I’ll be reading from The Borrower at the Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville, IL on Tuesday, September 4th at 7:00 pm. Event details and free registration are here, and library details and location are here. Books will be available from Lake Forest Book Store.
The UK (and world English language) paperback version of The Borrower is now available, and has been chosen for Waterstones Summer Book Club (not posted here yet, but coming soon). Many thanks to Windmill Books at Random House UK for all their lovely work and a gorgeous cover!
I have four New England readings coming up in July for the paperback of The Borrower. Please join us if you can!
Tuesday, July 24th, 7:00 — Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord, NH, along with Tim Horvath, NH-based author of the amazing collection Understories.
Wednesday, July 25th, 5:00 — Maine Coast Book Shop, Damariscotta, ME
Thursday, July 26th, 7:00 — Longfellow Books, Portland, ME
Tuesday, July 31st, 7:00 — discussion hosted by Vermont Book Shop at 51 Main, Middlebury, VT
I will be leading the brand new Novel In a Year workshop for StoryStudio Chicago, starting in late August of this year. Monthly workshop meetings, individual consultations, a class blog, and occasional food! Details and application information here.
I’ll be promoting the paperback of The Borrower this summer (2012) with readings and signings. I’m also available to visit and Skype with book clubs! Public readings are as follows:
Tuesday, May 29th, 7:00 — The Book Stall, Winnetka, IL (Paperback Launch!)
Wednesday, May 30th, 7:00 — Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
Friday, June 8th, 7:00 — Frugal Muse Bookstore, Darien, IL (part of Girls’ Night Out for the Darien Mall, though I don’t think men would be shunned)
Tuesday, June 12th, 6:30 — Carnegie Public Library, Angola, IN
Wednesday, June 13th — Books & Co., Dayton, OH (details to come)
Thursday, June 14th, 7:00 — Hudson, OH Public Library, book sales by The Learned Owl
Saturday, June 16h — Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT (with Leslie Daniels; also with wine and food!)
Tuesday, July 24th, 7:00 — Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord, NH
Wednesday, July 25th, 6:00 — Maine Coast Bookshop, Daramascotta, ME
Thursday, July 26th, 7:00 — Longfellow Books, Portland, ME
Tuesday, Septemeber 4th, 7:00 — Cook Memorial Library, Libertyville, IL (6:30 Book Club, 7:00 Reading)
Date TBA, fall 2012 — Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, IL
Flavorwire named The Borrower one of the top ten debuts of 2011, saying it is “filled with lovely but unsentimental writing — something of a feat considering the material.” Read the full writeup here!
Long Island Press has generously listed The Borrower as one of the top five books of 2011, calling it “charming and un-put-downable.” (It’s true that Ian is 3% more charming when you read his dialogue in a Brooklyn accent.)
Chicago Magazine has chosen The Borrower as one of the four best works of Chicago fiction of 2011. Remarkably, its author was overlooked yet again for both the Best New Chef and Best Doctor lists, so this will have to suffice.
Booklist‘s new issue (out October 15th) names The Borrower as one of the top ten debuts of the past year (and has borrowed Lucy’s car for their nifty heading graphic)! See the full list online here.
The Boston Globe reviews The Best American Short Stories 2011, singling out my contribution (a story that originally appeared in Tin House).
From the review: ‘In “Peter Torrelli, Falling Apart,’’ one of the best in the collection, Makkai draws comparisons between the deteriorating artistic world and her characters’ lives. Drew and actor Peter have been friends since childhood; when Peter’s life degenerates, Drew risks his career to help him. Makkai’s stories have been included in “BASS’’ four consecutive years.’
Read more here.
