WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON?

 hemingwayfromahisgettatflickrweb

“La Bodeguita Ernest Hemingway” by ahisgett from Flick’r

A recurring theme on the blog is hearing from The Big Read authors about other writers and artists who have influenced their work. From an interview with the NEA, here’s Tobias Wolff  (author of Old School) on some of the writers whom he admires—and has cast as characters in his novels—and the tension between the public and private selves of these authors.

[T]he greatest pleasure in writing [Old School] was to try to bring [Robert] Frost and Ayn Rand and even [Ernest] Hemingway to life in this novel. I was very much affected by all these writers when I was young, and they were truly, all of them, legendary in different ways. And, for that reason, I felt justified in creating them as characters because all of them, quite consciously, made of themselves public characters that were a little different from their private selves. They did this no doubt for protection. You craft a kind of public persona and you can kind of hide behind that and add a bit of privacy behind it. But also that was the way they wanted to be seen for good or ill. In Hemingway’s case as we all know, that public persona kind of got the better of him and wrestled him to the ground. Because his early work is very tender and not at all concerned with trumpeting the virtues of stoicism and masculine strength and warrior values, all that kind of thing. But as that kind of bristling masculinity of his that was so much a part of his public persona leaked into his work, it damaged it, no question about it.

Posted by Paulette Beete at 10:27 am | Category: Old School
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , , , ,

The Things We’d Carry, Part 4

August 7, 2009
Washington, DC

inmybagaug709
A look at what’s in my bag today.

Here’s the final installment in our series of responses to the prompt: “Marching into battle—literally or metaphorically—what things might you carry? It’s your choice to tell or not to tell why you select what you do.”

I’ll lead off today’s answers . . .

From Paulette Beete:

I’d carry my Bible, as many ruled Moleskine notebooks and blue ink pens as I could, a photograph of my sister and me taken in my grandfather’s shop in Trinidad when we were about two and five respectively, poems by Mary Oliver and Yusef Komunyakaa, postcards of New York and Chicago, and an 80s mixed tape that my friend Michelle gave me when I graduated from high school

From David Kipen:

Marching into battle, I’d carry a copy of The Things They Carried. Somebody must’ve suggested that already, right? Then I’d bring copies for my whole platoon, and start a  Big Read right there in the foxhole.

What would you carry? Let me know at bigreadblog@arts.gov, and it might make it onto the blog.

Want to read more in the series?

The Things We’d Carry, Part 1

The Things We’d Carry, Part 2

The Things We’d Carry, Part 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Paulette Beete at 9:42 am | Category: The Things They Carried, Uncategorized
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , ,

From the Desk of Paulette

August 5, 2009
Washington, DC

sanantoniof45109web2

  A display from San Antonio Public Library’s Big Read of Fahrenheit 451.

Not surprisingly, I’m not the only writer that has a huge crush on Ray Bradbury. The admirably prolific Alice Hoffman recently spoke on NPR’s All Things Considered about the significant impact Bradbury has had on her writing life.

Here’s just a snippet:

I have always believed that the books of youth stay with us in a unique way. The fairy tales, nursery rhymes and novels we read when we’re young become part of our DNA. Perhaps that is why I was led back to Fahrenheit 451 after 9/11. It was a brilliant remedy for restoring my faith.

Read and/or listen to Hoffman’s paean to Fahrenheit 451 and Bradbury in its entirety on NPR’s Web site.

Posted by Paulette Beete at 2:41 pm | Category: Fahrenheit 451
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , ,

Get Caught Reading!

wallowalibraryclassicsshelvesweb

Photo courtesy of Wallowa Public Library (Oregon)

So remember way back when I shared my summer reading list? Well, I’ll be far far away from my computer for the next few days trying to finally get a start on it. It’s a good thing too since summer seems to be hellbent on coming to an end sooner rather than later.

See you in August!

Posted by Paulette Beete at 2:38 pm | Category: General, Uncategorized
Comments (3) |

The Things We’d Carry, Part 3

July 27, 2009
Washington, DC

What's in my bag

(Photo by spinnerin from Flickr Creative Commons)

Here’s more in our continuing series of responses to the prompt: “Marching into battle—literally or metaphorically—what things might you carry? It’s your choice to tell or not to tell why you select what you do.”

Today we’ll hear from  staff in  the NEA’s Office of Communications.

From Pepper Smith:

I would bring assorted prayers from 1927 Book of Common Prayer, the Bible, AA Big Book, plus three pages of quotations on how to cope with fear.
Photos of my wife inside the Dalvey Pocket Compass she gave me.
The best toothbrush I can find.
Patagonia lightweight hiking socks.
Tiny Olympus Digital Voice Recorder
Encouraging letters from friends.
SAS Survival Guide
Hunting knife
Claritin

From Victoria Hutter

My stash of special cards and letters especially the one my dad wrote to me when he couldn’t travel to my college graduation. The voice mail messages left by my niece and nephew that I keep resaving. A pair of special order pointe shoes circa 1983. Copy of Upright Hilda and the manuscript for Dexter the Dragon both by Donald Hutter. The beanbag frog that used to sit on the back of my grandmother’s reading chair. The stenciled Sucrets box she painted for me that used to hold my hair pins, barrettes, and rubberbands. And lots and lots of photos.

From Adam Kampe

Swedish fish.  As many packs of mint Stride as my pack could handle. A copy of Actual Air by David Berman to slow my mind down, a nano pod filled to the brim with podcasts to tune out the chaos, a copy of Chris Rock’s Rock This to keep me laughing all the way to the bank, a picture of the lake I practically grew up on, a picture of my family and best friends.

Posted by Paulette Beete at 10:10 am | Category: The Things They Carried
Leave a comment | Tags: , , ,

The Things We’d Carry, Part Two

July 24, 2009
Washington, DC

Words, Post-Election.

(Photo by e_walk from Flickr  Creative Commons)

Here’s more in our continuing series of responses to the prompt: “Marching into battle—literally or metaphorically—what things might you carry? It’s your choice to tell or not to tell why you select what you do.”

Today we’ll hear from Liz Mehaffey, Sarah Cook, and Laska Hurley of the NEA and Angharad Guy and Susan Chandler from Arts Midwest.

From Liz Mehaffey:

I would carry pens, journal, a safety kit, ipod that doesn’t need charging, and philosophy books so I can ponder what marching into battle really means.

Oh, and maybe my blackberry so I can tweet about the experience every few minutes.

From Sarah Cook:

The first thing that comes to mind is my grandpa’s “memoir.” We recently worked together to document his life stories. He was raised in Ohio on a farm, served in the military, and then continued the family farm his whole life. His words inspire and remind me of the values and work ethic of my family.

 From Laska Hurley:

 Here is a list of my going into battle kit:
1. Family photos
2. A map
3. Water tablets – don’t ever underestimate the state of good healthy drinking water
4. Gerber knife survival tool set
5. Two diplomatic passports – US and Swiss (One might work better than the other depending on which countries are in the battle.)
6. Computerized multi-language pocket dictionary
7. A giant empty duffle bag to carry all the cool crap, collected on the way
8. An ice cream machine with all the fixings – You can stop a war dead in its tracks by serving ice cream.  (I’ll ask Amy to carry it. She’s bringing a load of stuff anyway.)
9. A  Do-Over Button
10. Sure as hell won’t need my imagination…Between Amy’s imaginary friend and battle fatigue, I’ll be pretty exhausted to think much.
11. A shovel to dig trenches. I guess we’ll be supplied with thos. Also guns, tanks and stuf. I might want a horse and a cool outfit, something with a feathered hat. Maybe some of them cool boots and spurs.

From Angharad Guy:

I would carry a notebook and pencil, some stamped addressed envelopes, a photo of my beau, a necklace that my parents gave me for my 18th birthday and a copy of my favorite book.

From Susan Chandler:

I’d carry a photo of my daughter, husband, and me; and a small stone from Smooth Stone Beach on Lake Michigan, both of which would remind me of what’s good in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Paulette Beete at 11:29 am | Category: The Things They Carried
Comment (1) | Tags: , , , ,

WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON?

July 23, 2009
Washington, DC

The title of  Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried comes from the book’s opening section in which we are introduced to First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Dave Jensen, Ted Lavender, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Rat Kiley, Kiowa, and the narrator Tim. “The things they carried”  is a refrain throughout the section, so we feel the literal and, ultimately, symbolic weight of what each man carries—or humps—as he makes his way through the Vietnam jungle.  As O’Brien writes, “They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried.”

I recently posed the same question to some of my colleagues: “Marching into battle—literally or metaphorically—what things might you carry? It’s your choice to tell or not to tell why you select what you do.” I’ll share their answers over a few posts starting with these from two of our lit staffers –Dan Brady and Amy Stolls (who by the way wrote The Big Read Reader’s Guide for O’Brien’s novel).

 From Dan Brady:

machomanweb

I’m trying to think of something my wife gave me, some memento of home that might make me feel safe, but what actually comes to mind is an action figure of the Macho Man Randy Savage. For whatever reason, I’ve held onto this thing since I was a kid. It currently is tucked away somewhere in the back of my nightstand along with some failed poems and old notebooks. I don’t know if I could call it a talisman, but it’s something I can’t get rid of and maybe there’s a reason for that. If I wanted to invest it with some power, I could say it’s kept me safe this long, but ultimately I think it’s just nostalgia. Then again, nostalgia might be just what I need when soaked to the bone, pinned down in a Vietnamese jungle with the world setting itself on fire all around me. PS – Attached is a picture I took of [the action figure] last night after I saw your email. 

 

 

From Amy Stolls:

I’d carry a copy of the reader’s guide for everyone in my platoon, because it’s the best piece of writing currently in existence.

I’d carry tweezers and a tiny mirror that says “you’re pretty.”  I have a fear of being out in a jungle and not being able to pluck my eyebrows.

My lap top, new Iphone, and probably a Kindle.  (In fact, I’m pretty sure the Kindle was developed for just this purpose.  It fits nicely slipped in behind a round of ammo.)

Literally (the obvious) — a journal and pens, a few paperbacks, photos of loved ones, an audio of my seven-month-old giggling, an Ipod (with songs ranging from The Decemberists to Arvo Part to my dad’s banjo arrangements).

Literally (the not-so-obvious) — a plastic coin showing Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet holding hands, which I’ve had since I was 3 or 4 years old and have kept ever since as my own personal good luck charm.  I sent it to my mom the day she was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.  She’s currently in remission and thriving. 

Metaphorically (the obvious) — my imagination and memory of every book, film, play, poem, painting, song, mountain, forest, café, meal, conversation, and personal encounter I’ve had that has made me feel human and lucky to be alive.

Metaphorically (the not-so-obvious) – my invisible friend.  She’s been hibernating for about 40 years, but I bet I could convince her to go away with me.

This all, of course, on Day One.  What heavy burdens I’d end up carrying all the days after I can only imagine (in part thanks to O’Brien)    

Posted by Paulette Beete at 1:03 pm | Category: The Things They Carried
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , , ,

WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON?

July 22, 2009
Washington, DC

mrobinsonreadingmarshallpubliclibraryweb

Marilynne Robinson was the guest of honor at Marshall Public Library's Big Read of Housekeeping, her first published novel.

 Today I’m diving into The Big Read audio archive (again) to bring you author Bret Lott on Marilynne Robinson.  (Lott, whose novel Jewel was an Oprah Book Club pick, currently serves on the NEA’s National Council on the Arts.)

“I’ve probably read [Housekeeping] seven or eight times.  I use it for my classes. All my undergrads will read it [and] my graduate students will read it because it does precisely what I think a great book should do and that is to combine language and story.  Too often, language can eclipse story and story can eclipse language but this one has both in equal measure.

When I wrote my first novel, there were many things in Housekeeping that informed it. My first novel takes place in western Massachusetts and there’s a lake that plays prominently in it. . . . [I]t’s one of these old 1930s-era reservoirs that were built by flooding towns in the floors of the valleys. There’s this real haunting sense, not even a sense, it’s just pervasive everywhere, the haunting. In fact, the lake is a character in the book, [representing] what’s beneath the surface. When I finally got to this part of the novel, I realized that . . . Housekeeping was why I was so enchanted with this idea of these villages at the bottom of the Quabbin Reservoir in western Massachusetts.“

Check out The Big Read Reader’s Guide to learn more about Marilynne Robinson and Housekeeping.

Posted by Paulette Beete at 11:31 am | Category: Housekeeping
Comments (2) | Tags: , , , , ,

ROADSHOW AND TELL

July 21, 2009
Washington, DC

Founded in 1683, Orange County, New York, is home to The Orange County Library Association, which hosted a community dance, presented a concert of music by Woody Guthrie, staged a reading of the novel, and convinced local antique auto aficionados to show off their period vehicles all to celebrate John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. In total, the library and its partners hosted more than 50 events for more than 1,500 Empire Staters.

Big Read Chairperson Madelyn Folino had this to say about their experience with The Big Read:

The choice of The Grapes of Wrath attracted readers who felt they had missed out by not reading this classic in their youth. The scope and variety of programs appealed to them and offered an easy entry into reading and talking about the book. It was also gratifying to discuss the novel with readers to whom it obviously meant so much. We were nervous about the reaction of potential readers to the heft and seriousness of the novel, but were congratulated repeatedly on choosing a book that is so relevant to current economic conditions and international concerns.

display3web

stagedreading2web1

kickoff1web

cornwall3web

From top: A Grapes of Wrath display hosted by a local business  in its downtown Warwick showroom; a staged reading of the novel was presented at three different Orange County locations; a marquee  invite to The Big Read Woody Guthrie concert thanks to Middletown’s Paramount Theatre; Cornwall Public Library’s Tea & A Classic program featured period automobiles from the Model A Club of Newburgh. (All photos courtesy of the Orange County Library Association.)

Posted by Paulette Beete at 11:18 am | Category: The Grapes of Wrath
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

ROADSHOW AND TELL

July 20, 2009
Washington, DC

The three-peat Big Readers at the Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute, Indiana, most recently hosted a celebration of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. The library’s project comprised five libraries, including one in Illinois, and 21 schools ranging from elementary to college. Not only were 54 book discussions on the agenda, but the calendar of events also featured 31 public programs, including a Call of the Wild sinfonietta concert, an animal adoption event, and story times for young readers on everything from the Artic to wolves to the Iditarod.

buckandjohnthorntonweb

tablescapeweb

petpicturesweb

From top: “John Thornton” and “Buck” were on hand to greet guests at The Big Party for The Big Read kickoff event (photo by Mark Cameron);  the library’s The Call of The Wild table took second place in Arts Illiana’s  annual TableScapes contest (photo by LeRaye Cameron); local artist Laura Mason sketched pets for guests at the kickoff event (photo by Mark Cameron).

Posted by Paulette Beete at 12:12 pm | Category: The Call of the Wild
Leave a comment | Tags: , , , , , , ,

« Older Entries