Readings, signings, and other events vaguely literary for Friday, July 10, 2009

5:30 PM – Matthew C. Whitaker: Hurricane Katrina: America’s Unnatural Disaster
Elliott Bay Book Co.
SPL has 116 books or papers in their collection that include Hurricane Katrina in the title. A keyword search gets 239 hits. And yet, this book does not appear. That’s a real shame. This anthology is one of the best collections to discuss race, class, and gender in the face of disaster and institutionalized oppression.
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6:00 PM – Reagan Jackson: Discussion
Santoro’s Books
“Santoro’s will be hosting artist Reagan Jackson for this ever-popular neighborhood event. Reagan Jackson grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. As soon as it was legal to do so, she moved away. Her first stop was Seattle, which has subsequently become the home base for her many travels. Reagan is an international educator and has spent several years abroad, living and working in Japan, Chile, and Spain. Her experiences abroad have been a catalyst for her art and are also reflected in her style, use of materials, and choice of subject matter. She is a self taught painter. She first began painting, not to sell or even for the purpose of sharing with others, but as a meditation. Her portfolio to date consists of a variety of themed works such as cityscapes, butterflies, self portraits, Day of the Dead scenes, and landscapes, done on canvas with acrylic and mixed media.” (Santoro’s)
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7:00 PM – Rebecca Wells: The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
SPL Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium
“Wells weaves more of the magic that made her a bestseller. At first, Calla Lily Ponder appears to be just like any other young woman growing up in the small town of La Luna, LA., where life is simple and Calla Lily is supported by a loving, tightly knit family and a colorful cast of locals. But after a series of hometown heartbreaks, Calla Lily sets out for New Orleans to attend a prestigious beauty academy with dreams of one day opening her own salon … The novel is chock-full of southern charm and sassy wisdom … it benefits from a hearty dose of Wells’s trademark charisma. Calla Lily’s story … is sure to be a crowd-pleaser thanks to her humble aspirations, ever-hopeful heart and perseverance no matter what fate throws at her.” – Publishers Weekly
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7:30 PM – Gloria Steinem: Discussion
Town Hall Seattle, Great Hall
“How do women author change? What woman writer altered your reality? Join iconoclast Gloria Steinem, who is currently writing her memoir at Hedgebrook, with special guest—the groundbreaking singer/songwriter/activist Holly Near—and a panel of powerhouse Hedgebrook alumnae for a provocative discussion, readings, songs, and conversation with the audience exploring how women’s voices have shaped our culture across generations, and continue to impact our world in an era of revolutionary change.” (THS) Presented by Hedgebrook
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7:30 PM – Stacey Lynn Brown & Adrian Matejka: Poetry Reading
Elliott Bay Book Co.
The couple reads from their respective works about race, prejudice, and love.
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