‘Brain on Fire’ author Susannah Cahalan coming to Twain House
Her previous book, the best-selling memoir “Brain on Fire,” told how former New York Post investigative reporter Susannah Cahalan struggled after being misdiagnosed with mental illness. Cahalan will discuss her experience and her new book, “The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness,” at a Mark My Words talk on Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford. Tickets are $20.
The book tells how a 1973 experiment by a Stanford psychologist and his associates who went undercover as asylum patients led to the closing of institutions and changes in diagnoses. But, the book says, what really happened is at odds with the real story. Cahalan will discuss her books with Harold I. (Hank) Schwartz, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief emeritus at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital. Information and tickets: marktwainhouse.org.
On Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, award-winning Connecticut author Susan Strecker will give a free talk about her latest novel, “Drive.” In it, an emerging NASCAR superstar driving for her family’s team is deterred by an accident and becomes a journalist, gets involved with the team’s new driver and learns to deal with life’s unpredictability. Strecker also will give a free talk about the book at West Hartford’s Noah Webster Library, 20 S. Main St., on Dec 4 at 6:30 p.m. Parking in the nearby Isham Garage in Blue Back Square can be validated by the library. Information: 860561-6990.
On Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Digital Surgeons, District Co-Work Space, 470 James St., Suite 1, New Haven, the RJ Julia will present a free talk by two American historians about their newest books on American justice and equality.
Author Brenda Wineapple, a historian and biographer who has won many awards for her work, will discuss her book, “The
Impeachers,” which explores the presidency and segregationist beliefs of Andrew
Johnson that led to his impeachment and near removal from office.
Wineapple contributes to such major publications as the
New York Times Book Review, The New York Review of Books, The Wall Street Journal and The Nation.
Prize-winning author David W. Blight, Sterling Professor of History and Director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, will talk about his book, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,” which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in History. His book is a biography of the man who escaped slavery to become a major black leader and literary figure.
Bestselling humorous essayist David Sedaris will appear Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. at The
Shubert Theater, 247 College St., New Haven. Sedaris’ latest collection, “Calypso,” was recently ranked No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Tickets, available through the RJ Julia website, range from $53 to $69.
Reservations required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
At Wesleyan RJ Julia Booksellers, 413 Main St., Middletown, on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. author Hari Krishnan will discuss his book, “Celluloid Classicism: Early Tamil Cinema and the Making of Modern Baratanatyam.” 860-685-3939 or wesleyanrjjulia.com.
The free Charter Oak Readings will continue Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. at Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford. Writers Tim Parrish and Lucy Ferriss will read, following an open mike.
Parrish has published three books: “Fear and What Follows: The Violent Education of a Christian Racist, a Memoir;” “The Jumper,” a novel; and “Red Stick Men,” a story collection. He is a professor of English at Southern Connecticut State and architect of the only fullresidence Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program in Connecticut.
Ferriss, Writer-in-Residence at Trinity College, has published 10 books, including works of fiction and a memoir. Among them are “A Sister to Honor,” “The Lost Daughter” and “Unveiling the Prophet.” Ferriss contributes essays to The American Scholar, Prairie Schooner, and The New York Times. charteroakreadings.blogspot.com or 860-508-2810.
Barnes & Noble UConn Hartford Bookstore, 18 Front St., Hartford, will hold a free Holiday Shopping Bazaar on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local authors will be there to sign books, and visitors may have photos taken with Santa. 860-263-2270 or Laurie.bompart@uconn.edu.
Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., Hartford, will host a free African American Literature Book Club meeting on Dec. 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The book to be discussed is “Beloved” by Toni Morrison. Susan Brown will lead the meeting.
The club is open to those interested in reading and discussing African American fiction and nonfiction and the African American experience. It meets the first Tuesday of each month. Reservations are required: cjkorber@gmail.com.
Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic, will host a Holiday Gift Guide Book Signing on Dec. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, author of “The Nine.” In her novel, a mother enrolls her gifted son at a prestigious New England boarding school, but finds a corrupt and dangerous underworld there. banksquarebooks.com.
On Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m., the Pints & Pages Book Club will meet at Stafford Cidery, 68 Main St, Stafford Springs, to discuss the thriller “The Woman in the Window” by A. J. Finn
Hand-crafted hard cider and soft drinks will be available, and guests are asked to bring their own food. The event is free and open to guests age 21 or older. It is presented by Book Club on the Go. 860-2656077 or bookclubct.com.
The Storyteller’s Cottage, 750 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, will offer a threesession writing workshop series on How To Get Traditionally Published, led by author Dawn Metcalf.
Participants may attend one, two or three sessions: How to Get an Agent on Dec. 4; How to Write a Query Letter on Dec. 11; and How to Pitch Your Work on Dec. 18. The workshops are held from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $45 for one session or $120 for all three. Pre-registration is required: StorytellersCottage.com.