Wednesday, October 18, 2006

No One's Got To Listen To The Words In My Head

Here is a man we saw when we went to the orchard last week.

I went to the Michael Chabon reading tonight with my friend K. and found him very entertaining. At first I wasn't sure if he was going to lecture or read. I was hoping he would read because I was interested in hearing some of his soon to be released novel, and because I love to hear authors read their own work.

There were many good things that happened at this reading. First, I was happy that Ethan Canin introduced him instead of the other person who normally announces readings in this town. I won't mention her name since she or some of her henchmen have Googled her and found my blog in the past. It made me feel a little guilty because although what I wrote wasn't really mean, it was a little snarky.

I've decided that from now on, I want Ethan Canin to introduce me whenever I enter a room because he is so gushy and sweet and he would make everyone really excited to meet me. On second thought, it would be too much for me to live up to. Plus, he would want to use writing passages and if he quoted my blog, people would run screaming out of the room I was about to enter.

I thought Michael Chabon was an awesome reader. He was very personable and he didn't use that singsong voice that a lot of authors use when they read publicly. He didn't try to get all cheesy and over-act it while he read either. The parts of the story he presented were perfect for this forum as they were full of dialogue and dialect and when I finally read the novel, I'm sure I'll be disappointed that I won't do it justice in my head.

He answered questions when he was finished reading, and after seeing how funny, charmingly self-deprecating and how well he thought on his feet, I was almost disappointed that he didn't lecture instead. He had a great bit about trying to restrain himself from using simile and metaphor. He said it was like a plague, and then realized that he was using it again.

I definitely got my money's worth from this free reading and I really want to see Alice McDermott on Friday, if only I could afford to pay someone else to taxi my girls around to all their activities.

On a completely non-litererary note...I don't mean to spread rumors, but I hear that there is this big ball of burning gases that sits in the sky and warms things up and provides much needed vitamin D for all the good girls and boys. Anyway, there has been talk that tomorrow, said ball of burning gases might actually make an appearance here in town. I'll believe it when I see it.

10 comments:

rel said...

Churlita,
Sounds like you had a fab time at the reading. Now if you get to see the sun you're week will be complete. ;-)
rel

Anonymous said...

sorry i bailed. was beat down by the man. i will send pictures of the sun from your former stomping grounds if need be.

Anonymous said...

I am jealous - I really haven't read anything of Chabon's since the Mysteries of Pittsburgh (which I really liked), but perhaps I could have been inspired to start up again.

(And for some reason blogger won't let me sign in...I'm sort of regretting the switch...)

Churlita said...

Remiman,

The reading was great, but there's still no sign of the sun. Wah.

Dex,

The Man will do that to you. I think you really would have enjoyed it though.

Ondine,

K. and I talked about how much we missed you last night. I knew you would have been up for going.

I think Blogger has been annoyingly weird in general lately.

booda baby said...

If I were part of a brainstorming gang, I'd throw this sweet little line of yours on the table: I definitely got my money's worth from this free reading and suggest slipping it to the man you're flirting backwards with. I can't see how it's possible that he wouldn't melt into a puddle of adoration right then, right there.

Or maybe I just like wasting time brainstorming.

Churlita said...

I can spend hours brainstorming. It's putting things into practice that's tough for me.

Anonymous said...

You have to love the orthodox jews who took over Postville. I always laugh at people who think Iowa is white and boring.

(and I miss you all too.)

Churlita said...

The thing about Iowa is that there are so many different religious movements here. It seemed like every small town we visited had their own, funky religious sect. I always crack up at people's perceptions about Iowa.

When do you come back to visit?

Anonymous said...

my fave was when chabon talked about how he can't read books that are too plot driven because they make him sick to his stomach.

Churlita said...

I know. I have felt that way too before. Is this K.?