21st Century Literature discussion

Is there a series culminating soon or a favorite author doing a reading in your neck of the woods? Is there a new lit prize whose final pick you're eagerly awaiting? Let us know if there's an upcoming literary event or release you're excited about.

I went to hear Patrick DeWitt speak last week about his new book, French Exit. I admit I was more excited to hear him talk about the movie debut of The Sisters Brothers which comes out soon.

I loving hearing authors talk. Sometimes it zaps some of the magic around writers, but usually it makes me appreciate the books they write a lot more.

That sounds like it was a fun event, Bretnie. Sounds like DeWitt met or exceeded your expectations, yah?

Usually, I look forward to the Small Press Expo, which is next weekend, but I don't think I'm going to make it this year. I'm looking forward to the English translation of My Struggle: The End (although, it'll probably be a while until I get to it because this group keeps voting for such interesting reads).

I'm looking forward to the announcements of the National Book Awards longlists, especially translated books (Sept 12) and fiction (Sept 14), even though I still have 3 Booker longlist books to read!

I have two literary events to look forward to, but neither is really local. The first is the Goldsmiths lecture / shortlist announcement in a couple of weeks time (last year's will be hard to beat, as the lecture was by Ali Smith and I met a few of my Mookse friends for the first time, this year the lecturer is Elif Shafak (I have not read anything by her), and there is a Richard Powers reading in London on the same night, which will take precedence for some). The second event is a Booker shortlist readings event in Sheffield in early October.

I suspect that the Goldsmiths shortlist will trigger more reading, and there are still two books on the Booker longlist that I will only read if they make the shortlist.

I would second Hugh on the Goldsmiths and the Booker readings (I will do the London one).

And bookwise, a new Javier Marias and a new Murakami are always cause for celebration.

I have a ticket for the Richard Powers reading that Hugh mentions. As Richard Powers is my favourite author, I am a bit star-struck at the thought of actually meeting him! I have a feeling I might clam up and gibber at him.

Marc wrote: "That sounds like it was a fun event, Bretnie. Sounds like DeWitt met or exceeded your expectations, yah?"

Yes, he did! I liked his new book, French Exit, but didn't love it (hard to live up to The Sisters Brothers), but hearing him talk about the writing process and his books really made me appreciate it more.

There's also something that I love that I can't put into words about hearing authors speak. Maybe like Neil getting to meet Richard Powers - I hold authors in such high esteem that hearing them talk like normal people (ok, not totally normal people) makes me happy.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan is being released in America next week. The author will be speaking (free) at a small space adjacent to my work place (university) here in Washington DC. It's in partnership Young African Professionals D.C. I will have to arrive early to get a seat.

Neil wrote: "I have a ticket for the Richard Powers reading that Hugh mentions. As Richard Powers is my favourite author, I am a bit star-struck at the thought of actually meeting him! I have a feeling I might ..."

I'm reading The Overstory (actually listening) and I love it. It's my first book by Powers.

Paul, I knew about the upcoming Murakami, but not the Marias book! (I still have a lot of Marias to read as I've only read his Your Face Tomorrow trilogy thus far but I was pretty blown away by it. Faves of yours re: Marias?

I feel like I just saw a poster about that Edugyan event, Barbara--hope you get a good seat!

LindaJ^, one announcement down, one to go!

Hugh, that sounds like an embarrassment of riches to me.

Neil, wishing you a wonderful event and a gibberish-free encounter. :D

Bretnie, I haven't heard too many authors speak but have enjoyed the ones I have. It is a unique experience for sure.

Marc wrote: "Hugh, that sounds like an embarrassment of riches to me."
Maybe, but they will be the first literary events I have attended since February. A lot of events start at 7 pm on weeknights, which puts London out of range if I am working on the day. There are actually plenty of events at my local independent bookshop Five Leaves, but very few that I would regard as unmissable.

Marc, thanks!

Barbara - it is not his best (in my view), so if you like it, it is worth trying some others.

Neil wrote: "Barbara - it is not his best (in my view), so if you like it, it is worth trying some others."

Barbara - Neil is right - he has written better books, especially The Time of Our Singing. For me The Overstory started better than it finished - some of it was up there with his best work but I think he tried to do to much in one book, and couldn't really bring it all together at the end...

Marc wrote: "Paul, I knew about the upcoming Murakami, but not the Marias book! (I still have a lot of Marias to read as I've only read his Your Face Tomorrow trilogy thus far but I was pretty blown away by it...."

Thanks Marc!

It’s not quite this week but soon: on Saturday 22 September I will take our poetry books to the Free Verse Poetry Book & Magazine Fair. An amazing event full of poetry. We’re launching our latest collection: The Houses Along the Wall a poetry cycle celebrating the magnificent Parrog in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Hugh wrote: "Neil wrote: "Barbara - it is not his best (in my view), so if you like it, it is worth trying some others."

Barbara - Neil is right - he has written better books, especially The Time of Our Singin..."

I'm halfway through The Overstory and will keep various thoughts I've read here in mind. But I will avoid reading too much more about the book in order to form an independent response.

Marc wrote: "Paul, I knew about the upcoming Murakami, but not the Marias book! (I still have a lot of Marias to read as I've only read his Your Face Tomorrow trilogy thus far but I was pretty blown away by it. Faves of yours re: Marias?."

All of them! Dark Back of Time for meta-fiction, but one must read All Souls (perhaps his most conventional book) first.

A Heart so White from the earlier works.

Spanish critics reviews seems to be that the new one may be his best yet.

Paul wrote: "Marc wrote: "All of them!"
Ha! Well, I loved my first experience enough that he's on the list of authors whose entire oeuvre I plan to tackle.

Barbara wrote: "Washington Black by Esi Edugyan is being released in America next week. The author will be speaking (free) at a small space adjacent to my work place (university) he..."

The event with Esi Edugyan was "lightly" attended, with about 30 plus people. The venue was a small branch of the indie bookstore Politics and Prose which just opened in June. The questions were surprisingly "good" (sometimes I get impatient with questions that I have heard so many times before, sigh). I bought the book and read the first 45 pages before things started. Her reading was slower than I am used to, and a bit longer. The best part were her responses, including describing how she decides on a storyline. She is most intrigued with historical settings, and the lives of people of African descent in those settings. She told the story of Alice Ball who developed a successful treatment for leprosy in her early 20's at the University of Hawaii, and died at the age of 22.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...
I've started the book and am already pulled in.