the last few weeks — have drowned out…
