As some readers here may know, I’m getting married on Saturday, June 6, and will soon be flying off to sunny Ireland — well, to Ireland at least — for the next 10 days or so. That in mind, this week’s previews of upcoming events in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina covers two weeks instead of one. But plenty to enjoy in that two weeks, that’s for sure.
First up on my recommendations is David Taylor, author of Soul of a People: The WPA Writers’ Project Uncovers Depression America, who will be reading from and speaking about the new book on Friday, June 5, at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. This book provides a truly marvelous glimpse inside the WPA Writers’ Project, not only offering profiles of often well-known writers who honed their craft within that system but also exploring how the project created a comprehensive look at the U.S. during the Depression. I had the good fortune of interviewing Taylor here earlier this year, and another fine interview can be found here. Or better yet, just go see him yourself!
On Saturday, June 6, Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan will come to the Barnes and Noble at New Hope Commons in Durham with their new book, Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels. I’ll admit, I’m not a reader of romance novels, and the closest I’ve come to studying them was when I was assigned Janice Radway’s Reading the Romance Novel: Women, Patriarchy and Popular Literature back in college. But I take it on good authority that this is a great read, and heck, it looks like so much more fun than the Radway ever was! I encourage attendance at the reading with confidence.
Next Thursday, June 11, Ed Southern, executive director of the North Carolina Writers’ Network, talks about his latest book, Sports in the Carolinas: From Death Valley to Tobacco Road, at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham. In addition to providing excellent leadership for the NCWN, Southern is also establishing himself as a fine authority on specific aspects of our state’s history. My interview with him on his work at the Network and on his previous book, Voices of the American Revolution in the Carolinas, is here.
And while I said above that I don’t generally read romance novels, I’ll admit that I’m a huge fan of Sarah Dessen‘s books (and of Dessen herself for that matter) and a real sucker for the romantic entanglements that are often at the heart of her fiction. Dessen’s latest novel is Along for the Ride and it arrived on my doorstep a couple of days ago with the tagline “Find yourself in love this summer.” With that wedding on the horizon, I am indeed doing that, and with a long flight ahead, I may just drop this one in my carry-on. And for those folks back in North Carolina, there are three opportunities on the horizon for you to catch Dessen’s tour: Tuesday, June 16, at Durham’s Regulator Bookshop; Thursday, June 18, at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh; and next month on Saturday, July 25, at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village.
And for a complete list of upcoming events, be sure to check out the MetroBooks Calendar, which will be updated with more July events as soon as I get back.
