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This season might as well be referred to as the autumn of Junot Díaz. In the past two months, the Dominican-American author has been nominated for his second National Book Award, won a MacArthur “genius” grant, and released his third book, This Is How You Lose Her, to critical acclaim. All that fawning might inflate the egos of other authors, but Díaz remains reserved; it’s clear he’d rather read the comic books favored by some of his characters than draw additional attention to himself. His new collection involves Yunior, a character who’s appeared in his two previous books, and his quest for love, acceptance, and the meaning of manhood. Díaz has plenty to say about all those things, and he’ll discuss them tonight at the Sixth & I Synagogue. Perhaps he’ll even give attendees a preview of the science-fiction novel he’s rumored to be writing.
Junot Díaz reads at 7 p.m. at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. $12. sixthandi.org. (202) 408-3100.