Good readings with beer are even better readings

Earlier tonight, I made my way over to Pete's Candy Store to hear readings from Jonathan Dee and Sam Lipsyte. It was my first time going to a reading there, despite the fact that this biweekly series has been taking place for the last five years, and I've lived the same distance from Pete's for all five of them. The space itself -- generally host to lower-key, often acoustic shows -- is pretty ideal for readings: the acoustics are good, and there's a generally warm feel throughout. I arrived early, unsure of what size crowd to expect, and bought a Yuengling at the bar. After I'd been there for about fifteen minutes, people began filing from the bar area to the performance space, and I followed. Found myself a seat; waited for things to start.

I'd read a lot about both of the authors, but have yet to read any of their books. (I did spend the better part of a year fascinated by the cover of Lipsyte's The Subject Steve on the shelves at St. Marks Books, though.) Having gotten a better sense of both of their work, I daresay that's going to change, and soon. (Though probably not too soon -- my current read, Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red, is fascinating but slow going). Dee offered up a brief excerpt from a novel in progress, while Lipsyte read a short story. I'd say that they shared the quality of being comic, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate: Dee's piece had a slow-building, emotional fragile edge to it, while Lipsyte's was more satiric in tone and grimmer in its humor.

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I'll have some more thoughts on this reading -- and readings in general -- later on tonight or tomorrow. The next one at Pete's is on the 28th, with Ben Greenman and Dika Lam. And, more'n likely, I'll be there.