THE RIB KING virtutal book launch - Ladee Hubbard in conversation with Jami Attenberg

“Ladee Hubbard’s voice is a welcome original.”
—Mary Gaitskill

Join us virtually for an exciting evening celebrating the launch of author Ladee Hubbard's highly anticipated new novel, THE RIB KING. She will appear in conversation with author Jami Attenberg.

Registration is required to participate. Please click the Register Now button or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-rib-king-virtutal-book-launch-ladee-hubbard-wjami-attenberg-registration-136620137509.

Each paid registration admits one person to the online event and includes a choice one signed copy of Ladee Hubbard's THE RIB KING or Jami Attenberg's latest book, ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS. Deluxe registration (recommended) includes a copy of both titles. Access instructions to the event will be emailed to registrants.


Upstairs, Downstairs meets Parasite: The acclaimed author of The Talented Ribkins deconstructs painful African American stereotypes and offers a fresh and searing critique on race, class, privilege, ambition, exploitation, and the seeds of rage in America in this intricately woven and masterfully executed historical novel, set in early twentieth century that centers around the black servants of a down-on-its heels upper-class white family.

The Rib King centers on the employees of the Barclay family, a once wealthy family who are desperately trying to keep up appearances of their wealth. Their groundskeeper, August Sitwell, has been with the Barclays for almost as long as he can remember, having been taken in as an orphan, and takes a special interest in their new maid, Jennie, and harbors a soft spot for helping to take care of the three male orphans, all just under twelve, who the Barclay’s have also recently taken on. The Barclay’s cook, Miss Mamie, looks on as August protects the orphans from multiple horrific happenings as the race riots begin in Chicago.

When a promising opportunity arises for the Barclay family, Mr. Barclay jumps at the chance—selling Miss Mamie’s secret homemade rib sauce. Though the deal soon falls through, Mr. Barclay takes a chance and decides to mass produce the sauce himself; and uses August as the caricature on the front of the bottle. When August realizes he, nor Miss Mamie, will ever see profits from this deal, and more enraged than ever from a haunting past, his anger explodes with horrifying consequences.

A decade later, Jennie is trying to create and sustain a successful life for herself and her daughter. As she sets out to try and secure a home for her hair care balm, she finds she continues to be faced time and time again with her haunting past, what really happened in the Barclay’s house, who August has become after that fateful night, and the web that seems to have been spun around her of August Sitwell. Through The Rib King, an eye-opening look at race, class, exploitation, Black stereotypes, and more is explored.


Ladee Hubbard is the author of The Talented Ribkins, which received the 2018 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, the Times Literary Supplement, Copper Nickel, and Callaloo. She received a 2016 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award as well as fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Art Omi, the Sacatar Foundation, the Sustainable Arts Foundation, Hedgebrook, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Born in Massachusetts and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, she currently lives in New Orleans with her husband and three children.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All Grown Up. She has contributed essays to the New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, and Longreads, among other publications. She lives in New Orleans.

Event date: 

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Event address: 

Zoom on line
The Rib King: A Novel By Ladee Hubbard Cover Image
$27.99
Email or call for price
ISBN: 9780062979063
Published: Amistad - January 19th, 2021

The acclaimed author of The Talented Ribkins deconstructs painful African American stereotypes and offers a fresh and searing critique on race, class, privilege, ambition, exploitation, and the seeds of rage in America in this intricately woven and masterfully executed historical novel, set in early the twentieth century that centers around the black servants of a down-on-its heels upper-class white family.


All This Could Be Yours By Jami Attenberg Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780358361336
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ecco - September 15th, 2020

From critically acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Jami Attenberg comes a novel of family secrets: think the drama of Big Little Lies set in the heat of a New Orleans summer.

“If I know why they are the way they are, then maybe I can learn why I am the way I am,” says Alex Tuchman of her parents.


The Talented Ribkins By Ladee Hubbard Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781612197289
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Melville House - August 7th, 2018

Winner of the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer's Award
Winner of the William Faulkner, William Wisdom Prize
An INDIE NEXT pick
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee


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