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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Books Reading Today

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:08 AM

Two readings today.

Up in Wallingford, Laura Moriarty and J. W. Marshall read today. Moriarty is the author of many books of poetry, including A Semblance: Selected & New Poetry 1975-2007. Marshall is a poet who also owns the wonderful Open Books. You can see her reading here. (Important side note: This Laura Moriarty is not the novelist Laura Moriarty.)

And at University Book Store, Chris Cleave reads from Little Bee. Little Bee is a momentous book for me because it's the only book in recent memory whose first sentence caused me to abandon the book. The first sentence of Little Bee is

Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl.

That sentence caused me to roll my eyes and snap the book shut forever. It's like a perfectly designed first sentence intended to make bookish middle-aged white women who love multiculti books written by older white men (a la Number One Ladies' Detective Agency) perk their heads up in interest. No, thank you.

The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is here.

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The first Ladies Detective Agency book was great - it just never should have been a series.

Posted by boring commenter on March 4, 2009 at 10:12 AM

please don't be snarky about white middle-aged women who like multi-cultural books written by white men, paul bobby. my mom is one. not every book can be by david foster wallace.

Posted by scary tyler moore on March 4, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Where in Wallingford? At Open Books?

Posted by newbie on March 4, 2009 at 11:40 AM

I partially agree with your assesment of Little Bee. It is a little too twee for my tastes, too calculated to appeal to a wide audience. However, the author shows a strong grasp of character that makes up for much of the book's flaws.

Posted by Corey Redekop on March 4, 2009 at 11:55 AM

i'm going to be that person to say it's a shame, because the book design is beautiful.

Posted by margot polo on March 5, 2009 at 12:17 AM