Tuesday, July 12: Jesse Ball at Green Apple Books (9th Avenue), SF
Jesse Ball has long been known for his strange, dark, fabulist writing. He keeps the tradition going with his latest novel How to Set a Fire and Why (Pantheon Books; 2016), in which Lucia, a teenage girl who has lost everything and lives in a garage with her aunt, discovers an arson club at her new high school. Like Winona Ryder in Heathers, Lucia will do anything to be a part of the club, and to fulfill her dream of setting fire to the entire world. Her father is dead, her mother is in a mental institution, so what does she have to lose? As to be expected with an arson club, the results are destructive and bleak. In a “now for something completely different” moment, Ball’s appearance at Green Apple Books is also a board game night, so bring your favorite Backgammon set. Details here.
Saturday, July 16: Beast Crawl Literary Festival, Oakland
The year 2016 marks five years of Beast Crawl, the annual event spotlighting the Bay Area’s diverse and impressive literary talents. On one epic Saturday night in uptown Oakland, 150 writers read at 40 local galleries and venues like Telegraph Beer Garden, the Legionnaire Saloon, and Farley’s East. How does it work? Separated into one hour literary “legs,” you get to choose from about a dozen readings in each. The organizers recommend planning out your route in advance. Crawl map listings are available at Beast Crawl online, along with a full description of participating writers. This is always a good one for lit lovers. Details here.
Monday, July 18: Foglifter Journal Launch Party at Strut, SF