Books Next Year’s Model
posted by on April 30 at 12:30 PM
Last night at the Pico Iyer reading at Benaroya Hall, Seattle Arts and Lectures announced their next season of readers. Ready?
Lecture Series: September 17, 2008 - Richard RussoOctober 7, 2008 - Terry Tempest Williams
November 12, 2008 - John Updike
January 12, 2009 - Michael Pollan
February 24, 2009 - Junot Diaz
April TBD, 2009 - Mira Nair
Special Events:
November 19, 2008 - Annie Liebovitz
March 18, 2009 - Scott Simon
May TBD, 2009 - Shirin Ebadi
I’m excited to see Richard Russo, because I (heart) him. I also really should see John Updike before I die (because John Updike will outlive us all). I’m excited to see Junot Diaz as well. Michael Pollan will probably sell the place out faster than a KISS concert would, nowadays, and Mira Nair will probably be pretty popular also. All in all, it’s a pretty good schedule, I think. There are no OMGs on the list, but it’s solid, and not depressing the way many book-related schedules are nowadays, so this counts as a triumph, I think.
I'm there for Russo. The rest... meh.
this may be the year i break down and subscribe.
I'd buy tickets right now if their website weren't still offering last season's lectures.
Aside from the obvious - I'm most excited about Terry Tempest Williams. I've just finished her book "Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place" and it was one of the most unique, heartfelt, touching books I've read in quite some time. I'll definitely be in the audience for that one.
Update to my earlier comment: I just called their office. They say tickets go on sale on Monday. The website will be updated sometime before then.
I just read John Gross' review (in the New York Review of Books) of Updike's latest essay collection, and it reminded me again why I love him so much. His scope is just breathtaking and his point of view is ALWAYS engaging. He's published what? 50 books? And remains incapable of writing badly. Gonna see him speak for sure.
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