Our first virtual Short Story Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Today a group of us convened virtually for our first Open Book Productions short story discussion group. Thanks to Stephanie Feldman for leading a great discussion! The subject for discussion was the short story “The Third and Final Continent” by Jhumpa Lahiri, from her collection Interpreter of Maladies. The story is told by an Indian man who comes to the United States in 1969 to work at MIT and who will soon be joined by his wife from his arranged marriage. Prior to her arrival, he rents a room in the home of Mrs. Croft, an elderly woman in Cambridge. One thing that struck me from this discussion is how much depth a talented writer like Lahiri can embed in a short story. We were able to unravel so many themes: the immigrant leaving his homeland and becoming a stranger in a strange place (learning to eat cornflakes instead of rice for breakfast), relationships — with mothers, with new brides — culture, community, family, hope. We were really able to step into the narrator’s life and gain an understanding of what was meant by the title of the story, what the “third and final continent” really was. Was it America? Was it death? Read the story and see! And join us for the next short story Lunch ‘n’ Learn! Details...
Amnesty by Aravind Adiga
A selection for my Spring 2020 “Hot Off the Press” book discussion class. The class enjoyed reading this book by a writer whose debut novel, The White Tiger, won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. Here’s a quick plot summary: Danny—formerly Dhananjaya Rajaratnam—is an illegal immigrant in Sydney, Australia, denied refugee status after he fled from Sri Lanka. Working as a cleaner, living out of a grocery storeroom, for three years he’s been trying to create a new identity for himself. And now, with his beloved vegan girlfriend, Sonja, with his hidden accent and highlights in his hair, he is as close as he has ever come to living a normal life. But then one morning, Danny learns a female client of his has been murdered. He thinks he knows who the murderer is, but turning him in means exposing his own illegal status. Click HERE for my video...
The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess
I’m always attracted to books about writing and books about publishing, since I inhabit those worlds, and this book promised both. It’s one of several I plan to read about women who wish to write, since I am one of those as well, and I am also writing a novel about a woman who is struggling to write. This book is set mostly in 1987, at which time I actually was working as an editorial assistant in a New York publishing house, so there was that to compel me to read the book as well. In the end, it wasn’t really a book about a woman who wanted to write. Well, she did express plenty of desire to write, and told of writerly insecurity and many thwarted attempts at composing short stories, but really it was more a book about literary hobnobbing. The protagonist finds herself becoming part of the world of a New Yorker writer and his poet wife at their Cape Cod summer house, and becomes enmeshed in their lives in a salacious (and dare I say predictable?) way. One thing leads to another leads to a great big sloppy drunken exposé leads to consquences, corrective action (where possible), and then finishes with strong hints that the protagonist will wind up with the boy you thought she was going to wind up with in the first place, despite detours. And does she wind up writing? Sure. But that didn’t seem to be what the book was really all hot and bothered...
Virtual Book Discussions
Convene for a virtual book discussion led by Lynn Rosen! CROSSING TO SAFETY by Wallace Stegner Many readers cite this novel, published in 1987, as one of their favorites. Let’s explore why! Stegner, who was a much-celebrated writer in his time, writes a moving story of two married couples, their relationships and friendships, as well as their career and health challenges over their decades of acquaintance. It’s a look at love and friendship as well as at the writing and the academic life, not to mention a book filled with gorgeous description of natural beauty.Join our discussion of this complex, insightful, and evergreen novel by a treasured American writer! DATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 29th, 7PM – 8:15PMCOST: $25Sign...
Lunch ‘n’ Learn Short Story Discussion Class
Discuss one story in this bite-sized 45 minute class. Stories are available online; links to be provided ahead of time. Now announcing three new classes to be led by Stephanie Feldman! Here’s what attendees had to say about Stephanie’s earlier class: “It took me out of my comfort space to have to speak to a group in a safe space.” “This was something I have not done before, read a short story by an author I had not read before. It was for me, personal enrichment.” “I love hearing how everyone made certain connections to the story and everyone’s interpretations.” Register HERE “Interesting Facts” by Adam JohnsonDESCRIPTION: A woman with cancer faces her own mortality, as her children retreat into imagination and a beautiful rival befriends her famous husband.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Adam Johnson is the author of Fortune Smiles, winner of the National Book Award, and The Orphan Master’s Son, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Johnson’s other awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers’ Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and a Stegner Fellowship. He teaches creative writing at Stanford University and lives in San Francisco.Led by: Stephanie FeldmanDATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 22nd, 12:15PM – 1:00PMCOST: $20Sign up HERE “Walkdog” by Sofia SamatarDESCRIPTION: A high school student’s term paper about a local legend reveals a story of first love and bullying—and a desperate plea for help.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sofia Samatar is the author of the novels A Stranger in Olondria and The Winged Histories, the short story collection, Tender, and Monster Portraits, a collaboration with her brother, the artist Del Samatar. Her work has won several awards, including the World Fantasy Award. She teaches African literature, Arabic literature, and speculative fiction at James Madison University.Led by: Stephanie FeldmanDATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 29th, 12:15PM – 1:00PMCOST: $20Sign up HERE “Farangs” by Rattuwut LapcharoensapDESCRIPTION: A young Thai man finds love with an American tourist, and must choose where his loyalty lies.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rattawut Lapcharoensap, BA, Cornell University. MFA, University of Michigan is author of Sightseeing, a collection of short stories, which received the Asian American Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. His work has appeared in Granta, One Story, The Guardian, Zoetrope, Best New American Voices, and Best American Non-Required Reading, among others. He is a recipient of a Whiting Writer’s Award, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honor, and many more honors.Led by: Stephanie FeldmanDATE/TIME: Wednesday, may 6thn 12:15PM – 1:00PMCOST: $20Sign up HERE Join one class, or join them all! Special price available if you sign up for the series of three. Register...