VINYL STREET Co. Presents
In Association with Fairfield Theatre Company
Sad Dads Book Club & Author Talk Series
In Association with Fairfield Theatre Company, we're hosting the Sad Dads Book Club & Author Talk Series here at Vinyl Street Co. This new series of intimate conversations with authors about their works and lives continues with featured author August Thompson & continues into December & the new year with Mike Ayers and Ezra Furman... with more to come. From re-examining the boundaries of family and race, uncovering the secrets of Lou Reed's 'Transformer,' a coming-of-age tale of first love, discovery, and grief, and asking top musicians what song they’d want to hear last—you’ll find plenty of inspiration at the Sad Dads Book Club.
No need to be a Sad Dad, Happy Dad, or even a Dad at all. Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event, though we recommend RSVP'ing using this link, or, by calling the store (203-292-5785) - *space is limited.*
​
Copies of August Thompson's Anyone's Ghost will be soon available in-store for purchase & additional copies will be available on the day of event for purchase & signing.
​
A limited number of signed copies of October author Nabil Ayers' My Life In The Sunshine are available for purchase in-store now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR....
August Thompson was born and raised in the middle of nowhere, New Hampshire, before he attended middle school in West LA. After surviving California optimism, he moved to NYC for his bachelor’s, studied in Berlin, and taught English in Spain for two years. He recently received his MFA at New York University’s creative writing program as a Goldwater Fellow.
​
ABOUT THE BOOK...
It took three car crashes to kill Jake.
​
Theron David Alden is there for the first two: the summer they meet in rural New Hampshire, when he’s fifteen and anxious, and Jake’s seventeen and a natural; then six years later in New York City, those too-short, ecstatic, painful nights that change both their lives forever—the end of the dream and the longing for the dream and the dream itself, all at once.
Theron is not there for the third crash.
​
And yet, their story contains so much joy and self-discovery: the glorious, stupid simplicity of a boyhood joke; the devastation of insecurity; the way a great song can distill a universe; the limits of what we can know about each other; the mysterious, porous, ungraspable fault line between yourself and the person you love better than yourself; the beautiful, toxic elixir of need and hope and want.
​
Brimming with rare, radioactive talent, August Thompson has written a love story that is electrically alive and exquisitely tuned.
​
In the words of Jonathan Safran Foer, “This book will make you cry.”
ABOUT THE SAD DADS BOOK CLUB...
The Sad Dads Book Club is a community-driven group dedicated to exploring the deep connections between literature and music. Founded on the idea that both art forms can tell powerful stories, the club focuses on books that delve into the creative process of musicians, the emotional landscapes of artists, and the cultural impact of music on society. Its reading selections, ranging from memoirs to fiction, often tie directly into the world of music, with past titles including Patti Smith’s Just Kids and Tiffanie DeBartolo’s Sorrow.
​
A distinctive feature of the Sad Dads Book Club is its commitment to engaging directly with the authors through regular Q&A sessions. These discussions are central to the club’s mission, offering members a chance to deepen their understanding of each book by interacting with the minds behind the stories. The Q&As provide valuable insights into the inspiration and creative processes of the authors, giving readers a rare opportunity to explore how music and writing intersect. These conversations not only enrich the reading experience but also build a sense of community among members, who come together to reflect on the broader themes of creativity, identity, and art.
The club’s dedication to fostering meaningful dialogue makes these author Q&A sessions an essential part of its mission. By offering a platform for readers to connect with authors, the Sad Dads Book Club bridges the gap between the stories on the page and the lived experiences behind them, allowing members to engage more deeply with the books and the music that inspire them.
Expanding on its literary focus, the Sad Dads Book Club recently launched High Fidelity Book Club in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing’s 33 1/3 book series. This new offshoot is dedicated to exploring books about iconic albums and their cultural significance. High Fidelity provides another dimension to the club’s love of music, focusing on works that chronicle legendary records and their lasting influence on both artists and fans. Also with in-person Q&A events with the authors, High Fidelity broadens the scope of the club's reach while maintaining the same intimate, thoughtful approach to literature and music.
The Sad Dads Book Club, along with its High Fidelity initiative, continues to thrive as a space where readers and music lovers alike can connect, engage, and explore the transformative power of storytelling and song.