The poet and essayist Camonghne Felix negotiates the misalignments of perception and reality, love and harm, and the politics of heartbreak.

When Felix goes through a monumental breakup, culminating in a hospital stay, everything—from her early childhood trauma and mental health to her relationship with mathematics—shows up in the tapestry of her healing. Diagnosed as a child with dyscalculia—a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to understand numbers and math—Felix reckons that part of herself against her miscalculations in love. Surveying her adult gambles in intimacy, she asks who gets to assert their right to pain?

Camonghne Felix speaks about her meditation on loving yourself in the face of heartbreak with multi-disciplinary artist, spiritual teacher, and musician Bunny Michael.

To join the event in-person | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

To join the livestream | A livestream of this event will be available on this NYPL event page. To receive an email reminder shortly in advance of the event, please be sure to register! If you encounter any issues, please join us on NYPL's YouTube channel.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Camonghne Felix, poet and essayist, is the author of Build Yourself a Boat, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Poetry, shortlisted for the PEN/Open Book Awards, and shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Awards. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Academy of American Poets, Freeman’s, Harvard Review, LitHub, The New Yorker, PEN America, Poetry Magazine, and elsewhere. Her essays have been featured in Vanity Fair, New York, Teen Vogue, and other places. She is a contributing writer at The Cut.

Bunny Michael is a multi-disciplinary artist who has dedicated their work to awakening higher self-consciousness on the planet- the manifestation of love within all humans deconditioned by a hierarchical thought system. Bunny uses writing, music, visual art, and social media activism to spread their message, and has given talks and performed music throughout the United States and Europe. Bunny’s debut book, Hello Higher Self, is set for publication by Little Brown in winter 2024. They also host a popular advice podcast called XO Higher Self and formerly hosted a digital series on Vice called Broadly Hotline.

READ THE BOOK:

Borrow: NYPL Catalog E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android Purchase: The Library Shop — proceeds benefit The New York Public Library Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!

COVID PROTOCOLS FOR IN-PERSON LIVE FROM NYPL PROGRAMS

Patrons are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at LIVE from NYPL events.

If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or suspect you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please stay home.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs. Livestream

Captions and a transcript will be provided. Media used over the course of the conversation will be accompanied by alt text and/or audio description. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for our e-newsletters to stay up to date on upcoming events and Library offerings.

Please submit all press inquiries to Sara Beth Joren at least 48 hours before the event: email sarabethjoren@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

For all other questions and inquiries, please email publicprograms@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

476 5th Ave Map
212--93-0-0909