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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Book Talk: events, news and a question
by Trina Drotar, published on August 7, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Storyline: Book Talk - News and Reviews
Let’s start off this week with a question.
What are you reading now? What book(s) do you recommend others read, and why?
Okay, three questions.
I’m currently reading Lorrie Moore’s “A Gate at The Stairs,” and a book I’ll be reviewing in a few weeks, “An Uncertain Age,” by Ulrica Hume. Also, I’m reading “The Collected Stories” by Amy Hempel and “Landscapes with Figures” by Robert Root.
The books I recommend include any of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories and any of Hemingway’s short stories. I’ll toss in Raymond Carver’s short stories and “Black Tickets” by Jayne Anne Phillips. Poetry books include anything by Robert Hass and Kazim Ali, as well as Connie Post’s newest book, which I’ll review here next week.
Why do I recommend those books? I love short stories and poetry, and these are great books to enjoy or to study. The sentences and lines are tight and perfect. Nothing overwritten. That’s my selection today, at this moment. Another moment might bring another selection.
Let’s move on to events and news.
Ruthie Bolton will read from her book, “The Ride of a Lifetime: The Making of Mighty Ruthie,” at the Avid Reader at the Tower on Sunday, Aug. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. For those of you who aren’t aware, Bolton is a former WNBA Sacramento Monarchs basketball star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Laura Lippman will appear at the Sacramento Central Public Library on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. Lippman is a mystery and psychological suspense writer. She has won many mystery awards for her books, which include “What the Dead Know,” and her latest thriller, “And When She Was Good.”
Two California State University, Sacramento professors have new books.
Joshua McKinney just released his latest book of poetry, “Mad Cursive.” Look for a review of his book right here in the next few weeks. He’ll be reading and signing copies at the Sacramento Poetry Center in September. Details to follow.
Kim Zarins will read from her latest book, “The Helpful Puppy,” at the Avid Reader in Davis in September. Book review and event details to follow.
Remember, we focus our attention on local authors, local presses and books of local interest. We include outsiders from time to time. If you have a book to be reviewed, query first at SacramentoBookTalk@gmail.com with information about the book and a sample of the writing.
Enjoy reading and attending events until next time.
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Allison Joy
August 8, 2012 | 4:04 PM
Lorrie Moore, Raymond Carver, and Jayne Ann Phillips all in the same breath. You're a girl after my own heart!
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Trina Drotar
August 8, 2012 | 8:19 PM
Ah, and Allison what are you reading now? They are some of my favorites. I've read Lorrie Moore's short stories before, not her novels.
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William Burg
August 8, 2012 | 9:58 PM
Just finished Reyner Banham's "Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies," an architectural/urban planning history of Los Angeles, and working on "The City: Los Angeles and Urban Theory at the End of the Twentieth Century," edited by Allen J. Scott and Edward Soja. When I visit other cities (was down there this past weekend) I like to read books about them--it provides an opportunity to see firsthand what I'm reading about, or at least the remaining evidence of it. Banham's work is a bit dated (it was written about 40 years ago) but is still an important introduction to Los Angeles' social geography and architectural high points.
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Trina Drotar
August 9, 2012 | 3:01 PM
Ah Bill, I also enjoy doing the same thing. Those books sound fascinating, and I'll have to look them up. I'll also have to look up a book about K Street: Where Our City Began. I hear he's reading at Time-Tested next week. I know I'd be interested in reviewing a copy of that book. When I went to Manhattan, KS and through Nebraska last year, I picked up books about Manhattan and books about some of the cities I visited in the other states. Although Banham's book might be a bit dated, it seems as though it's still important to read because of the history and the introduction it provides. I think that people fail to look back at the older texts.
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Allison Joy
August 9, 2012 | 12:25 PM
Trina - I'm currently reading "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion. I just started it, but so far I love her voice. Have you read Phillips' "Lark and Termite"? Great stuff. Also her short story "Rayme" is one of my favorites. I also recommend Dawn Powell's "Dance Night" - an oldie but goodie. I graduated from UW-Madison, where Lorrie Moore chairs (or at least she did, and I believe still does) the Creative Writing Department...I will kick myself for the rest of my life for never taking a class with her.
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Trina Drotar
August 9, 2012 | 3:06 PM
Ah, looking back at what we could have/should have done. I have "Lark and Termite," and it's only my stack of books to read that now fills the living room. I've not read much of Dawn Powell's work. I've been reading quite a bit of poetry in the past couple of years. Let me know how you like Didion's book when you finish. I just received a copy of Angela Y. Davis's newest book, and I can't wait to start that. I've also been reading a lot of theory. Are you a one book at a time person? I try to be, but . . .
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Allison Joy
August 10, 2012 | 12:41 PM
What are you reading for theory? I'm like a three book at a time person...which means that no matter how much I'm reading it still takes me forever to finish a book. Perhaps not the best way to go, but I can never seem to help myself!
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