C16 books thisweek reviews Readings &signings on LI Monday Fanfare ALena Dunham kind of girl Dr. Haki Madhubuti,an influential figure in the Black Arts Movement, presents a shtick feels less original in lecture, “What It Means to be NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL: Dunham, print than it does on TV — Black and Literate in the 21st AYoung Woman Tells You of HBO perhaps it is the absence of her Century and the Importance of What She’s “Learned,” by “Girls” specific face and body that Art in the Maturation of All Lena Dunham. Random fame, makes these essays about bad People.” At 7p.m., Adelphi House, 265 pp., $28. muses on sex, weight-loss regimens and University, Thomas Dixon growing mental health lapses feel abit Lovely Ballroom, Ruth S. Harley BY MARION WINIK up weird. familiar. On the other hand, University Center, Garden City; Special to Newsday she offers aversion of the 516-877-4979, growing-up-weird story that is african-studies.adelphi.edu ymother invent- particular to her generation. ed the selfie,” Random House reportedly explains Lena paid more than $3 million for Wednesday ‘M Dunham in “Not this book, and wants it taken Massapequa Park author That Kind of Girl,” her debut seriously —every event on Salvatore J. LaGumina discusses collection of essays. “Sure Dunham’s book tour features a and signs copies of “Long Island there were self-portraits conversation with someone Italian Americans: History, before her, but she perfected like Zadie Smith, Mary Karr or Heritage and Tradition.” At the art of the vulnerable Curtis Sittenfeld. If “Not That 7p.m., Westbury Library, candid with unclear purpose.” Kind of Girl” doesn’t put her in

445 Jefferson St.; 516-333-0176, Both of Dunham’s parents WILDE their league, she is still in her

westburylibrary.org are artists; elsewhere, she DE 20s, already an award-winning explains that her dad paints actress, screenwriter and direc- “huge pictures of penises for TUMN tor. Surely, as with all her short- Thursday ajob.” In fact, Carroll Dun- AU comings, Dunham would be the Carl Hiaasen speaks and signs ham is more renowned for his including lists of “Things I’ve All” Dunham encountered in first to admit this one. Several copies of his images of female reproduc- Learned” from each of them, her 20s. Though she was times in the book, she considers new young- tive equipment. are the highlight of this book. horrified by some of Brown’s looking back at her current adult novel, So if you’ve been wonder- Like Tina Fey and Mindy pre-feminist positions (sex efforts later in life, expressing “Skink —No ing how ayoung woman with Kaling before her, Dunham with married men —really?), the hope that “future me will be Surrender.” aregular old body like Lena offers an account of how she was inspired by “the way proud of present me for trying At 7p.m., Dunham has the nerve to growing up neurotic, awkward Helen shares her own embar- to wrap my head around the big Barnes & appear naked on her HBO and smart can lead to acareer rassing, acne-ridden history in ideas and also for trying to Noble, 91 Old hit, “Girls,” here’s your an- in comedy. The book pays an attempt to say, Look, happi- make you feel like we’re all in Country Rd., swer: She’s in the family tribute to an earlier forerunner ness and satisfaction can this together.” Carle Place; 516-741-9850, business! Her warm portraits —Helen Gurley Brown, happen to anyone.” Ithink the future her barnesandnoble.com of her mother and father, whose advice book “Having It Dunham’s no-holds-barred definitely will.

Saturday Betty Medsger speaks and signs copies Betrayal by the Black Sea of “The Burglary: mantle Jewish settlements in never betrays? And what of the The THE BETRAYERS, by David the West Bank. promises that agovernment Discovery of Bezmozgis. Little, Brown and To escape the media circus makes to its own people? Was J. Edgar Co., 225 pp., $26. that erupts when the photos it wrong, as Baruch believes, Hoover’s are published, Kotler and his for Israel to uproot settlers Secret FBI.” BY ANN LEVIN lover, Leora, flee to the Black from lands occupied in the Tickets, $75, The Associated Press Sea resort of Yalta, where the Six-Day War without first include lunch; reservations Ukrainian-born Baruch, origi- having apeace deal with the required. At noon, Pridwin he betrayals come nally Boris, vacationed with Palestinians? And if so, then Beach Hotel &Cottages, 81 thick and fast in David his parents as aboy. There, in why is he troubled that his Shore Rd., Shelter Island; Bezmozgis’ aptly titled adilapidated guesthouse in the own son, areligious Jew serv-

newsday.com Tand beautifully written 631-749-0042, pridwin.com foothills of the Crimean Moun- ing in the Israeli army, might second novel, “The Betrayers.” tains, he encounters aformer disobey orders to evict set- Sound Beach author Patricia The first involves Baruch roommate from Soviet days — tlers? CHETTE HA 2014 Chapple Kotler, a64-year-old Israeli also Jewish, also aZionist — Bezmozgis, who was born 5, Wright politician who cheated on his who years before denounced in Riga, Latvia, and emigrated working on for four years discusses and wife with amuch younger Kotler to the KGB as an Ameri- to Canada as aboy, writes seem irrelevant or dated. He signs copies woman. Soon enough we learn can spy. extraordinarily well about need not have worried.

OCTOBER of “High that Kotler, aworld-renowned As the clever plot builds to a Zionism and the complex Though the pitch-perfect Moon Over Soviet Jewish dissident, was climax, Bezmozgis explores politics and social issues in dialogue occasionally lapses the Amazon: betrayed by aputative political larger, ever thornier questions modern-day Israel and the into speechifying, Bezmozgis, My Quest to ally, the prime minister, who of loyalty and treachery. With lands of the former Soviet for the most part, has created SUNDAY, Understand secretly arranged to leak what or whom does one keep Union. Earlier this year, he an utterly believable and the Monkeys of the Night.” At photos of the affair to the absolute faith? Are there cer- wrote apiece for The New memorable cast of characters 5p.m., Canio’s Books, 290 Main media because Kotler resisted tain bedrock principles and Yorker, worrying that the whose passions and problems St., Sag Harbor; 631-725-4926, pressure to go along with the promises made to family, uprising in Ukraine might are as timeless as the allure

NEWSDAY, caniosbooks.com ruling coalition’s plan to dis- nation or ideology that one make the novel he’d been of aBlack Sea summer resort.