Thursday, June 21, 2007

Sherman Alexie IS f-in funny (He's also not yet rated)

S. Alexie NR 7:00


Sherman Alexie didn't read a damn thing out of his new novel, Flight, but it was worth every damn penny of the thirteen dollars and fifty cents to get it and hear him tell stories. He basically just talked about the first stop on his book tour, Norfolk, but he weaved in so much backstory flawlessly. The transitions! He held us captivated. This was his last stop on the book tour, and it was at a movie theatre. He was pretty psyched that his name was below Ocean 13. I found it amusing he was NR (not rated). He also was gracious enough to sign all 4 of my books of his. One of which he noticed was in fact a library book. No, Mr. Alexie I did not steal it, but I cannot verify that the party I purchased it from did not. He signed it to the "book thief." One of my others ones, the copy of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven that I bought in New Mexico and read on the plane ride home, had proof of that origin in it's very pages. It still had a South West Airlines napkin in it! "You kept the napkin!" He seemed surprised at this. "Well it makes a good book mark" I wasn't sure how to respond. He signed that one "She kept the napkin". It was a great experience, and I was so ecstatic afterwards that I took of my shoes and joined two little boys in one of those street fountain things where the water comes up from the ground level and you can run around in it. It was quite exhiliarating thank you, but then my feet were a tad bit slimy. I'm looking forward to reading the new Alexie book, and we also got a preview of a young adult novel he'll be putting out called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.





~Sarah

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Damn Straight (Actually, I Wish This Was True)

Well, except for the hot pink part, this would be ideal. Some of it is accurate, but not really. I would like my power symbol to be a sideways figure 8, aka the infinity sign, instead, if that's okay. Furthermore, I'd like to announce that I am a "restless rebel with an unpredictable nature." So there.



Your Birthdate: October 21

You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature.
Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas.
People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life.
You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone.

Your strength: Your thirst for adventure

Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures

Your power color: Hot pink

Your power symbol: Figure eight

Your power month: March

Upcoming Events of Interest


  • THIS THURSDAY: The one and only SHERMAN ALEXIE reads in the South Side to promote his first novel in 10 years. I have been a big fan of Alexie's since 2000 when I bought his book, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, in New Mexico and read it on the plane ride home. South Side Works Theater, 7PM

  • THIS FRIDAY: T&T Native Lauren Alleyne reading her poetry at Chatham University, 5PM

  • THIS SATURDAY: Machete, a band composed of the members of Chaibaba, plus Genya Nieves, trombonist Greg, and others, performing Puerto Rican music. The Altar Club, the Strip District, 6PM

  • NEXT THURSDAY: A Cave Canem Reading- free at the Hill House! Featuring none other than Yusef Komumkayaa, Cornelius Eady, Toi Derricote, and Carl Phillips! 7PM

  • NEXT FRIDAY: My reading, along with 4 other class members of a performance poetry class. Birmingham Bridge Tavern, the South Side, 7:30 PM, in conjunction with the Most Wanted Fine Arts collaborative.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Poetry Map

Poets.Org has launched a "Poetry Map," with individual websites for each of the 50 states in the U.S. To get to the page for a state, just add a forward slash and the two digit postal code abbreviation for your state after poets.org. For example, Pennsylvania's page is http://www.poets.org/pa On these pages, there are featured poets hailing from the state, history with regards to poetry, poems about the state, as well as links to lit mags, publishing houses, organizations, readings, etc. in the state. If you see something that's not there that should be, you can e-mail suggestions to map@poets.org
I sent them a few Pittsburgh poetry links already!

~Sarah