Hot Off the Press Spring 2020
In this lively monthly book discussion class led by Lynn Rosen, participants read and discuss new literary fiction. Class conversations include a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the book as well as background information provided by Lynn about the author and the book’s path to publication. We talk serious book talk, but have a lot of laughs too! Class meets on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm. CLASS DATES:February 26March 25April 22May 20June 17LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA 19027COST: $160Sign up HERE.Books are not included and can be purchased by class members at a discount from Open Book Bookstore. CLASS READING SCHEDULE: February 26American Dirt by Jeanine CumminsTells of the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an undocumented immigrant to the United States with her son. This book has created a great literary controversy about cultural appropriation, which will also be part of our discussion. March 25Amnesty by Aravind AdigaA riveting, suspenseful, and exuberant novel from the bestselling, Man Booker Prize–winning author of The White Tiger and Selection Day about a young illegal immigrant who must decide whether to report crucial information about a murder—and thereby risk deportation. April 22Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang“Startlingly original and deeply moving…. Chang here establishes herself as one of the most important of the new generation of American writers.” — George SaundersEqual parts tender and humorous, and told in spare but powerful prose, Days of Distraction is an offbeat coming-of-adulthood tale, a touching family story, and a razor-sharp appraisal of our times. May 20Afterlife by Julia AlvarezThe first adult novel in almost fifteen years by the internationally bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts happen. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves, but she finds that the world demands more of her than words. June 17The Book of V by Anna SolomonA bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power, and desire finally converge in the present...
A Celebration of Jewish American Women Writers
A half-day event for readers offering a chance to mingle with writers DATE: Sunday, April 30, 2017 TIME: 9am to 2pm LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA (See below for location details.) Event sponsored by Open Book Bookstore and Congregation Keneseth Israel Much of the vital new work in Jewish American letters is being done by women. These women writers are bravely exploring what it means to be Jewish in America today, and what being Jewish brings to the act of creating literature. Join us in a day of literary celebration with a group of well-known Jewish American women authors. Many of them will be introducing and reading from their new novels. They will talk about what being Jewish means to their work, about writing and life, about passion and activism, about history and about life today, and above all, about how they create meaningful literature. The day will include talks and readings by the authors, ample opportunity for questions from attendees, book signings, a morning “bagel break,” and a catered buffet lunch with the authors. Authors attending include: Elinor Lipman Lauren Grodstein Pam Jenoff Nomi Eve Stephanie Feldman Dana Bate Janet Benton Amy Sue Nathan Ellen Umansky Conference Agenda 9-9:30am Arrival and registration. Coffee, tea & snacks are served. Bookstore and book signing tables open. 9:30 Programming begins. 9:30 – 9:40 Welcome by Lynn Rosen, Open Book Bookstore. “How women writers are redefining American Jewish literature.” 9:40 – 9:50 Nomi Eve: “What it means to be a Jewish writer and part of a Jewish community. 9:50 – 10:10 Author Readings Dana Bate, author of Too Many Cooks Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Good Neighbor 10:10: 10:30 Lauren Grodstein “Being Jewish and being a writer – and a writing teacher.” Plus an introduction to her new book, Our Short History, and a reading from the book. 10:30 – 10:50 Janet Benton, author of Lilli de Jong “The pre-publication jitters: Two weeks before the on-sale date of her debut novel, Benton tells about the journey that got her to this point.” 10:50 – 11:10 Bagel break. Bookstore and book signing tables open. 11:10 – 11:20 Stephanie Feldman, author of The Angel of Losses “Writing, activism, and Jewish identity.” Stephanie will talk about her book and also her work running the Philadelphia chapter of WritersResist. 11:20 – 11:40 Elinor Lipman “On Jewish women’s writing and humor.” Humor has always been an important part of the Jewish experience. Lipman is known for her witty and entertaining books. She will address how she uses humor in her writing, and talk about and...
Hot Off the Press Spring 2020
In this lively monthly book discussion class led by Lynn Rosen, participants read and discuss new literary fiction. Class conversations include a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the book as well as background information provided by Lynn about the author and the book’s path to publication. We talk serious book talk, but have a lot of laughs too! Class meets on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm. CLASS DATES: February 26 March 25 April 22 May 20 June 17 LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA 19027 COST: $160 Sign up HERE. Books are not included and can be purchased by class members at a discount from Open Book Bookstore. CLASS READING SCHEDULE: February 26 American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins Tells of the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an undocumented immigrant to the United States with her son. This book has created a great literary controversy about cultural appropriation, which will also be part of our discussion. March 25 Amnesty by Aravind Adiga A riveting, suspenseful, and exuberant novel from the bestselling, Man Booker Prize–winning author of The White Tiger and Selection Day about a young illegal immigrant who must decide whether to report crucial information about a murder—and thereby risk deportation. April 22 Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang “Startlingly original and deeply moving…. Chang here establishes herself as one of the most important of the new generation of American writers.” — George Saunders Equal parts tender and humorous, and told in spare but powerful prose, Days of Distraction is an offbeat coming-of-adulthood tale, a touching family story, and a razor-sharp appraisal of our times. May 20 Afterlife by Julia Alvarez The first adult novel in almost fifteen years by the internationally bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts happen. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves, but she finds that the world demands more of her than words. June 17 The Book of V by Anna Soloman A bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power, and desire finally converge in the present...
Dinner with an Author with Ron Rash on September 27th
Our popular “Dinner with an Author” is back! Join us for dinner and a conversation with author Ron Rash, who will be visiting Philadelphia on September 27th for an event at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Prior to the event, join him at a private dinner to take about his body of work, his writing life, and his new novel The Risen. After dinner we will go as a group to the Free Library event, which includes author Colson Whitehead. DATE: Tuesday, September 27 TIME: 5:15pm to 6:45pm LOCATION: Le Pain Quotidien at the Granary, 1937 Callowhill Street (just behind the Free Library) SIGN UP HERE Ron Rash is the author of the 2009 PEN/Faulkner finalist and New York Times bestseller Serena and Above the Waterfall, in addition to four prizewinning novels, four collections of poems, and six collections of stories. His stories are set in his native Appalachia, and his poetic writing style and powerful narrative voice and characterization bring the setting to life and highlight the universal challenges and tragedies that play out against this vivid backdrop. His new novel, The Risen, is the suspenseful and evocative tale of two brothers whose lives are altered irrevocably by the events of one long-ago summer—and one bewitching young woman—and the secrets that could destroy their lives. Twice the recipient of the O. Henry Prize, Ron Rash teaches at Western Carolina University. Lynn’s note: I first discovered Ron Rash upon reading Serena. I was immediately hooked by the astounding opening scene, and the characters and the setting of that novel have never left me. The character of Serena ably shoulders the mantle of Lady Macbeth and it was hard to take my attention away from the havoc she wreaks. COST: Dinner: $45 Copies of the author’s recent books, including THE RISEN (published 9/6/16) are available at a discount to attendees. Inquire at lynn@openbookphilly.com. SIGN UP HERE...
Genre Writing Classes
Open Book presents Genre writing classes, offering you the opportunity to try your hand at writing in a variety of genres. Each workshop is taught by an expert in a different genre. You can take a class in a genre you’re already working in, or something new, and try one, or try a few. See below for details about the classes and our talented instructors! Each class lasts an hour and a half and meets at the Open Book Bookstore in Elkins Park. Details and specific class descriptions are below. COST: Classes cost $30 each. Sign up HERE. LOCATION: Open Book Bookstore, 7900 High School Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027 CLASS DATES, DESCRIPTIONS AND INSTRUCTORS THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. NEW CLASSES WILL BEGIN IN EARLY 2017. DATE: Monday December 5 TIME: 7pm to 8:30pm TOPIC: Writing Children’s Picture Books: Creating Words & Images that Flow INSTRUCTOR: Heather Devlin Knopf CLASS DESCRIPTION: This picture book workshop will address the rhythm and flow of a great picture book in relation to words and images. We’ll analyze the beginning, middle, and end of a picture book; pagination for impact; and the importance of editing one’s work. Tip sheets and exercises will provide learning support with a Q&A session to follow. If you are working on a picture book, or have always wanted to create one, join us! TEACHER BIO: Heather Devlin Knopf is a Philadelphia-based artist/illustrator, writer, and educator who works in a variety of mixed media. Knopf teaches at Moore College of Art and Design within the departments of illustration and design and at Philadelphia University with the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce. She is currently working on her next picture book, as well as a series of monotypes entitled 196 Women. Learn more at www.heatherknopf.com. Sign up HERE. MORE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED FOR TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT WRITERS. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN THOSE CLASSES, EMAIL US! NOTE: All tickets are non-refundable. ...