JOHN WRAY reads/signs LOWBOY April 17, 2009

The Raconteur Presents

JOHN WRAY
Reading/Signing
LOWBOY

8 PM, Fri. April 17

Early one morning in New York City, Will Heller, a sixteen-year old paranoid schizophrenic, gets on an uptown B train alone. Like most people he knows, Will believes the world is being destroyed by climate change; unlike most people, he’s convinced he can do something about it. Unknown to his doctors, unknown to the police—unknown even to Violet Heller, his devoted mother—Will alone holds the key to the planet’s salvation. To cool down the world, he has to cool down his own overheating body: to cool down his body, he has to find one willing girl. And he already has someone in mind.

LOWBOY, John Wray’s third novel, tells the story of Will’s fantastic and terrifying odyssey through the city’s tunnels, back alleys, and streets in search of Emily Wallace, his one great hope. Suspenseful and comic, devastating and hopeful by turns, LOWBOY is a fearless exploration of youth, sex, and violence in contemporary America, seen through one boy’s haunting and extraordinary vision. The opening pages recall Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, but the denouement and haunting aftertaste may make the stunned reader whisper “Dostoevsky.” Yes, it really is that good.

FREE! Books on sale at event.

ON DECK:

8 PM, Sat. April 18
POSITIVELY MAIN STREET
Hosted by JIM TESTA

Live Music w/John Raido, Jason Didner, and Frankie/Kelly McGrath of Maybe Pete. Plus surprise guests!

Musicians from all over New Jersey jam locally. Hosted by celebrated music zinester/Jersey Beat editor Jim Testa. Testa published the first issue of his Jersey Beat in 1982. It covers a wide cross section of the Garden State music scene, but most particularly Punk and its many off-shoots, including Hardcore, Old-Skool, Pop Punk, Synth Punk, Anti-Folk, etc. Several well-known zine writers have contributed to Jersey Beat over the years, including Donny The Punk, Jim DeRogatis, Ben Weasel, and Tris McCall. FREE!

The Raconteur is a bookstore in central New Jersey. It has been called "a literary center of gravity" by The New York Times, "a literary landmark" by Time Out New York, and a "literary sanctuary" by the London Guardian. Known for its accomplished and eclectic programming, The Raconteur hosts free weekly events (author signings, film screenings, staged readings, live music) and organizes oddball literary happenings that range from Manhattan pub crawls and arm wrestling tournaments to motorcycle rides and beard growing contests.

The Raconteur
431 Main Street
Metuchen, NJ 08840
732-906-0009
www.raconteurbooks.com