today marks the u.s. and canadian release of open city, teju cole's first full-length novel. i raved about everyday is for the thief here, so i'll definitely be first in line for my (signed) copy.

i heard rumors that cole was in lagos, but he must be back in new york because he has a book signing tomorrow. check the list below for details. i'll be back in new york in a couple of weeks (there, i said it), so i'll mos def attend the signing at mcnally jackson.

the delicious list of nyc bookstores reminds me of the dearth of bookshops/cafes in nigeria. i'd rant about it, but first we'd have to talk about the reading culture here in general, and i don't have time for that particular conversation.

see you soon, new yorkers, i've missed you! and for heaven's sake, buy his book. (check out the new yorker review.) --AL.

Tomorrow February 9: Afternoon stock signings in New York City: Strand Bookstore, Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers, Mysterious Bookshop, and St Mark’s Bookshop. Signed first editions will be available at all these stores after tomorrow evening.

Thursday February 10: A 7:00pm discussion of Open City with Cole and editor David Ebershoff, at the Center for Fiction (at the Mercantile Library), 17 East 47th St, New York, NY.

Monday February 21: 7:00pm reading at McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St, New York, NY.

Thursday February 24: 7:30pm reading at Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY.

Tuesday March 1: 8 pm reading with fellow debutant Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts (author of Harlem Is Nowhere) at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY