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Authors to
discuss prose, poetry and music during 7th Annual Literary Festival
By Dana Imperia '05
Throughout the semester, the English department
hosted the 7th Annual Literary Festival, featuring five
distinguished writers. The festival commenced on Feb. 3 with a reading from
Edward P. Jones, author of The Known World and winner of the 2004
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, in the Radnor-St. Davids Room in the Connelly
Center. All of the subsequent readings will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by
a reception and book signing. The festival is free and open to the public.
On Feb. 17, Karen Tei Yamashita, author of four
novels and several plays, will discuss her work at an intimate setting in
the De Leon Room (300) of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts.
Yamashita’s work is known for its culturally diverse nature, owing to her
wide range of travel. Her 1997 novel, Tropic of Orange, captures the
melting pot of America in modern-day Los Angeles. According to Village
Voice, “Yamashita’s brilliance is her poetry, her rich linguistic
gymnastics, and her sweetly cynical optimism about human nature.”
In the first floor lounge of Falvey Memorial Library
on March 15, the Irish poet Eilean Ni Chuilleanain will read from her latest
collection of poetry titled The Girl Who Married the Reindeer (2001).
Irish Literary Supplement declares this volume “elegant and
difficult, rich and haunting.” Chuilleanain is the author of eight
collections of poetry and is the recipient of several awards, including the
1992 O’Shaughnessy Prize for Poetry.
In Radnor-St. Davids Room of the Connelly Center on
April 5, Harlem-born poet Sekou Sundiata will read some of his poetry.
Sundiata is also a musician and composer. His acclaimed album, Long Story
Short, blends blues, funk, jazz and Afro-Caribbean percussion.
Sundiata’s latest project called Blessing the Boats combines
theatricality with lyricism and storytelling. Vibe magazine states,
“Sundiata’s poetry moans, soothes, stirs and shakes.” Among Sundiata’s
theatrical works are The Circle Unbroken is a Hard Bop and The
Mystery of Love.
Concluding the festival, Jacob Slichter will share
his experiences as a musician and writer on April 19 in the Cinema of the
Connelly Center. Slichter’s recently published book, So You Wanna Be a
Rock & Roll Star, describes his personal story with rock and roll fame.
Slichter’s band Semisonic rose to the top of music charts after the
release of their 1998 single called Closing Time. According to
Publisher’s Weekly, Slichter’s book is “funny and poignant.”
The
Literary Festival was organized by Lisa Sewell, assistant professor of
English. The event is sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences, Falvey
library, Irish Studies, Africana Studies, Writing Center, Center for
Multicultural Affairs and the Honors Program. |
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