Last Night's Reading: Illustrated Encounters with Extraordinary Authors

by Kate Gavino

Irresistible illustrations of authors and the charming, wise, and hilarious things they say at their readings

Why do we go to book readings? For a chance to see the authors we love come to life off the page, answering our questions and proving to be the brilliant, witty people we catch glimpses of through their work. Illustrator Kate Gavino captures the wonder of this experience firsthand. At every reading she attends, Kate hand-letters the event’s most memorable quote alongside a charming portrait of the author. In Last Night’s Reading, Kate takes us on her journey through the literary world, sharing illustrated insight from more than one hundred of today’s greatest writers—including Zadie Smith, Junot Diaz, Lev Grossman, Elizabeth Gilbert, and many more—on topics ranging from friendship and humor to creativity and identity. A celebration of authors, reading, and bookstores, this delightful collection is an advice book like no other and a love letter to the joy of seeing your favorite author up close and personal.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Graphic Novels, Art, Writing, Memoir, Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Kate Gavino is a writer and illustrator. She is the creator of the website, Last Night's Reading, which was compiled into a published collection by Penguin Books in 2015. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker online, the Believer, BuzzFeed, Oprah.com, and more. She was named one of Brooklyn Magazine's 30 Under 30. Her second book, Sanpaku, was published by BOOM! Studios in 2018.

Reviews

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was obviously a very fast read, and not all of the drawings of authors really looked like who they were supposed to be. Still, this was fun and inspiring. Some of the author quotes and corresponding drawings are suitable for framing, so I'm contemplating buying another copy of the book for that purpose.

[Book Riot Community]

This is another amazing choice for readers and writers. Gavino attends a TON of readings, and she picks the most inspirational quote from the event, and captures it in ink. This is full of inspiration about writing, reading, working, and life, and is a great gift for book lovers and aspiring writers. I love that she'll never run out of material!


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[Brandi Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I met Kate at a cocktail hour at The Strand and she was drawing portraits for people. A friend and I sat together while she drew us and it was lovely talking with her. Obviously I had to buy her book and I was able to read the whole thing in one subway ride. It was so delightful, and I love the concept of her Tumblr.

[Barbara (The Bibliophage) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I'll go on record saying I'm jealous. I want to be able to go to more book readings, but I live in a small city without much chance nearby. New Yorker Kate Gavino goes to lots of readings, and keeps a record with drawing of authors and their wise and funny quotes. It's a quick and fun read!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author attends many book signings and readings where she listens to the author and she doodles. The book is a remembrance of a year of listening to authors and presenting the wisest or wittiest quotation from the authors. Some profound. Some witty. Some droll. Some puzzling. Very quick read in one session.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming compendium of quotes from a variety of authors and a unique tribute to the joy and importance of book readings. I will return to this book again and again.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine, but had so little context that it was really boring. A quote and a portrait of the author? I feel like someone printed a tumblr and stapled the pages together. Even when something originates as a blog, people usually flesh it out before publishing. This needs way more content.

[Aishe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just really loved this. It was a perfect pocket companion, and beautiful. Provided food for thought, I'll be contemplating some of these quotes for some time yet.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, adorable, little collection of author quotes on different subjects, along with winsome illustrations. A very quick read. Margaret- you would love this!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un mosaico precioso de autores e inspiración. Además, lo compré en Strand. Y me vino firmado por la autora. Qué más se puede pedir.

[Doreena Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cool little book to read! A really neat way to keep track of all your author book readings by making an awesome illustrated book out of them!

[✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick and simple read but had a lot of standout quotes
Trigger Warnings: discussion of death, tiny bit of sexism

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. I liked the quotes and the sketches. I read this in a hammock overlooking a lovely field and it was a great respite.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those books that you're like: why is this a book? It should have stayed a mediocre tumblr (which is not a diss, that's where it originated). *I* could attend book readings and write down quotes and then accompany the quotes with a shitty portrait of the author. Which is what she did. The pictures are truuuly bad, most of them look not even remotely close to the person they are depicting. Some of the quotes are cool, but she gets no props for that, because all she did was write them down. I'm also jealous that this got to be a book, if I did something this mediocre/borderline shitty penguin wouldn't publish it. Or maybe they would...what up penguin, get at me! I can muster up something shitty for you, too!

[Yaritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvelous book that brings together authors quotes about life with illustrations of each author. I love that I completely understand the feeling of going to book signings and panels because you are able to dive into the authors thoughts and feelings about there works. I truly enjoy this book. The illustrations perfectly resembled each author. Plus loved the wonderful map of NYC that shows all the different book stores and events that I have been to myself.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this, simply because it was not at all what I expected. However, it is a nice little book of quotes from dozen's of authors and it was enjoyable to read. It would make a nice gift for a bookish person.

[BirdiesBookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

An truly magical and pint-sized book full of quotes from the most beloved authors of our time. The perfect present for that book lover in your life. I know I will revisit this again and again to remind myself of the joys of reading.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Gavino goes to tons of book signings in NYC and illustrates the authors while she's there. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful & eye-catching. She's super talented, and this is a great coffee table book full of fun and inspirational quotes by those authors.

[Anmiryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and inspirational -- as I had expected from my trolling of the author's tumblr. This little book is a great gift to any reader or writer.

[Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, quick, yet deeply whimsical read. Full of lovely pools of inspiration, depth, passion, and so many wonderful words from so many wonderful authors! :-)

[Shari Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to pick up and page through from time to time. It makes a great gift for any book lover.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Gavino attends many author events. At each, she draws the author and adds her favorite quote from the event. This book is a wonderful compilation of these events.

[Zachary Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Writing is a solitary activity, but at a reading, writers are with their audience, talking about what matters most to them. They are excited! They are tipsy! They are wise!"

I need to go to more book talks and I am incredibly jealous that Kate Gavino has managed to attend events with so many titans in the literary world. This very cute and short book is a series of author portraits accompanied with Gavino's favorite quote from their book talks. Not all of the quotes were great, but there were a few that were fantastic and it made me miss the excitement and energy that one gets from being at these events with like minded people. Is this book worth *checks back cover* $16? Maybe not in this economy, but alas it was a fun library pick and a good investment of 20 minutes. Highly recommend.

Favorite Quotes:
-"To be a good optimist, you have a to be a good cynic, too... intelligent optimism is able to beat cynism at its own game." - Colum McCann
-"A piece of art can sometimes unlock you in a way nothing else has managed so far." - Rainbow Rowell
-"If you're not enjoying something, it is almost always because you're doing it too fast." - Donna Tartt
-"Get more confused" - George Saunders
-"The meaning of a story is not a static thing you have to 'get'. It occurs when a distance has been traveled." -Jonathan Franzen
-"I highly recommend failure as a form of inspiration." - Julie Otsuka
-"I love being part of the human race but I also like to stand apart and say, 'by the way, you all are disgusting.'" - Jamaica Kincaid
-"We go through life and find it's like a mist... we often don't know what it is we are aiming for, but a vague instinct tells us where to go..." - Kazuo Ishiguro
-"I have very little fear of getting older, but I live in constant dread that an evil genie will make me relive my twenties." - Elizabeth Gilbert.

[Nicolettenat]

I liked this book as an idea more than I like it's execution. What's exciting to me is how Gavino posed (at least to me) another way of documenting or being an audience member since it has never occurred to me to draw/doodle authors at readings but I really like her form of literally/mentally taking notes and it makes me think of alternative ways to being a participatory and engaged audience member (i.e,., listening or taking notes in a more traditional and bullet-point manner).

And the thing about being a reader/person is some sentiments resonant more with one person than another, and a lot of the quotes felt gimmicky or cliche to me. Often, I really wanted more context to the quote and what the overall speaker was saying. For example, I'm so intrigued by Meghan O'Rouke's statement that "Part of being a poet is being a failed musician," that I want to hear more of her thoughts surrounding it, or what lead her to particular delivery. In essence, there's a sense of incompleteness reading this text, and that can feel a bit frustrating or unfulfilling at times.

Also I really wanted Gavino to document ~*where*~ she was hearing these authors along with the dates, because I think that would have been a great opportunity to get these places that Gavino so clearly cherishes into our peoples radar and would have encouraged more people to support their local and independent bookstores and libraries by the constant reference of where she attended these events!

TLDR: I love this as an independent project someone made, more than I liked it as a reader.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a NYC kick lately - well, an illustrator's NYC - and this was perfect for my quarantine reading.

Kate Gavino's slim book is filled with gorgeous portraits of the authors (what a line-up!) she saw at various readings in and around NYC. She attempts to answer the question, "Why do we go to readings?" In doing so, she gives us some beautiful illustrations, lush colors, and some thought -provoking quotes, which are worth tacking up on the bulletin board for inspiration.

The only downside is that I would like to see more of her panels featuring her own thoughts and reactions to each reading. I loved, and lol'd, the panel with Toni Morrison, for example. Oh! And, she may be the first author/artist I've seen capture and name the phenomena of "the cloud": that sublime after-glow you get from attending a reading. In her words: "The author's words are still buzzing around in my mind, and I have the all-consuming urge to create something. I know I'm especially inspired when I miss my subway stop."

Once again, a visual artist has made me wish I could chronicle my own experiences in pictures. As a book for writers, readers and people who love illustration, this might be a new favorite.

[Linda]

This is a beautiful little book that does nothing so well as celebrate literature. I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kate Gavino for the BEA PW Show Daily last year, ahead of its release. And she is every bit as lovely as her book.
We talked about how events build community, and that comes shining out in this book. It is full color, with different sections that divide the drawings she does. If you are ever at a reading in New York city (or nearby), and see a young Asian woman rapidly building a portrait of the reader, that might be Kate! She has even Skyped in to some readings, so there might be a person in the front row holding up a tablet, too!
Every time she goes to a reading, she does a portrait of the writer and picks a favorite quote. I love her lettering. She works in marker, which makes it bright and bold. She has a distinct style, and her quotes are divine.
She was unabashed in claiming that this book, and her ongoing attendance and drawings, are really a love letter to bookstores, and to literature. Perfect gift for anyone who loves books!

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept behind this book is really solid, in fact one I might try at book signings I go to, and as someone who goes to a lot of these types of events I was interested on seeing someone else's take but there wasn't much of the artist/author in this book so it ended up feeling like one of those great quote books where there is one or two worth remembering and the rest are meh. Plus in the full color sections it's just overworked and comes across as bad art. As for her illustrations of the authors, there's a sameness to them that takes over and you start to wonder, do they actually look anything like the drawings? In some cases, where I know what the author looks like, it's an emphatic no. Occasionally she does capture them. But also, for someone who knows A LOT of books and authors, SO MANY of those profiled in this book I haven't even heard of! Also, I think Penguin could have stepped up the production value a little a used a heavier weight paper, because there's too much see through between the pages. Cute idea, flawed execution.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love going to readings -- seeing authors I like or discovering new ones, learning about the different ways authors approach plots and characters, and getting insights into the writing process itself. This little delight of a book ihas on each page an illustration of an author and one quote from readings the writer/artist attended. They're grouped by theme of the quote, not by author, which I think is a good system. It's a quick read but one I think I will revisit in the future.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun idea. Kate Gavino attends a plethora of readings (over 100) and while partaking of the author’s selected presentation, she sketches them and adds her favorite quote of the event. This book is a selection of such. I’m most impressed with her dedication to supporting these eclectic authors. Some I have not heard of, but more that I have. Each has their own page in a relative chapter.

It’s a fun book to pull out when lit friends visit.

[Mizloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this birthday present to myself. IF it weren't a birthday present, I might demur. But the sketches of various authors are charming and the quote that made me really glad I bought the book was:
"If you're not enjoying something, it's almost always because you are doing it too fast." Donna Tartt