Events for Writers-December 2019

Writers Room

Tuesday, December 10, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Recurring Event (See all)

Quiet Room – First Floor, 65 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542 United States

Writers receive constructive feedback at these sessions, during which participants read their work and members offer suggestions. Works read are usually less than 15 minutes long, so there is time to discuss a number of pieces during each session. While nonfiction has been a focus in the past, fiction writers are welcome. Participants range from published authors to those looking to improve their skills. The group is led by Loretta and Fred Wish in the first floor Quiet Room.

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Library Live at Labyrinth: Adam Higginbotham: “Midnight in Cherynobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster”

Wednesday, December 11, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St.
Princeton, NJ 08542 United States

The author discusses his years-in-the-making book – a powerful investigation into how propaganda, secrecy and myth have obscured the true story of one of the 20th century’s greatest disasters. Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books.

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Historical Fiction Book Group: “Their Finest Hour and a Half” by Lissa Evans

Wednesday, December 11, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road
Princeton, NJ 08542 United States

The Historical Fiction Book Group features scholar-led book discussions about the fictional elements and nonfictional historic and regional context of selected books. At this session, Frank Wetta, a lecturer at Kean University, leads a discussion of “Their Finest Hour and a Half” by Lissa Evans, a story of Britain’s Ministry of Information producing a propaganda film based on the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk. Registration is requested but not required at the Historical Society of Princeton website. Presented…

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Contemporary Fiction Book Group: “My Sister, the Serial Killer”

Thursday, December 12, 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Conference Room – Second Floor, 65 Witherspoon
Princeton, New Jersey 08542

The group discusses “My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite. New members are always welcome.

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Black Voices Book Group

Thursday, December 12, 7:15 pm – 9:00 pm

Princeton Room – Second Floor, 65 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542 United States

The group will be reading, “Negrophobia: An Urban Parable” by Darius James, with introduction by Amy Abugo Origiri.

Being Human Festival: Reading of “Equivocation” by Bill Cain

The Playwright’s Guild and Aquinas Institute present a reading of Bill Cain’s “Equivocation.” All are welcome! This event is free.

December 12, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

McCosh Hall / Room 50

Book Flood (Jolabokaflod)

Monday, December 16, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Community Room – First Floor

Bring your lunch, and, if you’d like, a book to exchange with others, to this informal, drop-in event based on the annual Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod. Library staff will be on hand to share some of their favorite recent books, buzz about upcoming titles and advice for finding your next book to read or give as a gift. Participants can take home one of the gently used books that will be available, and, in keeping with another tradition of Jolabokaflod,…

Writing Workshop

Tuesday, December 17, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Quiet Room – First Floor

Writers who are working on book-length works are invited to receive constructive critique from peers. The group is designed so that writers can help other writers of fiction and book-length non-fiction to strengthen characters and story structure. Participants range from published authors to those looking to improve their skills. Don Donato leads the workshop.

Alan Kitty: “The Mark Twain Experience”

Sunday, December 29, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Community Room – First Floor

Mark Twain interpreter Alan Kitty delivers his latest show, based on 40 years of research, on writer, humorist, riverboat pilot and inventor, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. A leading Twain impersonator, Kitty will share the wit and wisdom that Twain offered on all facets of American life.

Mystery Book Group

January 6, 2020, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Quiet Room – First Floor, 65 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542 United States

The group discusses “Jade Lady Burning” by Martin Limon.

Writers Room

January 7, 2020, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Quiet Room – First Floor

Writers receive constructive feedback at these sessions, during which participants read their work and members offer suggestions. Works read are usually less than 15 minutes long, so there is time to discuss a number of pieces during each session. Participants range from published authors to those looking to improve their skills. The group is led by Loretta and Fred Wish.

Chinese Book Group

January 8, 2020, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Conference Room – Second Floor

Jenny Guo leads the Chinese Book Group to introduce participants to the library’s Chinese language collection and recommend new titles. Bring your own suggestions for the group to read and discuss at future meetings. Please note this program will be conducted entirely in Chinese. 普林斯顿公共图书馆中文读书会，将於1月8日晚7：00～8：30在 Conference Room举行2020年的首次活动。欢迎爱读书的朋友届时参加。此次活动，除了由图书馆员Jenny Guo 向大家推荐若干书籍和介绍新书外，也希望您能携带您近期所读过的书籍与会。评作者，谈作品，各抒己见，互相启发，共同探索，与时俱进。为丰富和多元社区活动，中文读书会今后单月按时举行，希望吸引更多热爱阅读的朋友积极参与，共同促进，共享读书的乐趣。

Contemporary Fiction Book Group: Lake Success

January 9, 2020, 10:30 am – 11:30 am Conference Room – Second Floor

The group discusses Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart. New members are always welcome.

Black Voices Book Group

January 9, 2020, 7:15 pm – 9:00 pm Princeton Room – Second Floor

The group discusses “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison.

A New Play by E. Jeremijenko-Conley

January 9-12, 2020, Whitman College Theater

The Program in Theater presents a new theater piece written by senior E. Jeremijenko-Conley ’20, directed by faculty member Elena Araoz.

Podcast Discussion: “Anniversary” by Rachel Bonds

January 11, 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Community Room – First Floor

In advance of the official opening of “Goodnight Nobody,” the new play by Rachel Bonds at McCarter Theatre Center through Feb. 9, we will listen to Bonds’ comic drama “Anniversary,” part of the “Playing On Air” Podcast series. Afterward, Paula Alekson of McCarter and librarian Janie Hermann lead a discussion exploring the themes of Rachel Bonds’ works. Co-sponsored by the library and McCarter Theatre Center.

Workshop: A Few Kind Words (Embracing the Power of Writing Unexpected Letters of Appreciation)

January 11, 2020, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Conference Room – Second Floor

Imagine a world where “Kindness can be the norm, not the exception.” Begin 2020 with a new tradition as Life coach Tracey Gates leads a workshop where participants will write a letter of appreciation and praise to a deserving person in their life. When we express affirmation and appreciation through the written word, something beautiful happens — we experience a shift towards calm and joy. Tracey has spent the past year writing an unexpected letter of appreciation to a different person…

Workshop with Illustrator/Author Chen Jiang-Hong

January 14, 2020, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Story Room – Third Floor Illustrator and author Chen Jiang-Hong leads a workshop featuring a craft/maker activity based on the technique of Chinese painting. Chen won the 2019 Prix Albertine Jeunesse for his book “The Tiger Prince,” a tale about a tigress, a seer, a King, and the prince, who must leave his family and learn the ways of the tigers so that the war between humans and animals can end. A Chinese-born French painter, Chen has illustrated 22 books, 12 of which he also wrote.