Words on Words

Welcome to Fran's latest updates on the literary / theater / writing / cinema scene.

              SUMMER   NEWSLETTER

            I enjoyed wonderful theater at the Shaw Festival which runs from April through Oct. in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario, Canada.

            Book Expo America at the Javits Center did not disappoint.   Along with coming home with many new books to explore, I got to say hello to celebrities Patty Lupone (with a new memoir) and Bernadette Peters (a children's book), Bruce Feiler (THE COUNCIL OF DADS), Sara Gruen (APE HOUSE) and numerous others.

           At the 92nd St. Y Tribeca a panel of glorious writers - Erica Jong, playwrite Tina Howe,  Ntozake Shange, Carolyn See and Abigail Thomas hosted by co-editors Emily Upham and Linda Gravenson read from their essay contribution to the  book IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME - 32 WOMEN ON LIFE AFTER 50.    I was saddened to see Ntozake Shange (FOR COLORED GIRLS) struggle for words as she had been very ill.  Tina Howe - quite a tall presence was very funny talking about making the most of one's height.  Erica Jong could not sit still fussing with her phone and bag and notes, etc.  I was not familiar with Abigail Thomas, but after hearing her celebrate the delights of being alone, I very much want to check out her work.   Carolyn See (having difficulty doing just that) invited her daughter up to read for her.  Lots of mixed ages in the audience (not just the over 50 crowd).  The writers shared both the joys and losses of the time.   It was a very informative afternoon.

         A friend of my daughter's, Jennifer Steil just returned from 4 years in Yemen as editor of a Yemen newspaper and shares her story in THE WOMAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY: AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST IN YEMEN.    We went to hear her speak in Chelsea.   Her story is amazing.

        I was delighted to hear Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (a young, beautiful, dynamic, Nigerian writer who won numerous awards) speak at the Center for Fiction-The Center for Fiction

  Her first work was PURPLE HYBISCUS.   We'll be discussing HALF OF A YELLOW SUN and she read from her latest, a collection of short stories called, THE THING AROUND MY NECK.   What was equally wonderful about this event is that it also highlighted a number of at risk high school students who have been partnered with writers all over NY who mentor their writing.    The program is called GIRLSWRITENOW.    Check it out:   Girls Write Now | Mentoring the Next Generation of Women Writers since 1998

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Check out the web site BookTour: Where Authors and Audiences Meet                www.booktour.com

Submit your zip code and they will send you listings of all the author readings in your area.

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                    RECENTLY READ:

LACUNA - Barbara Kingsolver

LITTLE BEE - Chris Cleave

APE HOUSE - Sara Gruen (not available until Sept.)

MOLLY FOX'S BIRTHDAY - Deirdre Madden

            LOOKING FORWARD TO READING

 THE WOMAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY: AN AMERICAN

               JOURNALIST IN YEMIN- Jennifer Steil

 LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN - Colum McCann

 ZEITOUN - Dave Eggers

 TINKERS -Paul Harding

                      HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

    In theater, if you love art...RED

   In film, a wonderful adaptation (in Swedish) of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

                     HAPPY READING