The Salinger Mystique: An Open Book Reader Retreat
Explore the life and work of J.D. Salinger with the authors of two recent books about this brilliant and reclusive writer. DATE: Sunday, June 7 TIME: Noon to 3:00pm LOCATION: Whitpain Farm, Blue Bell, PA J. D. Salinger, who gained great fame for The Catcher in the Rye and his artful short stories published regularly in The New Yorker, lived the latter part of his life as a recluse in New Hampshire, leaving fans to speculate why he withdrew from the world at large and what he was writing. In this event, we’ll meet and hear from two authors who, like many others, are entranced and preoccupied by this talented, odd, and practically mythic author. The New York Times calls Thomas Beller’s new book J. D. Salinger: The Escape Artist “a short, sensitive and irresistible biography.” The book has received wide acclaim and just won the New York City Best Book Award for biography/memoir. Beller, an experienced writer and speaker, will share with us his insights into Salinger’s life and work. Joanna Rakoff’s My Salinger Year has also garnered numerous awards from The Guardian to GoodReads and more. When she was in her early 20s, Rakoff took a job as an assistant to Salinger’s literary agent, and found herself swept up into the literary life of New York in the 1990s, answering Salinger’s fan mail as she found her own literary voice. Join us for an afternoon of literary leisure and pleasure, combining the keynote talks from these two esteemed authors who are visiting Philadelphia specifically for this event, along with an intro to Salinger by Lynn Rosen and a delicious light lunch, all in a beautiful country setting! SCHEDULE Noon: Arrive & Register: meet & mingle; browse the Open Book pop-up bookstore 12:15: Lunch buffet opens 12:30: Welcome by Lynn Rosen: The J.D. Salinger Refresher & Overview 1:00pm: Keynote author talks and Q&A with Thomas Beller and Joanna Rakoff 2:15–3:00pm: Coffee/tea/dessert and chat with the authors; book signing. The Reader Retreat is a wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours on a Sunday meeting authors and talking about books with other readers. The event takes place at Whitpain Farm, an historic colonial-era manor house in Blue Bell, PA. (Directions to be provided.) Cost: $75* Includes lunch, author keynote presentations, and copies of J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist and My Salinger Year. *Inquire about special discounts for students (ID required) and for Whitpain Farm residents. To register click here! With questions...
Hot Off the Press: Winter/Spring 2015
A new session of Hot Off the Press is beginning! In this monthly book discussion class, participants read works of new fiction just as they are being published. Class discussions include analysis of the book as well as background information about the author and the book’s path to publication. We talk serious book talk, but have a lot of laughs too! I will be holding two sections of this class: Option 1: Monday mornings, 9:30am to 11am Dates: February 23rd, March 16th, April 13th, May 11th, June 8th Option 2: Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 8:30pm Dates: February 18th, March 18th, April 15th, May 13th, June 10th Location: The Open Book Bookstore at 7900 High School Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 Cost: $135 SIGN UP HERE: https://squareup.com/market/open-book/hot-off-the-press-class-spring-1 Class members also receive discounts if they purchase their class books from the Open Book Bookstore. Here are the book selections: February West of Sunset by Stewart O’Nan O’Nan is highly regarded by critics for his fiction. (We read his book The Odds in an earlier class.) This new book explores the last few years of the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald when he was a Hollywood screenwriter. March Welcome to Braggsville by T. Geronimo JohnsonFrom the PEN/Faulkner finalist comes a dark and socially provocative Southern-fried comedy about four liberal UC Berkeley students who stage a mock lynching during a Civil War re-enactment. April The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro It’s been 10 years since his previous book, Never Let Me Go. This mythical novel is set in Arthurian England and takes the form of a quest story, but the heroes are not knights—they’re an elderly couple. May I Refuse by Per Petterson, trans. by Don Bartlett The first new novel in nearly five years by the international bestselling novelist (Out Stealing Horses) is a haunting and tender story of friendship between two boys whose bond is shaken after an incident on the ice, told from different perspectives and from different time periods. June A God In Ruins by Kate AtkinsonKate Atkinson follows up her die-and-redo epic, Life After Life, with a story centering on Life After Life protagonist Ursula Todd’s younger brother, Teddy, an RAF bomber pilot and would-be...
Dinner with a Poem
At this lively — and delicious! — evening event, join award-winning poet Lynn Levin for a talk on appreciating poetry, play a poetry game, have the opportunity to recite some poems yourself, and partake of a delicious two-course dinner in the private dining room at Park Plates. Poetry can speak to the soul, but many of us feel a little unsure about our ability to understand and appreciate poetry. At this event, we’ll have fun with poetry and gain a greater understanding of its beauty and power. DATE: Wednesday, May 20th TIME: 7pm to 9pm PLACE: Park Plates, Elkins Park, PA COST: $45 Reservations required. Sign up here. Email lynn@lynnrosen.com with questions. HIGHLIGHTS: Award-winning poet Lynn Levin on: What is a poem? Why do we need poetry? What makes a good poem? She’ll use examples of poems you can sink your teeth into. Poetry icebreaker games Write your own poem, a “cameo cinquaine” Recite a poem yourself, perhaps even one you still remember from grade school! Eat delicious food from Park Plates chef Locke Johnston BYO wine & beer CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP. Reservations required. Email lynn@lynnrosen.com to register and with any...
Celebrate HENNA HOUSE Book Club #100 with Author Nomi Eve!
DATE: Thursday, May 14th TIME: 7pm to 8:30pm LOCATION: Elkins Park Train Station, corner of Spring and Park Aves., Elkins Park, PA 19027 Have you read HENNA HOUSE by our beloved Elkins Park author Nomi Eve? This captivating novel tells the story of Adela Damari, a young woman living in the fascinating and rarely portrayed community of Yemenite Jews in the mid-twentieth century, In order to spread the word and share the book with readers, last year Nomi undertook what she calls her “100 Book Club Challenge.” The goal: to visit 100 book clubs and discuss HENNA HOUSE with them all. Mission accomplished! This busy author has covered the city and traveled to other cities as well, both virtually and in real time, to meet with readers who are passionate about her new book. And we, the Open Book Bookstore, are THRILLED that we are hosting the big 1-0-0! And you are all invited! Please join us on Thursday evening, May 14th, at 7pm for a book club discussion and a festive celebration of Nomi Eve’s completion of the 100 Book Club challenge! (Even though we know Nomi won’t stop and she’ll keep visiting readers and sharing the love whenever she can!) A special feature of the celebration: a henna artist will be there to create beautiful designs for (on) you! This event is free and open to the public. All are...
A Reading and Conversation with Poet Sonia Sanchez
DATE: Sunday, May 17th TIME: 3pm to 4:30pm LOCATION: Elkins Park Train Station, corner of Spring & Park Avenues The list of Sonia Sanchez’s accomplishments goes on and on . . . Poet. Mother. Professor. National and International lecturer on Black Culture and Literature, Women’s Liberation, Peace and Racial Justice. Award-winner. We are thrilled to be welcoming Philadelphia’s first Poet Laureate to Elkins Park for a reading, Q&A, and book signing. This is a free event. All are welcome! Donations to the Train Station renovation will be welcome at the event. Sanchez’s books will be available for sale. Preregistration is not required, but send us an email telling us you’re coming and we’ll enter your name in a drawing for a free copy of Morning Haiku. Email: lynn@openbookphilly.com...