Book Beat

Some more spooky picks for this Halloween 🎃
Happy Halloween from all of us at Book Beat 👻✨

“Is sorrow not, one asks, the only thing in the world people really possess?”
― Vladimir Nabokov, Pnin (1955)
Pnin is a humorous and rich character study and postmodern novel by one of the 20th century’s master prose stylists who presents the human condition in all its sadness and metaphysical complexity. A few images with Pnin connections; Nabokov and his index cards writing Lo**ta, Milton Glaser cover of Pnin, Lita Gray and Charlie Chaplin in “The Kid,” Lita Gray, Tolstoy, Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina, Avon Bard cover, Girl with a Cat by Paul Hoecker. Meeting on Zoom Wednesday at 7 PM, send us your name and email address if you’d like to attend.

Whitney Peoples and her family from Texas stopped by and picked up the new “Sister Said” cards🩷💌✊🏾 “Citizen Printer” book and a signed poster by Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.

Just in time for Halloween! Three stunning cloth bound editions of some spooky classics! 🎃

“The tiger will never lie down with the lamb; he acknowledges no pact that is not reciprocal. The lamb must learn to run with the tigers.“
-Angela Carter

Tonight Sub-Rosa meets to discuss Angela Carter’s, The Magic Toyshop. The perfect kick off to a week of haunted reads 👻🧙‍♀️🎃👹🦇

Tuesday October 22 at 6:30 pm, local authors Yvonne Osbourne and Donald Levin will present their recent books at Book Beat.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: Yvonne Osborne & Donald Levin at Book Beat - The Backroom On Tuesday October 22nd at 6:30-7:30 pm, Yvonne Osborne and Donald Levin will be at Book Beat to speak and sign copies of their recently published books. Let Evening Come by Osborne is a coming of age novel set in rural Michigan and Saskatchewan. Levin's latest is The Ghosts of Detroit, third in his...

Parting shot of director John Walter and author Ellen Levy after a Ray Johnson birthday celebration and book launch for A Book About Ray, Levy’s magnificent book on the art of

In this exciting adventure and follow-up to the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor award winning classic, Knight Owl make an unlikely friend in the over-zealous Early Bird—who hopes to be a brave knight, too.
Stop by today and snag your copy along with a limited edition, signed print!

Getting into A Book About Ray by Ellen Levy. Join us for a special Ray Johnson birthday celebration and book signing 6:30 pm Wednesday, October 16 live at the Book Beat or DM your name and email to join the party on Zoom. 🎈🎉🥳

“To be Native to a place we must learn to speak its language.”
-Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
Today and everyday we celebrate Indigenous people. And our tomorrow, Rediscovery of America in paperback!

Celebrate artist Ray Johnson’s birthday October 16 with an in store book launch for A Book About Ray by Ellen Levy. 6:30 pm at Book Beat. Live in store and on Zoom.

October 16: An Evening for Ray Johnson with Ellen Levy at Book Beat - The Backroom On Wednesday October 16, from 6:30-7:30 pm, join us for Ray Johnson's birthday party with a book talk and signing with author Ellen Levy who will be presenting A Book About Ray, the first full-career survey of the idiosyncratic life and work of Ray Johnson, a collagist, performance artist, and pione...

We Live for Rock’n Roll! Always good to see Barry Henssler of the and Mike Rubin of at the MC5 book signing.

Esinam Bediako reading from her award winning debut novel Blood on the Brain last Thursday October 10. Second photo: Esinam, her mother Patience and sister Kafui. One of our favorite fall titles. Signed copies are available in store.

We will be hosting a signing for the authors Jaan Uhelszki and Brad Tolinski at 3 pm this Sunday at Book Beat (not mentioned in the article) call (248)968-1190 to reserve a copy.

The last word on the MC5 Against all odds, a new oral history about the influential Detroit rock band is finally here

Welcome back to this week’s installment of Zoe Picks, where Zoe Picks. This week she has selected The Empusium, Olga Tokarczuk’s latest novel. Swing on through to get a signed copy before they are gone!

Join us Thursday, October 10 from 6:30-8pm for the launch of Esinam Bediako’s debut coming of age novel Blood on the Brain! The event will feature a reading by Bediako, followed by a book signing. This event will be held at the store! Visit the website for more information. Check out her interview with .mag for more about the inspiration and background of the novel.

Congrats to all the National Book Award finalists!

2024 National Book Awards Finalists Announced Twenty-five Finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature

Book launch for Blood in the Brain by Esinam Bediako at Book Beat! Oct. 10, 6:30-8 pm.

October 10: Esinam Bediako at Book Beat - The Backroom Join us Thursday, October 10 from 6:30-8 p.m. for the launch of Esinam Bediako's debut coming of age novel Blood on the Brain, published on September 17 by Red Hen Press. This event will feature a reading by Bediako, followed by a book signing and refreshments. This is the only scheduled event for t...

Books & Brunch! David Grann author of The Wager and KIllers of the Flower Moon will join Mathilda Zeller author of The Revenge of Bridget Cleary and The Bee King will speak about their work and writing process.; Sat., Oct. 5, 9:30 am- 1 pm. Follow link for ticket info.

October 5: Authors to the Pointe - The Backroom Join us Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. with the Grosse Public Library for the annual Authors to the Pointe brunch, which presents regional and national authors every year. This year, David Grann and Mathilda Zeller will speak about thier work and writing process, with a book signing to fo...

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Swing by the store and help us celebrate 42 years of existence! We will have authors, a book sale and ice cream! Street Corner will be spinning records. It’s gonna be a grand ole time!
We will be here from 12-5 and look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow! Visit our website for more details.
Photo courtesy our pals over

Authors Merriam Metoui and Monique Asher hold each other’s books after their presentation and reading. Thank you for a wonderful night!

Asher’s Don’t Eat the Pie is “Gothic Horror at its most deliciously twisted,” said Megan Collins.

Metoui’s Portrait of a Shadow “Weaves in so many twists and turns, mystery fans will be frantically turning the page to see what comes next,” said Sara Farizan.

Monique Asher is the debut author of Don’t Eat the Pie, a horror novel with a gothic flair. In it, we follow Sam, who just wants the fresh start she deserves with her perfect new husband and teenage daughter; this time, it’s going to be different. However, her new in-laws live on an isolated island and practise some strange customs that threaten the perfect life she’s trying to carve out. She will be attending the Book Beat anniversary party and will sign books this Sunday at 1 pm.

Meriam Metoui is the author of A Guide to the Dark, recently released in paperback, and Portrait of a Shadow, released in July of this year. Both are wonderfully mysterious and haunting YA novels. Portrait of a Shadow follows eighteen-year-old Mae as she attempts to unravel the disappearance of her older sister. Mae doesn’t think the police or her parents have done enough to search for her sister, so she sets out to find answers for herself. Along the way, she encounters strange art dealers, hidden notes, and a centuries-old curse. Signed copies are now available!

Come help us celebrate our 42nd Anniversary! Authors! Artists! Sale! & Icecream! This Sunday 12-5 pm.

September 29: Book Beat Anniversary Party - The Backroom Come celebrate Book Beat's 42nd birthday Sunday, September 29 from 12-5 p.m. We will be having a storewide sale (some exclusions apply) and ice cream too! Our neighbors at Street Corner Music will be spinning records for the event! In addition, come meet local authors and artists throughout the afte...

Rod came in and bought a “Read Banned Books” cap and said, “Banned books like Charles Bukowski are a treasure for adventurous souls,” and told us to “Keep offering weirdness and intellectual adventure.” Thanks Rod! 🩷📚🌴