Michael Chabon - Telegraph Avenue

That's Michael in the center standing up!  Always entertaining hearing an author read and discuss his books.  Being one of my top 5 alive authors (Gaiman, Murakami, Chabon, Gibson, and Coupland).

 

I wore my Pittsburgh Pirates hat and sat in the far back, just because.  Not for sure what I think about this new book of his.  Based on what was said at the book signing it seems pretty similar to Fortress of Solitude.  

Connie Willis in Person

Went to Mrs Willis' book signing event tonight and boy what a fantastic talk. It has been a while since I went to an author's reading and actually came away with something. Connie was just so refreshing. Really honest and not afraid to express opinions. On tour for her new book, Black Out, which took 8 years to write and developed into two books it certainly sounds like a great read. I have only read one of her books (review here) and I generally liked it. As I stated back then I thought of her not as much as true sci-fi writer. Still think this but that is okay because she must cringe when she goes to sci-fi conventions because her personality is so outstanding. I couldn't imagine her having a conversation with Neal Stephenson or William Gibson although I see her and Neil Gaiman having a good go of it!

Any how loved her talk about Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, and Who Killed Rodger Ackroyd. She made some interesting points on how Christie wrote and how she used reader's built in bias' to write her stories. Might have to dig out some old Poirot books and reread them as an adult as I read most of them back when I was a teenager. What bias did I have then?

Finally it was interesting to note how she hates to write (a little sarcasm...I think). She was very thankful after 8 years the book was finally finished. She provided an interesting background on how she writes especially her outlining. Also she says that every plot was either developed by Shakespeare or Dickens and that all modern writing just rewrites one of these plot but using a different view point. Rambling outlines and trying to find different viewpoints seems to be a good way to start although I think every writer finds their own methods...

Book Signing - Jonathan Lethem

Ever go to a book signing with the ideal that hey this guy seems interesting; has put out some tantalizing books, but you know, you haven't quite gotten around to actually reading anything of his? I mean Fortress of Solitude reached out to me because of the comic book reference and you know I have stared at the book cover so often that sometimes I think I might have it or perhaps read it? Sit and listen to his reading and the guy still sounds great. Answers questions with real answers and generally seems happy that you came out. Well Mr Lethem fit this profile fully for me. I swear I had read something by him but alas nothing and then, and then, towards the end, when I was getting my book signed, a book at the very bottom of the shelf reached out and spoke to me...Gun, with Occasional Music...wwwwwait I have read this author. Almost 15 years ago I read this pseudo hard boil sci-fi mess of a book. I mean it was good, little weird, but then this is about the time I was reading Snow Crash by Stephenson which was a bit odd as well and perhaps that was reading agenda back then (?). Either way once the connection was made my brain settled down and was glad that I had spent the evening getting to know the author.

Neal Stephenson in Person

Saw Mr. Stephenson for the second time. First heard him during his book tour after writing Cryptonomicon. Not for sure if he toured during the release of his Baroque tour de force. I would think he needed time to rest his hand after long writing that story! Obviously he was touring and reading from his new release, Anathem. Most of his books are quirky and this one takes place on an alternative (?) world where the scientist are secluded away and only allowed to come out for set time periods. 

His overall Q&A was good. I always get irked by the author's reading their own material. I'd much rather talk about the process, the ideals, the writing, the edits and what not. But I guess every author is required to read a portion of his new book...

Terry Brooks in Person

Okay world's weirdest book signing event.  Of course I went only to relive an old high school memory.  I haven't read a Shannara book in 20 years.  Wishsong was the last one and it has one of the greatest book characters ever...Garet Jax.  Anyway Brooks has a new Shannara book out but instead of reading from it he chose to read from a book not due out until next September (huh?) and it wasn't even a Shannara book.  They briefly did mention what is new book was about and I just cringed.  Supposedly Shannara is our world 8,000 years in the future after some nuclear holocaust...yikes...glad I stopped reading these books.  Anyway very weird.

Michael Chabon in Person

Went to the Michael Chabon book signing at the Tattered Cover this evening. Good signing although not quite as good as his interview on XM with Bob Edwards. Obviously the book he was talking about was The Yiddish Policeman's Union. The story got its start when 13 years ago he ran across a Yiddish Phrase book in the language section. For obvious (well not like you can go to a country to speak it...) it stuck him as funny. Well he wrote an essay about it and then felt bad because he hadn't meant to offend anyone but he did find it funny all the same. The funniest phrase was "Is food served on the Plane". Again quite funny as the 1958 book assumed there would be a Yid Air!

Chabon is quite the comedian when talking. Very intimate with the audience...very well spoken...young. He read from the first Chapter...it was interesting that he didn't read it verbatim and in fact he sometimes skipped around. One lady thought that the first line of the 3rd chapter was the most brilliant metaphor she had ever read. Q&A wasn't too exciting...few questions on Kavalier and Clay but nothing great. Another funny question was why Sitka and not Juneau ("Jew, No?").

His tip to all writers was to write, everyday, for a certain amount, day in and day out. Few other interesting tidbits was that all the characters were actually speaking Yiddish and that when they spoke English (which the author notes) the cadences change...that was interesting. Final question was about where he was when he first saw his book in print and it was in a bookstore in Westwood (no longer there), with his brother. Chabon doesn't like to go to stores and spy on people because either his books aren't there or someone might pick it up then put it back!

Overall a good signing...I asked him his favorite baseball team? Giants and Pirates. That since he covers all the American contributions that he should do a book on Jazz next and I also thanked him for the Escapist cross over into the comic book world.