Attended a lecture by Michael Pollan--I loved his Omnivore's Dilemma, which we read in my non-fiction seminar. His writing is so crisp and balanced.

Dislocate reading, 14 April 2009, 150 Lind Hall.

Michelle Livingston: (CNF)
Laura Owen: (F)
Brian Laidlaw: (P)
Wang Ping: featured writer

Magers + Quinn: Dislocate Reading.

Creative Nonfiction: Morgan Sherburne.
Poetry: Amy Mae Schimpf.
Fiction: Shantha Susman.
Featured Reader: Laura Flynn, Swallow the Ocean.

I returned to Palm Beach this winter, and it was well worth it: I've wanted to work with Kimiko Hahn for a long while now, and I can fully recommend her as an instructor: she will challenge you, she will push you.

More photos here.

Junot Diaz reads from The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao for the Edelstein Keller lectures at the University of Minnesota. I'll be taking photos at events for the U's webpage / other promotional materials.

Reading at Magers & Quinn:
Shana Youngdahl (chapbook: Donner: A Passing)
+ Eireann Lorsung (music for landing planes by)

Matthea Harvey + Mary Jo Bang + Fanny Howe.

I have to say, Matthea Harvey was hugely charming and I love the title of the book Pity the Bathtub and its Forced Embrace of the Human Form. A lovely reading, and my husband accompanied me. I've also picked up a copy of Bang's Elegy to see how writing about passing might inform my own work regarding my grandfather.

Alex Lemon's book release party at Bryant Lake Bowl.

Hallelujah Blackout

Alex was an MFA student at the U of MN when I was an undergraduate. I remember seeing him coming out of class as I waited for my own (creative non-fiction, I believe) class to start. This is his second book (or third, if you also count chapbooks).

Went to see Mary Oliver (with dear friends Emily and Jen) in downtown Minneapolis. Was a wonderful event--the sort where the rest of the world vanishes and it's just one vision, Oliver, on the stage. So good.

Reading: Eireann Lorsung at the Tea Garden
Uptown Minneapolis

music for landing planes by

Eireann is a good friend from my undergraduate days; she graduated from the U of MN MFA program and this is her thesis, essentially. If you haven't read it yet, do so. It's gorgeous and was nominated for the Minnesota Book Award.