Point Street Reading Series brings authors, book lovers together

May 20 was the third Tuesday of the month, which meant it was time for the Point Street Reading Series, Rhode Island’s newest – and perhaps only – reading series.

Started by Robin Kall-Homonoff  two months ago, the Point Street Reading Series brings authors together to read aloud from their recently published works to an audience of book lovers. The series is held at the popular bar Point Street Dueling Pianos, in Providence’s Davol Square.

Kall-Homonoff, of East Greenwich, who is known throughout the region for promoting literature, greeted each guest and warmly introduced each author.  On this Tuesday,  Camille Perri, Christopher Boucher, Ellen Herrick, Dawn Tripp and Cristina Alger read to an audience of 80 to 90 people.

From a book about workers who funnel money out of their workplace to pay student loans to a possum who accompanies a narrator to pick up a piano, the excerpts were varied and novel. Each author had his or her own reading style: Some were calm, some animated, some used a different voice for each character. 

One author announced that part of her reading was “saucy,” drawing a happy “woohoo!” from one audience member.  Another even included a banjo performance.

One thing the authors seemed to have in common is their affection for the event organizer.

“She is a force of nature,” Herrick said of Kall-Homonoff before the evening began. “She has an energy unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Herrick said that when she was initially invited to read, and learned that the event was being organized by Kall-Homonoff, her first thought was, “Of course! Anything for her.”

Lover of all things literary and affectionately known to some as “the Fairy Bookmother,” Kall-Homonoff said she planned the series as a relaxed evening of listening, chilling out and appreciation. 

“My main goal is creating a sense of community about something I’m really passionate about, which is reading. The pure joy of reading,” she said.

Until recently, Kall-Homonoff hosted a radio talk show, “Reading with Robin,” and she still holds “Evening with Authors,” an annual breast cancer fundraiser in October. 

For the May 20 readings, the Brown University Bookstore set up a table at Dueling Pianos with a display of the books being read, which could then be taken to another table to be signed by the authors. There was also a raffle for the books that would be read from at the June 21 session, which Kall-Homonoff is looking forward to.

“It’s a community builder,” Kall-Homonoff said of the series. “I’m thrilled. I think it’s just going to build.”

Dueling Pianos is located at 3 Davol Square in Providence. For more information, visit readingwithrobin.com or the Point Street Reading Series on Facebook. Reservation are not required to attend the event, which is free, and free parking is available.  Groups of four or more may request a table at robin@readingwithrobin.com.

ARIEL BROTHMAN is a freelance writer who lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts.