Book Markers 05.30.13

Claire Reed Toughs It Out

    Claire Reed left behind a privileged life of country clubs and golf outings to wade hip deep into the feminist fights, civil rights struggles, and disarmament movement of the latter part of the last century. She would become a tireless organizer and activist for a number of progressive nonprofits, and the right-hand woman of Bella Abzug leading up to and during Abzug’s Congressional career.

    All of which Ms. Reed documents in “Toughing It Out: From Silver Slippers to Combat Boots,” out recently from the Feminist Press. Ms. Reed, a former East Hampton resident and still a visitor here, will read from the book on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Canio’s Books in Sag Harbor.

Ashawagh Alights

    There are writers workshops and then there are writers workshops. One of the particularly well-liked and better-thought-of groups in these parts, Marijane Meaker’s Ashawagh Hall Writers Workshop, every year arranges readings for its members at the East Hampton Library on the first Monday and Tuesday of the months of June, July, and August.

    On Monday and Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., writers will be in the library’s Bendheim Room to share what they’ve been working on, from fiction to creative nonfiction, and to field questions.