Because Saeed Jones is a poet, his new memoir, How We Fight for Our Lives, crackles with rich, palpably real imagery that takes his book beyond the level of a typical autobiography. “Some songs take women places men cannot follow,” the Texas native marvels in the prelude about the way his mother dances and sings along when listening to a Prince song in their kitchen. Jones takes the reader along on a tangled journey through his life growing up gay and African-American in Lewisville, Texas. He discusses his book with the incisive writer-critic Roxane Gay in a presentation from Skylight Books.

Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz; Tue., Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.; $30 (includes a copy of the book). (323) 660-1175, skylightbooks.com.

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