From Press Street's Room 220: by Ari Braverman

Inside Orleans Parish Prison—one of the worst jails in the country—an English class takes place, not to help inmates fulfill GED requirements, but simply to facilitate their study of literature and books. In this three-part series, Room 220‘s Ari Braverman explores the parts of the program that make it work—and make it worthwhile—from the founder of the program, Nik De Dominic, to the many local writers who teach in it, to the inmates who take part in it. The program is currently an all-volunteer effort, though it is looking for funding.

Lit lovers and anyone on the hunt for new reads should head to tonight’s Black Widow Salon gathering. The monthly event takes place upstairs at Crescent City Books (230 Chartres) and usually invites one or two writers to read and answer questions. Tonight’s reading will offer poetry and prose from five writers with strong connections to South Louisiana.

by Nathan C. Martin, Room 220

Michael J. Lee denies any connection between his work and the Southern Gothic tradition, despite characteristics in his stories that might suggest one. This is not only because he’s originally from California—which disqualifies him in the first place—but because he feels too perpetually unmoored to align with any regionalism.

From Press Street's Room 220

Local author Michael J. Lee—whose debut collection of short stories, Something In My Eye, was recently released—reportedly became so disgusted while reading his stories prior to a scheduled appearance last night he canceled the event, citing acute stomach pain as the primary cause.