Welcome to Malvern Books!

BlogMalvern Books is now closed. Malvern Books was a bookstore and community space in Austin, Texas. We specialized in visionary literature and poetry from independent publishers, with a focus on lesser-known and emerging voices.


An Update from the Manager of Malvern Books

Dear Friends,

We’ve had a wonderful time sharing our favorite books with you over the past nine years, and it’s been an honor to celebrate the work of so many brilliant writers through our readings and events.

Malvern Books is the realization of Joe Bratcher’s vision—Joe dreamt of a bookstore that would carry the books he loved, mostly poetry and fiction from small, independent presses. He wanted to promote writers and translators of books from other countries, while also championing the work of local writers.

When Joe first talked to me about opening Malvern Books, I must admit I was skeptical. I didn’t think we’d find an audience. It was 2012 and everyone was saying that bookstores were dead, Kindle and online shopping were the future. I anticipated many quiet sales days, with Joe and I just sitting there, looking at each other. He told me if that’s how it ended up, well, at least we’d have a chance to chat—and since we always seemed to laugh a lot when we talked, it sounded like a good way to spend some time. And so from then on, whenever we’d have a really slow sales day, with just a few people coming in, we’d look at each other and say, “We’re living the dream!” and we’d laugh.

But back to opening… in early 2013, with the help of our amazing architect, contractor, and interior designer, we created the space that Joe had in mind. We started posting on social media thanks to Tracey, our wonderful digital media manager and first Malvern hire. And we were so grateful to the many enthusiastic writers and readers who expressed their excitement at the imminent arrival of Malvern Books. From the very beginning it felt like we were building a community.

We opened our doors in October 2013, and we were shocked by how many people came by. You showed up and you loved what we had to offer! You constantly surprised and humbled us with your kind words and helpful suggestions. People from out of town would visit the store because a local friend had told them they had to come by, and we received much appreciated shout-outs from the Austin Chronicle and numerous other newspapers and journals.

And then 2020 hit—but even with the pandemic, we had loyal customers who came by for curbside pick ups, signed up for individual shopping appointments, and participated in our Zoom book clubs and events. If we didn’t say it enough, THANK YOU!

All along the way, we were lucky enough to have truly wonderful staff members who loved the books we carried and who helped us build the store we have now. Their work has been invaluable and we could not have done this without them.

On July 28th of this year, we lost Joe. I can’t tell you how hard it has been to try and carry on in this space without him. Our little Malvern world has not been the same since, and, as much as we love this store and our amazing customers, Malvern Books simply cannot continue without our Joe.

Malvern Books will be closing on December 31st, 2022. It has been a wonderful nine years and we thank each and every one of our cherished customers, friends, staff, and suppliers for helping us along the way.

As we move forward, we’ll be sharing our plans with you for sales and specials. For now, we just wanted to let you know this was coming. We hope you all continue to seek out works in translation and books published by small presses—there is so much great stuff out there—and that you continue to support our local independent bookstores, like our dear friends at BookWoman, among others. But, most importantly, we hope to see you in the store sometime soon, to say goodbye and to thank you, both for being the readers that you are and because you have come with us on this incredibly fulfilling journey in Joe’s world.

With heartfelt thanks and wishing you all the best,

Becky Garcia,
Manager, Malvern Books

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
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Finnegans Wake Reading Group 7:00 pm
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Apr 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece. The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality … Continue reading
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B & C Book Club 7:00 pm
B & C Book Club
Apr 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
B & C Book Club
“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.
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W. Joe’s Poetry Corner Presents Poetry Karaoke! 7:00 pm
W. Joe’s Poetry Corner Presents Poetry Karaoke!
Apr 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
W. Joe's Poetry Corner Presents Poetry Karaoke!
We’re celebrating National Poetry Month with a very special edition of W. Joe’s Poetry Corner… it’s poetry karaoke time! Here’s how poetry karaoke works: you roll a lettered die and then select a poem by a poet whose last name starts … Continue reading
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The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged 2:00 pm
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Apr 27 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun … Continue reading
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Apr
10
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Apr 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Apr
19
Sat
B & C Book Club
Apr 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Apr
22
Tue
W. Joe’s Poetry Corner Presents Poetry Karaoke!
Apr 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

We’re celebrating National Poetry Month with a very special edition of W. Joe’s Poetry Corner… it’s poetry karaoke time!

Here’s how poetry karaoke works: you roll a lettered die and then select a poem by a poet whose last name starts with the letter the die landed on—and then you read this poem aloud for everyone to enjoy! (Poems can be chosen from a book on our shelves, or from one of the anthologies we’ll provide.) And there will, of course, be fabulous raffle prizes for a few lucky readers.

Everyone is welcome to take part, but please note that participants can’t read their own poetry—poetry karaoke is all about introducing people to the poems and poets that have inspired you.

Karaoke

 

Apr
27
Sun
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Apr 27 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly afternoon suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

May
15
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
May 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

May
24
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
May 24 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

 

Jun
14
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jun 14 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jun
19
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Jun 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jun
21
Sat
Texas Association of Authors Presents The Best of 2014: Day One
Jun 21 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Texas Association of Authors celebrates the winners of their third annual Book Awards Contest with a weekend of readings at Malvern Books.

Texas Association of Authors

Saturday’s Reading Schedule:

Jun
22
Sun
Texas Association of Authors Presents The Best of 2014: Day Two
Jun 22 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Texas Association of Authors celebrates the winners of their third annual Book Awards Contest with a weekend of readings at Malvern Books.

Texas Association of Authors

Sunday’s Reading Schedule:

  • 1.15pm—Elizabeth A. Garcia, author of One Bloody Shirt at a Time (Police/Crime Fiction winner)
  • 2.15pm—Howard Webb, author of Loup Garou (Supernatural Fiction winner)
  • 3.15pm—Marjorie Brody, author of Twisted (Young Adult Fiction winner)
  • 4.15pm—L. A. Starks, author of Strike Price (Mystery/Thriller Fiction winner)
  • 5.15pm—Kenneth Womack, author of Playing the Angel (Contemporary Fiction winner)
Jun
28
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jun 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Poster

Jul
17
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Jul 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jul
19
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jul 19 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jul
26
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jul 26 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

lion-and-pirate-july

Aug
10
Sun
An Afternoon with Ron Jaeger & Jan Marquart
Aug 10 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us in celebrating the release of Next Stop, Heaven, the third book in Ron Jaeger’s
Trilogy of Light series. Ron will be joined by Austin poet Jan Marquart, founder of the About The Author Network.

Ron JaegerRon Jaeger wrote the three novels of the Trilogy of Light (The Secret of the Bermuda Triangle; Sharing a Man; and Next Stop, Heaven) over five years—but it was only after he had published the second novel that he realized he had written an unintended trilogy. One theme in particular runs through all three novels: We all have genius, inner light, but we seldom bring it out in creative acts because we have been bludgeoned into conformity.


Jan MarquartJan Marquart is a psychotherapist and author of eleven books. She believes in the power of personal story and helps those who come to her uncover, discover, and recover from personal narratives. Jan has a private practice in Austin and is CEO and Founder of About the Author Network, which helps those interested in writing keep their pens moving. Jan also teaches writing classes for Story Circle Network and has published essays, poems, stories, and articles for in print and online publications.

Aug
16
Sat
B & C Book Club
Aug 16 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Aug
21
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Aug 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Aug
22
Fri
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Aug 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate August

 

Sep
6
Sat
Nicanor Parra’s 100th Birthday Celebration
Sep 6 @ 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm

We’re having an all-day party to celebrate the 100th birthday of world-renowned Chilean (anti)poet Nicanor Parra!

Here’s a taste of what we’ll be doing to mark this grand centenary:

  • Starting at noon, guests will be giving readings from Chilean writers every half an hour
  • There’ll be an opportunity for you to share your favorite Parra poems
  • From 7pm onwards, we’ll host a reading and discussion with poet and Parra translator Dave Oliphant, who has many tales to tell about his interactions with the great man
  • Cake and refreshments with the program at 7pm

Nicanor Parra

Nicanor Parra is hugely popular in his native Chile, and many consider him to be one of the most significant poets of Spanish-language poetry—Pablo Neruda called him “one of the great names in the literature of our language.” Parra has been nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and in 2011 he was awarded the Cervantes Prize, the most prestigious literary prize in the Spanish-speaking world. Despite his fame as a poet, Parra kept up his “day job” as a professor of theoretical physics until his retirement in 1991. Parra describes himself as an “anti-poet,” someone who disdains any hint of poetic grandiosity. He shuns poetic convention in favor of playful, conversational musings, and his verse is full of raucous wit and humor. Stop by Malvern Books to celebrate his happy 100th and learn more about this wonderful poet!

Sep
18
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Sep 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Sep
20
Sat
B & C Book Club
Sep 20 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Sep
27
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Sep 27 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate Open Mic

Oct
8
Wed
Harvey Pekar’s 75th Birthday Party
Oct 8 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

It’s Harvey Pekar’s 75th birthday! He’s not around to enjoy it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the life of this writer, jazz critic, inspiration, and all around Fine American.

Party MC’s W. Joe Hoppe, Kathy McCarty, and David Thornberry will be reading his comix, sharing reminiscences, spinning his greatest hits, and serving birthday cake!

Harvey Pekar

Pekar Party

Oct
10
Fri
Malvern Books’ Anniversary Weekend: Readings From UT Austin’s MFA Students
Oct 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Opening day seems like it was only yesterday, but in fact Malvern Books turns one this week! And we’re kicking off three days of birthday celebrations with something rather appropriate: a reading from UT Austin’s 1st year MFA students—hey, they’ve been immersed in literature for one year, too!

MFA Showcase

Oct
11
Sat
B & C Book Club
Oct 11 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

B & C Book Club has been with us since we first opened our doors, so it’s only appropriate that they meet to discuss Macbeth on the weekend of our first anniversary!

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Malvern Books’ Anniversary Weekend: An Evening with Tony Morris, W. Joe Hoppe, Kurt Heinzelman & Richard Sober
Oct 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

We’re celebrating Malvern Books’ first anniversary this weekend, and we’re doing it in fine style, with music, readings, food, prizes and cake! Come and join the fun!

This evening we’ll have classical guitar from Tony Morris, along with readings from W. Joe Hoppe, Kurt Heinzelman, and Richard Sober (who will also be displaying his artwork).


Kurt HeinzelmanKurt Heinzelman is a poet, translator, scholar, and editor. His latest book of poems, his fourth, is Intimacies & Other Devices (2013). Demarcations (2011) is his translation of Jean Follain’s 1953 volume of poetry Territoires. A scholarly article, “The Grail of Origin: Translation and Originality,” is forthcoming in The Writers’ Chronicle. He was founding co-editor of The Poetry Miscellany and is currently Advisor and Editor-at-Large for Bat City Review and Editor-in-Chief of Texas Studies in Literature and Language (TSLL). He is also an Honorary Professor at Swansea University (Wales).


Richard SoberRichard Sober has been painting and writing since he was fifteen. Sober’s checkered career includes work as a carpenter’s helper, mailroom clerk, cabdriver, messenger, dishwasher, line cook, housepainter, gardener’s helper, census field supervisor, bibiliographic searcher, caregiver, union steward, data entry clerk, warehouseman, and harm reduction specialist. He is the author of Chopin Express, Anything With a Hole In It, Rosewood-The Serpentine Nature of the Beast-Four Windowboxes, Correo Aereo, Because the House is Wild and Empty, and Adjusting to the Light. He is currently working on two manuscripts of poems, Borrowed Earth and Fictive Kin. This December he will have a solo exhibition of 350 paintings in Baltimore. Sober and Sandie Castle can be heard on a spiken word CD, Missing in Action, produced by Birdhouse Studios.

Oct
12
Sun
Malvern Books’ Anniversary Weekend: An Afternoon with TOPSY, Dr. Fred McGhee & Richard Bailey
Oct 12 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

We’re celebrating Malvern Books’ first anniversary this weekend, and we’re doing it in fine style, with music, readings, food, prizes and cake! Come and join the fun!

This afternoon we have honky-tonk cabaret from TOPSY, a reading and book signing with Dr. Fred McGhee (author of Austin’s Montopolis Neighborhood), and a reading and screening of two short films from poet and film maker Richard Bailey.


Fred McGheeFred L. McGhee, Ph.D. is Adjunct Associate Professor of Anthropology at Austin Community College and served as the founding president of the Montopolis Neighborhood Association. Also a former board member of the Austin History Center Association, he has combined historical photographs with personal photographs and images generously provided by longtime residents and friends of the Montopolis neighborhood. A specialist in the multicultural history of Texas and Hawai’i, he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently a candidate for the Austin City Council from District 3, which includes Montopolis.


Richard BaileyRichard Bailey’s poetry collection REVIVAL was awarded Finalist for the 2012 Emily Dickinson First Book Award. His poems have appeared in several journals, including The Madison Review, Mudfish, and Whiskey Island Magazine. His play A SHIP OF HUMAN SKIN was a Finalist at Kitchen Dog Theater’s New Works Festival, 2012, and Semifinalist at The Bay Area Playwrights Festival, 2012, and The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference, 2012. His short films have shown in festivals across the country, including SXSW, Black Maria, FOCUS, Social Outcast, Wildcatter Exchange, and at Anthology Film Archives in NYC.

Oct
16
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Oct 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Oct
25
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate: Joyce Ann Tepley Reading & Book Signing
Oct 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities) invite you to a Lion and Pirate Unplugged event. This month we are taking a break from our regular Open Mic to introduce a special guest: author Joyce Ann Tepley.

Joyce will be reading from and signing her new book Thriving Through It—How They Do It. Through personal stories, she shows how a group of people with physical disabilities transformed adversity into triumph and communicates what it takes to do well in life in the face of the difficulties small and large that vex you. Some of the people she interviewed for the book will also be in attendance and will share their story in person.

Lion & Pirate October

Nov
14
Fri
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Nov 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

Nov
15
Sat
B & C Book Club
Nov 15 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

B & C Book Club has been with us since we first opened our doors, so it’s only appropriate that they meet to discuss Macbeth on the weekend of our first anniversary!

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Nov
20
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Nov 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Dec
13
Sat
B & C Book Club
Dec 13 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

B & C Book Club has been with us since we first opened our doors, so it’s only appropriate that they meet to discuss Macbeth on the weekend of our first anniversary!

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Dec
17
Wed
Albert Huffstickler Birthday Celebration
Dec 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us for a poetry reading and birthday cake to celebrate the late, great poet laureate of Hyde Park: Albert Huffstickler.

Albert HuffsticklerAlbert Huffstickler (December 17, 1927 – February 25, 2002) was born in Laredo, Texas, but he lived in Austin in his later years, and became a local literary legend. You could usually find him in a café in Hyde Park, decked out in suspenders, smoking, drinking coffee, and working on a poem. (Rumor has it he wrote a poem a day, and his impressive publication record—four full-length collections, plus hundreds of poems published in chapbooks and journals—lends veracity to the story.) He was a two-time winner of the Austin Book Awards, and in 1989 the state legislature formally honored him for his contribution to Texas poetry. In May 2013 a new Hyde Park green space at the corner of 38th and Duval Streets was named Huffstickler Green in his honor. Huff was a friend and inspiration to many, and everyone who knew him talks of his kindness, his honesty, and his passionate support for local literature. Austin Community College English professor W. Joe Hoppe, who will be reading tonight, describes his friend and mentor as “a great encourager of poetry.”

Dec
18
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Dec 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Dec
20
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Dec 20 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly afternoon suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate December

Jan
15
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Jan 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jan
17
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jan 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Open Mic

Jan
24
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jan 24 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Feb
14
Sat
B & C Book Club
Feb 14 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Feb
19
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Feb 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Feb
28
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Feb 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us in celebrating the first anniversary of our fun and friendly open mic!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

Mar
14
Sat
B & C Book Club
Mar 14 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Mar
19
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Mar 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Mar
21
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Mar 21 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly afternoon suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

L & P

Mar
29
Sun
The Modern Library Reading Group
Mar 29 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Hosted by Lindsay DeWitt, The Modern Library Reading Group is a book club organized around the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Usually, the book we read will be the lowest-numbered book that no one in the group has read. This month we will be reading and discussing The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, #17 on the list.

Barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts, The Modern Library Reading Group will meet every fourth Sunday at 1pm. All are welcome, though you are encouraged to finish the chosen book prior to the meeting.

Modern Library

Apr
11
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Apr 11 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

An inclusive open mic presented by VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities). Join us for a unique open mic that is open to people with and without disabilities. We welcome writers, acoustic musicians, dancers, and performers of all kinds. Our focus this month is poetry as we are included in the Austin International Poetry Festival. So bring your own poetry to read, or choose a selection from our hosts at Malvern Books.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Poster

Apr
16
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Apr 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Apr
18
Sat
B & C Book Club
Apr 18 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Apr
26
Sun
The Modern Library Reading Group
Apr 26 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Hosted by Lindsay DeWitt, The Modern Library Reading Group is a book club organized around the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Usually, the book we read will be the lowest-numbered book that no one in the group has read. This month we will be reading and discussing Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, #19 on the list.

Barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts, The Modern Library Reading Group will meet every fourth Sunday at 1pm. All are welcome, though you are encouraged to finish the chosen book prior to the meeting.

Modern Library

May
2
Sat
Borderlands: Issue 42 Launch Party
May 2 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us for a reading to celebrate the launch of the latest issue of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review! The keynote poet is Celeste Guzman Mendoza, author of Beneath the Halo (Wings Press, 2013). This new issue also includes a special section by the CantoMundo Fellows.

An engaging photography series, ‘Wonder World’ by Rebecca Dietz, is showcased in Issue 42 and is on exhibit at Malvern Books from April 25th-May 9th.

Borderlands is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Borderlands

May
3
Sun
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
May 3 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

An inclusive open mic presented by VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities). Join us for a unique open mic that is open to people with and without disabilities. We welcome writers, acoustic musicians, dancers, and performers of all kinds.

This month we have a special guest, Jeff Moyer, a 21st-century renaissance man and songwriter who has created a range of music that entertains, educates, and inspires, with topics on general and disability history.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Open Mic

May
16
Sat
B & C Book Club
May 16 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

May
21
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jun
13
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jun 13 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

Jun
16
Tue
Bloomsday at Malvern Books
Jun 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

It’s Bloomsday! Join us for a celebration of the life of writer James Joyce. Featuring live Irish music from Aidan, readings from Ulysses with an introduction by Joyce aficionado Peter Q, the moderator of the Finnegans Wake Reading Group, plus spirited discussion (audience participation welcome!)… and suitably Irish snacks.

Bloomsday

Bloomsday, named for Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses, is observed around the world on June 16th, as this is the date during which the events of Ulysses are relived (16th June, 1904). Fun fact: Joyce apparently picked June 16th as it was the date of his first date with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle.

Jun
18
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Jun 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jun
20
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jun 20 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jun
28
Sun
The Modern Library Reading Group
Jun 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Hosted by Lindsay DeWitt, The Modern Library Reading Group is a book club organized around the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Usually, the book we read will be the lowest-numbered book that no one in the group has read. This month we’ll be reading Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow, number 21 on the list.

Barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts, The Modern Library Reading Group will meet every fourth Sunday at 1pm. All are welcome, though you are encouraged to finish the chosen book prior to the meeting.

Modern Library

Jul
16
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Jul 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Jul
18
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jul 18 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jul
25
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jul 25 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

Jul
26
Sun
The Modern Library Reading Group
Jul 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Hosted by Lindsay DeWitt, The Modern Library Reading Group is a book club organized around the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Usually, the book we read will be the lowest-numbered book that no one in the group has read. This month we’re reading Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara, #22 on the list.

Barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts, The Modern Library Reading Group will meet every fourth Sunday at 1pm. All are welcome, though you are encouraged to finish the chosen book prior to the meeting.

Modern Library

Aug
15
Sat
B & C Book Club
Aug 15 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Aug
20
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Aug 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Aug
29
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Aug 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion and Pirate

Sep
17
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Sep 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Sep
19
Sat
B & C Book Club
Sep 19 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Sep
20
Sun
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged: International Peace Day Edition
Sep 20 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians of all ages and abilities. Join us for this special International Peace Day Edition and share and celebrate what peace means to you.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Open Mic

Sep
27
Sun
The Freedom to Read Foundation’s Read Out for Banned Books
Sep 27 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us in celebrating Banned Books Week with The Freedom to Read Foundation!

Banned Books

This event will feature a “read out,” with special guests, including Tish Hinojosa, Sarah Bird, and Mark Smith (Director of the Texas State Library and Archives), reading from their favorite banned books. Audience members are also welcome to read. Attendance is free, but donations to The Freedom to Read Foundation will be gratefully accepted.

Freedom To ReadThe Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization that was founded in 1969 to protect and defend the First Amendment to the Constitution and support the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information. The Foundation is devoted to the principle that the solution to offensive speech is more speech, and the suppression of speech on the grounds that it gives offense to some infringes on the rights of all to a free, open and robust marketplace of ideas.

Oct
7
Wed
A Communal Celebration of “Howl”: A Service of Semi-Religious Significance
Oct 7 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

October 7, 2015 marks the 60th anniversary of the first reading of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.” To honor the occasion, Malvern Books is hosting a crowd-sourced performance of the poem, featuring people from all over Austin. The event emphasizes the religious nature of the piece, combining elements of worship from various spiritual traditions into one magical night of community.

For more info and to sign up to read, email: whoppe@austincc.edu

HOWL

Oct
10
Sat
Malvern Books’ 2nd Anniversary Celebration
Oct 10 @ 2:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Opening day seems like it was only yesterday, but in fact Malvern Books turns TWO this week. And we’re celebrating our second anniversary in fine style, with music, readings, and cake. Come on down and join the party!

 * Also worth noting: there will be 25 % off everything in the store all day! *

2nd Anniversary

At 2pm, you’re invited to join us for a communal reading of Kenneth Koch’s epic 104-stanza poem “When the Sun Tries to Go On” (from The Hasty Papers)… come and read a verse or two, and enjoy some birthday cake as your reward.

At 6pm, we’ll enjoy live music from Americana roots duo Mark Viator & Susan Maxey.

And at 7pm, we’ll rock out further with a little Poetry Karaoke. (It’s easy: you roll a lettered die and then select from our shelves a poem by a poet whose last name starts with the letter the die landed on—and then you read this poem aloud for everyone to enjoy!)

Oct
15
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Oct 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Oct
24
Sat
B & C Book Club
Oct 24 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Oct 24 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities. We’ll also be announcing the winners of the 2015 Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest!

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Open Mic

Nov
7
Sat
Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books
Nov 7 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Welcome to Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books, hosted (on most occasions) by Malvern’s own curmudgeon-in-chief, Dr. Joe. Everyone is invited to join us for what we’re sure will be a series of irreverent and insightful conversations. We’re starting with A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes, an unexpected, entertaining story of inept pirates and cruel children. If you want to take part in this lively literary adventure, stop by the store, sign up, buy yourself a copy, and get reading!

Book Club

The NYRB Classics series started in 1999 with the publication of A High Wind in Jamaica and by the end of this year over 400 titles will be in print—so we have plenty of excellent reading material to choose from. The series includes nineteenth-century and experimental novels, reportage and belles lettres, established classics and cult favorites, and literature high, low, unsuspected, and unheard of. Literature in translation also constitutes a major part of the NYRB Classics series, including new translations of canonical figures such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Dante, Balzac, Nietzsche, and Chekhov, as well as fresh translations of Stefan Zweig, Robert Walser, Alberto Moravia, and Curzio Malaparte, among others.

How it works:

Stop by Malvern Books to sign up and you’ll receive a 10% discount off the title! Read the book and then come to the meeting prepared with either a question or specific passage to discuss with the group. We’ll look forward to seeing you on November 7th.

Nov
19
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Nov 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Dec
5
Sat
Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books
Dec 5 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Welcome to Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books, hosted (on most occasions) by Malvern’s own curmudgeon-in-chief, Dr. Joe. Everyone is invited to join us for what we’re sure will be a series of irreverent and insightful conversations. Our December selection is A Schoolboy’s Diary by Robert Walser, a collection of “strange and wonderful” stories. If you want to take part in this lively literary adventure, stop by the store, sign up, buy yourself a copy, and get reading!

Book Club

The NYRB Classics series started in 1999 with the publication of A High Wind in Jamaica and by the end of this year over 400 titles will be in print—so we have plenty of excellent reading material to choose from. The series includes nineteenth-century and experimental novels, reportage and belles lettres, established classics and cult favorites, and literature high, low, unsuspected, and unheard of. Literature in translation also constitutes a major part of the NYRB Classics series, including new translations of canonical figures such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Dante, Balzac, Nietzsche, and Chekhov, as well as fresh translations of Stefan Zweig, Robert Walser, Alberto Moravia, and Curzio Malaparte, among others.

How it works:

Stop by Malvern Books to sign up and you’ll receive a 10% discount off the title! Read the book and then come to the meeting prepared with either a question or specific passage to discuss with the group. We’ll look forward to seeing you on December 5th.

Dec
11
Fri
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Dec 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

L & P Open Mic

Dec
16
Wed
Albert Huffstickler Birthday Celebration
Dec 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us for a poetry reading and birthday cake to celebrate the late, great poet laureate of Hyde Park: Albert Huffstickler.

Albert HuffsticklerAlbert Huffstickler (December 17, 1927 – February 25, 2002) was born in Laredo, Texas, but he lived in Austin in his later years, and became a local literary legend. You could usually find him in a café in Hyde Park, decked out in suspenders, smoking, drinking coffee, and working on a poem. (Rumor has it he wrote a poem a day, and his impressive publication record—four full-length collections, plus hundreds of poems published in chapbooks and journals—lends veracity to the story.) He was a two-time winner of the Austin Book Awards, and in 1989 the state legislature formally honored him for his contribution to Texas poetry. In May 2013 a new Hyde Park green space at the corner of 38th and Duval Streets was named Huffstickler Green in his honor. Huff was a friend and inspiration to many, and everyone who knew him talks of his kindness, his honesty, and his passionate support for local literature. Austin Community College English professor W. Joe Hoppe, who will be reading tonight, describes his friend and mentor as “a great encourager of poetry.”

Dec
19
Sat
B & C Book Club
Dec 19 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jan
2
Sat
Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books
Jan 2 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Welcome to Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books, hosted (on most occasions) by Malvern’s own curmudgeon-in-chief, Dr. Joe. Everyone is invited to join us for what we’re sure will be a series of irreverent and insightful conversations. Our January selection is the novel Speedboat by Renata Adler, a wry, dreamlike investigation of contemporary life. If you want to take part in this lively literary adventure, stop by the store, sign up, buy yourself a copy, and get reading!

Book Club

The NYRB Classics series started in 1999 with the publication of A High Wind in Jamaica and by the end of this year over 400 titles will be in print—so we have plenty of excellent reading material to choose from. The series includes nineteenth-century and experimental novels, reportage and belles lettres, established classics and cult favorites, and literature high, low, unsuspected, and unheard of. Literature in translation also constitutes a major part of the NYRB Classics series, including new translations of canonical figures such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Dante, Balzac, Nietzsche, and Chekhov, as well as fresh translations of Stefan Zweig, Robert Walser, Alberto Moravia, and Curzio Malaparte, among others.

How it works:

Stop by Malvern Books to sign up and you’ll receive a 10% discount off the title! Read the book and then come to the meeting prepared with either a question or specific passage to discuss with the group. We’ll look forward to seeing you on January 2nd.

Jan
9
Sat
Rose Metal Press Family Resemblance Anthology Launch
Jan 9 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us in celebrating the release of Family Resemblance: An Anthology and Exploration of 8 Hybrid Literary Genres (Rose Metal Press), edited by Marcela Sulak and Jacqueline Kolosov. This event will feature readings from Marcela Sulak and contributors Katie Cortese, Joy Ladin, and Julio Ortega. 

Family ResemblanceFamily Resemblance explores hybrid literary genres in depth, providing craft essays and examples of hybrid forms by 43 distinguished authors, including Julie Marie Wade, Takashi Hiraide, Maggie Nelson, Joe Wenderoth, and Etgar Keret. In this study of eight hybrid genres—including lyric essay, epistolary, poetic memoir, prose poetry, performative, short-form nonfiction, flash fiction, and pictures made of words—the family tree of hybridity takes delightful shape, showcasing how cross-genre works blend features from multiple literary parents to create new entities, forms that feel more urgent than ever in today’s increasingly heterogeneous landscape.

Jan
16
Sat
B & C Book Club
Jan 16 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Jan
23
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Jan 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly evening suitable for performers of all ages and abilities.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

Lion & Pirate

Feb
6
Sat
Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books
Feb 6 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Welcome to Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books, hosted (on most occasions) by Malvern’s own curmudgeon-in-chief, Dr. Joe. Everyone is invited to join us for what we’re sure will be a series of irreverent and insightful conversations. Our February selection is Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, a novel far more subversive and fascinating (and less sentimental) than the Disney film we’re so familiar with. If you want to take part in this lively literary adventure, stop by the store, sign up, buy yourself a copy, and get reading!

Book Club

The NYRB Classics series started in 1999 with the publication of A High Wind in Jamaica and by the end of this year over 400 titles will be in print—so we have plenty of excellent reading material to choose from. The series includes nineteenth-century and experimental novels, reportage and belles lettres, established classics and cult favorites, and literature high, low, unsuspected, and unheard of. Literature in translation also constitutes a major part of the NYRB Classics series, including new translations of canonical figures such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Dante, Balzac, Nietzsche, and Chekhov, as well as fresh translations of Stefan Zweig, Robert Walser, Alberto Moravia, and Curzio Malaparte, among others.

How it works:

Stop by Malvern Books to sign up and you’ll receive a 10% discount off the title! Read the book and then come to the meeting prepared with either a question or specific passage to discuss with the group. We’ll look forward to seeing you on February 6th.

Feb
13
Sat
B & C Book Club
Feb 13 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

“We read all types, we take all types. Aim to keep things light and fun.” Hosted by Jon Meador. Please visit Austin Book Club for more information.

Book Club

Feb
18
Thu
Finnegans Wake Reading Group
Feb 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Finnegans Wake Reading Group of Austin is a monthly get-together to dive into the depths of James Joyce’s greatest, weirdest, and most notorious masterpiece.

The process is to take turns reading aloud from the text, which allows its musicality to flow forth. Then we all discuss our interpretations and the many meanings and themes contained within the selection we’ve read.

We’ll read 2 or 3 pages of the book, depending on how many people are there and how much time we spend discussing the content.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Joyce or Finnegans Wake is required, just have an open mind—and be prepared to read aloud in front of strangers.

For more information, please visit the reading group’s website.

Finnegans Wake

A representation of the book’s structure by Bauhaus artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.

Feb
27
Sat
The Lion & The Pirate Unplugged
Feb 27 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

In association with VSA Texas (The State Organization on Arts and Disability) and the Pen2Paper Creative Writing Contest (a project of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities), we’re delighted to present an inclusive (mic-less) open mic for writers and musicians. Join us for this fun and friendly afternoon suitable for performers of all ages and abilities.

Footage from previous Lion & Pirate open mic events can be seen here: http://bit.ly/1m7v4L8.

February Lion & Pirate

Mar
5
Sat
Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books
Mar 5 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Welcome to Malvern Books’ Club: Reading Classics from New York Review Books, hosted (on most occasions) by Malvern’s own curmudgeon-in-chief, Dr. Joe. Everyone is invited to join us for what we’re sure will be a series of irreverent and insightful conversations. Our March selection is The Door by Magda Szabó, an unsettling exploration of the relationship between two very different women. If you want to take part in this lively literary adventure, stop by the store, sign up, buy yourself a copy, and get reading!

Book Club

The NYRB Classics series started in 1999 with the publication of A High Wind in Jamaica and by the end of this year over 400 titles will be in print—so we have plenty of excellent reading material to choose from. The series includes nineteenth-century and experimental novels, reportage and belles lettres, established classics and cult favorites, and literature high, low, unsuspected, and unheard of. Literature in translation also constitutes a major part of the NYRB Classics series, including new translations of canonical figures such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Dante, Balzac, Nietzsche, and Chekhov, as well as fresh translations of Stefan Zweig, Robert Walser, Alberto Moravia, and Curzio Malaparte, among others.

How it works:

Stop by Malvern Books to sign up and you’ll receive a 10% discount off the title! Read the book and then come to the meeting prepared with either a question or specific passage to discuss with the group. We’ll look forward to seeing you on March 5th.