Patty Callahan Henry’s Holiday Gift Suggestion

It’s been a few years since the last time we did the holiday gift suggestions, and it’s a Beatrice tradition that I’m happy to revive. Let’s start with Patti Callahan Henry, who has just published a short novel, The Perfect Love Song, totally pegged to the season. It’s about a country music singer who’s in a struggling band—“the opening act before the opening act,” as the narrator puts its, “and sometimes a song before the two opening acts”—who writes that one song that catapults him towards the top… which creates a rift between him and the people who matter most in his life. A rift that needs to be healed by Christmas, naturally. Patti’s holiday gift suggestion is equally thematic…

During the holidays I want to indulge in a little melancholy, a few miracles and something that will make the wings of hope spread inside me. Every Christmas I love to open The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. This book is a sweet reminder that the holidays aren’t all about parties and material gain, but about opening a heart to the redemptive love we all need.

28 November 2010 | gift ideas |

Save the Date: January 4, Moody & Shteyngart

I’ve been a fan of the New York Review of Science Fiction reading series for a while now, so when Jim Freund asked if I would be willing to guest curate one of their events, I jumped at the chance. It’s not for a while yet, but you may want to set Tuesday, January 4, 2011 aside, as I’ll be introducing Rick Moody, who will read from his latest novel, The Four Fingers of Death, and Gary Shteyngart, who reads from his latest, Super Sad True Love Story. Yes, they’re both science fiction novels. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

As I say, though, January is a ways off. Before then, I’m looking forward to the December 14 NYRSF reading, where my friends Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman will be reading from new fantasy works. The Kushner/Sherman event is becoming a NYRSF holiday tradition, and it’s bound to be a delightful evening. So I hope you’ll join us at the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art (138 Sullivan Street, just below Houston) when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., and though admission is free, a $5 donation to keep things running smoothly would not be out of place!

(The time, place, and suggested donation all hold true for the January 4 reading, too.)

24 November 2010 | events |