Kirkus gives The Secret History a starred review; announcing spring book tour dates
More good news! With just over a week to go until The Secret History’s publication on March 6, Kirkus has given the book a starred review. Lots of generous things in there, most of which are still behind a paywall. But here’s a peek, skipping the spoilers (and there is one big spoiler, so don’t hunt down the review if you’re going to read the book):
Drawing on new biographical material and her sharp critical senses, Pitzer reveals the tightly woven subtext of the novels, always keen to shine a light where the deception is not obvious … a brilliant examination that adds to the understanding of an inspiring and enigmatic life.
With the book soon to arrive, I’m very much looking forward to getting out and doing readings—and hope to meet lots of you in person. Several upcoming dates have been added to the Events page. The current roster now includes the following:
A March 13 noon talk in New York City at the 92nd Street Y’s Tribeca location. There’s still room, so plan to play hooky from work just this once, and register today. Book signing to follow! This event is especially thrilling because Nabokov himself once did a reading for the 92nd Street Y. (More on this soon.)
The next day, March 14, we’ll have a reading/reception/book-signing/launch party in Washington, DC, in the beautiful new District building of NYU (yes, NYU in DC). Free, but you must register.
On March 29, I’ll be reading and signing books at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This stop has the added bonus of being in the heart of Nabokov’s 1940s stomping grounds. I will provide a map of Nabokov-related locations to all attendees.
May 2, I’ll be in Minneapolis at Magers & Quinn bookstore, where I expect, despite any lingering snow, to be warmed by the affection of the store staff, who have Tweeted (in the spirit of Nabokov’s most infamous narrators) that they are sociopathically excited about The Secret History.
Then it’s off on May 3 to the Book Cellar in Chicago, hometown to some very serious Nabokov fans and early supporters of the book. I’m told the Book Cellar has not just books but wine. What more could you ask for?
That’s it (so far) for the spring, but a brief nod to summer events, which I’ll post about in a month or two: I’ll be doing a June 6 talk at the Smithsonian Associates in Washington, DC, and making a West Coast swing, which will include a June 12 reading at the Booksmith on Haight Street in San Francisco.
