Brooklyn Voices

St. Joseph's University, New York opens its doors to the area's foremost writers, musicians, actors and artists every semester through Brooklyn Voices.

Created in collaboration with Greenlight Bookstore, the aim of the Brooklyn Voices series is to promote and enhance the creative vitality of our home neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill by providing local writers, artists and intellectuals with a forum in which to discuss and present their works to our neighbors, patrons and students.

Through lectures, forums, performances and public discussion, Brooklyn Voices seeks to make a meaningful contribution to the thriving intellectual culture of the neighborhood and ensure that our community remains a stimulating place in which to live, learn and do business.

Spring 2023 Brooklyn Voices Lineup

Colm Tóibín

Colm Tóibín presents A Guest at the Feast
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, January 25, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight Bookstore and St. Joseph's University are honored to welcome award-winning author Colm Tóibín to celebrate the launch of his new essay collection, A Guest at the Feast. These essays from the celebrated novelist cover everything from the author’s cancer and coming of age in Ireland, to popes, priests, other writers, and Venice during the pandemic. In A Guest at the Feast, we see the landscape of the author’s soul as he maps out events that have shaped him as a person and writer. Please join us at St. Joseph's for what is sure to be a glorious celebration of Tóibín's writing and his work as a supremely creative artist.

Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley presents The Paris Apartment
In Conversation with Andrea Bartz
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Monday, February 27, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight and St. Joseph's University are are thrilled to welcome the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List, Lucy Foley to celebrate the paperback release of The Paris Apartment. Like her previous beloved work, Foley's latest novel is a page-turning locked-room mystery whodunnit, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide. Everyone's a neighbor. Everyone's a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling. In conversation with Andrea Bartz (We Were Never Here), please join us at St. Joseph's to meet Lucy Foley as she discusses The Paris Apartment!

TJ Klune

In conversation with audiobook narrators Kirt Graves, Daniel Henning, and Michael Lesley
Co-presented with Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight and St. Joseph's University are proud to partner with Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio for this exciting multi-media event! TJ Klune, the Lambda Literary Award-winning author of the NYT best-selling books The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, and The Extraordinaries (among others) invites the audiobook narrators who bring his words to life to join him in conversation. Please join us at St. Joseph's to meet TJ Klune, Kirt Graves, Daniel Henning, and Michael Lesley in celebration of not just Klune's work, but the storytellers who make reading accessible to all.

Tickets: Free

Reserve a spot to See TJ Klune

Alicia Mountain

In conversation with Brenda Shaughnessy
Moderated by Ariel Yelen
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.*

The Brooklyn Voices series celebrates the work of SJNY's own faculty member Dr. Alicia Mountain with a presentation of her new poetry collection. Comprised of four heroic crowns of sonnets, Mountain's Four in Hand is both formal and experimental, ranging from lesbian lyric and family narratives to blank verse of found text pulled from financial newsletter emails. Language and image equally captivate with abundance as Mountain pursues the implications of national political identity, queer sexuality, and the practice of poetry itself. Mountain is joined by fellow poet Brenda Shaughnessy (author of Tanya) in a reading and conversation moderated by Ariel Yelen. Please join Greenlight at St. Joseph's to meet Alicia Mountain!

Tickets: Free

Reserve a spot to See Alicia Mountain

Blythe Roberson

Blythe Roberson presents America the Beautiful?
In conversation with Phoebe Robinson
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight and St. Joseph's University are thrilled to welcome Blythe Roberson—comedian, humor writer, and author of How To Date Men When You Hate Men— to celebrate the book launch of America the Beautiful?. American travel writers have long celebrated the road trip as the epitome of freedom. But why does it seem like all those narratives are written by white men who have no problems? To fill in the literary gaps and quench her own sense of adventure, Roberson quits her day job and sets off on a Great American Road Trip. The result is America the Beautiful?, a hilarious trip into the mind of one of the Millennial generation’s funniest writers. In conversation with Phoebe Robinson (Please Don't Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes), please join us at St. Joseph's to meet Blythe Roberson as she discusses America the Beautiful!

Tickets: General Admission: $5; Book Bundle: $32.50
Each book bundled ticket includes a signed copy of America the Beautiful?, to be picked up at the event.

Purchase Tickets to See Blythe Roberson

Cleyvis Natera

Cleyvis Natera presents Neruda on the Park
In conversation with Robert Jones Jr.
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, May 3, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight and St. Joseph's University are honored to welcome award-winning author and electric new voice Cleyvis Natera to celebrate the paperback release of her hit debut novel, Neruda on the Park. A beautifully layered portrait of family, friendship, and ambition, Neruda on the Park weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of community and the sacrifices we make to protect what we love most. Natera, who teaches in the Writer's Foundry MFA program at SJNY, is joined in conversation by the author of The Prophets, Robert Jones Jr. Please join us at St. Joseph's for what is sure to be a glorious celebration of Natera’s writing and her work as a supremely creative artist.

Tickets: Free Admission

Reserve a Spot to See Cleyvis Natera

Brandon Taylor

Brandon Taylor presents The Late Americans
IN-PERSON: Live at St. Joseph's University!
Wednesday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.*

Greenlight and St. Joseph's University are honored to welcome award-winning author Brandon Taylor to celebrate the launch of his latest novel, The Late Americans. A novel of intimacy and precarity, friendship and chosen family, The Late Americans is Brandon Taylor’s richest and most involved work of fiction to date, confirming his position as one of our most perceptive chroniclers of contemporary life. Please join us at St. Joseph's for what is sure to be a memorable celebration of one of the most anticipated books of the year.

Tickets: General Admission: $5; Book Bundle: $30
Each book bundled ticket includes a signed copy of The Late Americans, to be picked up at the event.

Purchase Tickets to See Brandon Taylor

*Mask-wearing is encouraged.

Previous Seasons of Brooklyn Voices

Fall 2022

Andrew Sean Greer

Wednesday, September 28, 7:30 p.m.*

Andrew Sean Greer presents Less Is Lost
In conversation with Sloane Crosley

Lydia Millet

Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.*

Lydia Millet presents Dinosaurs
In conversation with Jenny Offill

Fatimah Asghar

Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.*

Fatimah Asghar presents When We Were Sisters
In conversation with Angel Nafis, José Olivarez, and Jess Sn

Eileen Myles

Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.*

Eileen Myles presents Pathetic Literature
Featuring Fred Moten, Carmen Boullosa, Nicole Eisenman, Sarah Nicole Prickett and Will Farri

Summer 2022

Anthony Marra

Tuesday, August 2, 7:30 p.m.*

Anthony Marra presents Mercury Pictures Presents
In conversation with Amor Towles

Mohsin Hamid

Wednesday, August 3, 7:30 p.m.*

Mohsin Hamid presents The Last White Man

Spring 2022

Bernardine Evaristo

Tuesday, January 18, 7:30 p.m.

Bernardine Evaristo presents Manifesto
In conversation with Rumaan Alam

Marlon James

Tuesday, February 15, 7:30 p.m.*

Marlon James presents Moon Witch, Spider King
Interviewer To Be Announced!

Jennifer Egan

Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. (doors 6:30 p.m.)*

Jennifer Egan presents The Candy House
In conversation with Susan Choi

Emily St. John Mandel

Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. (doors 6:30 p.m.)*

Emily St. John Mandel presents Sea of Tranquility

Spring 2021

Hermione Lee

Wednesday, February 24, 5 p.m.

Hermione Lee presents Tom Stoppard: A Life
In conversation with Tom Stoppard

Tickets $45-50 (Includes access to the event, a hardcover copy of Tom Stoppard: A Life and a bookplate signed by Hermione Lee. Note pickup and shipping options when purchasing tickets.)

Naima Coster

Thursday, March 4, 7:30 p.m.

Naima Coster presents What’s Mine and Yours
In conversation with Elizabeth Acevedo

Carol Edgarian

Monday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.

Carol Edgarian presents Vera
In conversation with Jennifer Egan

Amy Solomon

Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.

Amy Solomon presents Notes from the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-grade Panic from 150 of the Funniest Women in Comedy
Featuring Catherine Cohen, Tien Tran, Sydnee Washington, Sunita Mani, Aya Cash, Atsuko Okatsuka, Punam Patel, Rachel Sennott, and more to be announced!

Craig Taylor

Tuesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.

Book Launch: Craig Taylor presents New Yorkers: A City and Its People in Our Time
Featuring special guests to be announced!

Edward Hirsch

Monday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.

Edward Hirsch presents 100 Poems to Break Your Heart
With special guests Victoria Chang and Vijay Seshadri

Rachel Kushner

Thursday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.

Rachel Kushner presents The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020
In conversation with Hari Kunzru

Joshua Jelly-Schapiro

Monday, April 19, 7:30 p.m.

Joshua Jelly-Schapiro presents Names of New York: Discovering the City's Past, Present, and Future Through Its Place-Names
In conversation with Matt Weiland

Quiara Alegría Hudes

Wednesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.

Quiara Alegría Hudes presents My Broken Language: A Memoir
In conversation with Daphne Rubin-Vega

Summer 2020

Betsy Bonner — VIRTUAL EVENT

Monday, August 17, 7:30 p.m.

Betsy Bonner presents The Book of Atlantis Black: The Search for a Sister Gone Missing

In conversation with Christopher Castellani

Spring 2020

Ezra Klein

Sunday, February 2, 4:30 p.m.

Ezra Klein presents Why We're Polarized

In conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates

Erik Larson

Monday, February 24, 7:30 p.m.

Book Launch: Erik Larson presents The Splendid and the Vile

In conversation with Maria Konnikova

Robert Reich — VIRTUAL EVENT

Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.

Robert Reich presents The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It

In conversation with Anand Giridaradas

Kathy Valentine — VIRTUAL EVENT

Monday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Kathy Valentine presents All I Ever Wanted: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Memoir

In conversation with Lizz Winstead

Mikel Jollett

Monday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.

Mikel Jollett presents Hollywood Park

Masha Gessen

Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.

Masha Gessen presents Surviving Autocracy

In conversation with Tim Snyder

Fall 2019

Dan Rather

Tuesday, September 3, 7:30 p.m.

Paperback launch: Dan Rather presents What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism

In conversation with Sally Kohn

Ann Patchett

Thursday, September 26, 7:30 p.m.

Ann Patchett presents The Dutch House

Eric Foner

Sunday, September 29, 4:30 p.m.

Eric Foner presents The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution

In conversation with Chris Hayes

Mark Bittman

Wednesday, October 2, 7:30 p.m.

Mark Bittman presents How to Cook Everything – Completely Revised Twentieth Anniversary Edition: Simple Recipes for Great Food

In conversation with Melissa Clark

Lindy West

Thursday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.

Lindy West presents The Witches are Coming

Fall 2018

Gary Shteyngart

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Gary Shteyngart presents Lake Success
In conversation with Angela Ledgerwood

Anand Giridharada

Monday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Anand Giridharadas presents Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World
In conversation with Lydia Polgreen

Barbara Kingsolver

Monday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Barbara Kingsolver presents Unsheltered
In conversation with Julie Orringer

Anne Lamott

Monday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Anne Lamott presents Almost Everything: Notes on Hope

Spring 2018

Michael Chabon

Thursday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.
Michael Chabon presents Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces
In conversation with Julie Orringer

Fall 2017

Nathan Englander

Wednesday, September 6, 7:30 p.m.
Nathan Englander presents Dinner at the Center of the Earth
In conversation with Jonathan Safran Foer

Karl Ove Knausgaard

Thursday, September 14, 7:30 p.m.
Karl Ove Knausgaard presents Autumn
In conversation with Katie Kitamura

Jeffrey Eugenides<

Monday, October 2, 7:30 p.m.
Book Launch: Jeffrey Eugenides presents Fresh Complaint: Stories
In conversation with Ruth Franklin

Matt Taibbi

Wednesday, November 1, 7:30 p.m.
Matt Taibbi presents I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street

Spring 2017

John Darnielle

Monday, February 6, 7:30 p.m.
John Darnielle presents Universal Harvester
In conversation with Donna Tartt

Chris Hayes

Saturday, April 8, 6 p.m.
Chris Hayes presents A Colony in A Nation
In conversation with journalist Wesley Lowery

Fall 2016

Teju Cole

Tuesday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.
Teju Cole presents Known and Strange Things

Ann Patchett

Tuesday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Ann Patchett presents Commonwealth (book launch)
In conversation with J. Courtney Sullivan • A Brooklyn Book Festival Bookends event

A Celebration of Marie Ponsot

Tuesday, October 4, 7:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Marie Ponsot • Presenting her Collected Poems
Readings by Ed Hirsch, Sapphire, Cynthia Zarin and other poets • Hosted by PSA Executive Director Alice Quinn

Zadie Smith

Wednesday, November 16, 7:30 p.m.
Zadie Smith presents Swing Time

Spring 2016

Colin Beavan

Thursday, January 7, 7:30 p.m.
Colin Beavan presents How to Be Alive: A Guide To The Kind of Happiness That Helps The World
In conversation with ABC’s Dan Harris, co-anchor of Good Morning America and Nightline
Event Recap

Hanya Yanagihara

Thursday, January 28, 7:30 p.m.
Hanya Yanagihara presents A Little Life (paperback launch)
In conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald of BuzzFeed
Event Recap

Ken Corbett

Thursday, March 3, 7:30 p.m.
Ken Corbett presents A Murder Over a Girl: Justice, Gender, Junior High
In conversation with Tony Kushner
Event Recap

Charles Bock

Monday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Book launch: Charles Bock presents Alice & Oliver
In conversation with A.M. Homes
Event Recap

Nathaniel Philbrick

Thursday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.
Nathaniel Philbrick presents Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution

Fall 2015

Jonathan Franzen

Saturday, September 26, 6:30 p.m.
Jonathan Franzen presents Purity
In conversation with Wyatt Mason

Patti Smith

Thursday, October 8, 7:30 p.m.
Patti Smith presents M Train

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Macarthur "Genius Grant" winner
Thursday, October 15, 7:30 p.m.
Ta-Nehisi Coates presents Between the World and Me
In conversation with interviewer James Bennet of The Atlantic

Kristin Hersh

Wednesday, October 21, 7:30 p.m.
Kristin Hersh presents Don’t Suck, Don't Die: Giving Up on Vic Chesnutt
In conversation with Amanda Petruisch

Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

Thursday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.
Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor present Welcome to Night Vale