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

The Dream Nest

I had an awe-inspiring surreal experience yesterday on a visit to the "House Poem" by Huang Xiang. Located on Sampsonia Way in the North Side of Pittsburgh, this is the home of Huang Xiang and his wife Zhang Ling. The house is covered in calligraphy of his poetry. This is an amazing attestment because Mr. Huang's work was banned in China, and when he lived there, he had been imprisoned altogether over ten years of his life. He and his wife came here in 2004 as refugees with the help of the City of Asylum Pittsburgh.

Huang Xiang reading

I suggested this venue for part of a Literacy*AmeriCorps Pittsburgh training day, and was thrilled when City of Asylum via Henry Reese helped to coordinate this. Huang Xiang was very gracious and thrilled us by reading seven poems and taking questions and comments. I am planning to blog more about this soon, but for now, here are some pictures from the event. I was asked to read the English translations of Mr. Huang's poetry before he read each poem in Chinese. Josh Cohen and Steve Thomas, also AmeriCorps members each read a poem as well.

Me reading English translations with Huang Xiang looking on.

Steve Thomas reading with Huang Xiang

The House Poem

Recent Happenings...

1: FLUX (Braddock, April 14th)

FLUX was held on April 14th in Braddock, PA. This was a big art event-- it had both visual art and performance art. Everyone got to help James Simon with a sculpture of a sheep. There were also bands and djs. There was even a guy juggling fire and a giant creature that looked like a cross between a hamster and Shamu.

2: Balkan Beat Box and Golem Concert

I had bought my brother tickets to this concert for his birthday. It was at the Rex Theatre in the Southside of Pittsburgh. It was a great energetic concert. I am hoping to find someone who took photos online so I can post some, as it was crazy. When Balkan Beat Box were on, they came from the balcony and four of them were wearing snare drums, two had saxaphones, all were wearing masks. They marched through the crowd and formed a circle, and the audience formed a circle around them, then we followed them to the edge of the stage as they came forward. They had everyone jumping and dancing all night!

3: Earth Day

My AmeriCorps did a service project at Frick Park for Earth Day. We planted trees and pulled up garlic mustard, which is an invasive plant that the native animals don't eat. After that a bunch of us went to a GPLC/AmeriCorps event at Barnes & Noble and Vijay's band, Chaibaba played Puerto Rican music. A fun day, but very exhausting. I probably shouldn't have even attempted to walk to the park from my apt when I missed the bus, but I almost made it without having to be picked up! I slept from around 4 pm when I got home until my phone rang at 10:30, then I ate something and went back to bed for the night!

READINGS

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to attend a Drue Heinz lecture featuring writer Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri has written a Pullitzer-prize-winning collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies, and a novel, Namesake. It was really great to hear her talk- my impressions of her were as a humble, down-to-earth, extremely talented, genuine woman. I enjoyed hearing her speak of how, for her, the act of writing creatively developed naturally from her love of reading. I was also able to sign a book for me. She was an amazing trooper, sitting there and signing for every single person who desired her signature.





Anyways, I got to thinking, if I become a famous writer, what will my readings be like? Here's an idea of what I have in mind:

(this was generated using: http://atom.smasher.org)

~SEA