What’s Happening in the Austin Book World, August 8-15

by Gardiner Brown

Hey there, Austin Literati, Writers, etc.!

Let’s go over what’s happening in our fair city’s book world this week, shall we? We’ve got some awesome-looking readings coming up at Book People as well as several over at Malvern Books! There are at least two trilogies whose conclusions will be celebrated this week, so get reading so you can catch up with us!

On Saturday, August 9 at 4 p.m., Deborah Harkness, a New York Times Bestselling author, will be reading from her latest work, The Book of Life. This is the final installment of her All Souls Trilogy, which follows the story of historian and witch Diana Bishop after she discovers a centuries-lost tome of magical proportions which upends her everyday life for good. If you’d like to begin the series, the first installment is A Discovery of Witches.

On Sunday, August 10 at 2 p.m., Malvern Books will be hosting author Ron Jaeger and local poet Jan Marquart. Ron Jaeger has just finished his Trilogy of Light books with the latest installment, Next Stop, Heaven. The books are united by themes of the universal potential of humanity for creativity and genius. Jan Marquart is a local poet and practicing psychotherapist whose writing focuses most on the power of personal narrative and self-discovery. She is the author of eleven books.

On Monday, August 11 at 7 p.m., author Amy Bloom will be reading from and signing her latest book, Lucky Us, which follows two young women, Iris and Eva, on a road trip driven by ambition across 1940s America.

On Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m., Book People is hosting New York Times Magazine writer, Benoit Denizet-Lewis as he speaks and signs his unique travelogue, Travels with Casey, which documents his four-month road trip with his 9-year-old Labrador mix, Casey. This book is not only a travelogue but an exploration of human-canine relationships across the United States.

On Wednesday, August 13 at 7 p.m., local author Douglas Brinkley and Rice University History Professor Luke Nichter will be discussing their new co-authored book, The Nixon Tapes. Built from laboriously transcribed tapes from Nixon’s time in the oval office, this book attempts to rebuild what is perhaps the most controversial presidency in the history of the United States by using the words of the president himself.

On Thursday, August 14 at 6 p.m., Peter Barbour will be joined by Jacque Hogan to discuss Barbour’s latest book, The Brothers Hogan: A Fort Worth History, a biography of the family of world-famous Texan golfer, Ben Hogan, and his brother, Royal. The pair will be meeting at Book People to discuss this Texan family portrait and to sign the book.

We hope y’all come out to some of these events! We know it’s hot out there, especially at this time of the year, but just remember that bookstores have AC!