“Bibliolepsy” tells of a young woman caught between a real-world revolution and a lifelong desire to escape into books. Its author, Filipino-American author Gina Apostol, will discuss the work during Vroman’s Live, a Vroman’s Bookstores online event broadcast on Crowdcast, on Thursday, January 6, starting at 6 p.m.
The book is now available for the first time in the U.S.
It is the mid-80s, two decades into the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. The economy is in a deep recession, and civil unrest is growing by the day. But Primi Peregrino has her own priorities: tracking down books and pursuing romantic connections with their authors.
For Primi, the nascent revolution means that writers are gathering more often, and with greater urgency, so that every poetry reading she attends presents a veritable “Justice League” of authors for her to choose among.
As the Marcos dictatorship stands poised to topple, Primi remains true to her fantasy: that she, “a vagabond from history, a runaway from time,” can be saved by sex, love, and books.
The book is published by Soho Press.
“For all those who’ve wondered if there exists a female Roberto Bolaño – lusty, word-drunk, and ferociously committed to her milieu – here’s Gina Apostol,” wrote Sandi Tan, author of Lurkers.
On Vroman’s Live, Apostol will be in conversation with fellow author Neferti X. M. Tadiar, Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University.
This is a virtual event and will take place on Crowdcast. Register for Free ahead of time to save your spot and get an email reminder.
To register, visit www.crowdcast.io/e/gina-
For more information, call (626) 449-5360 or visit www.vromansbookstore.com/gina-
