Western Book Roundup
Mayor Reads Western Favorites, Jenna Bush Bans Knitting Needles
By Jenny Shank, 11-07-07
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| Mayor Hickenlooper, photo courtesy of denvergov.org. | |
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Elections wrapped up yesterday, but things are still looking political on the regional books front. For starters, the Center of the American West’s “Words To Stir The Soul” reading is tonight on the CU Boulder campus (7 p.m., Old Main Auditorium, free). The annual event has long featured local notables reading their favorite selections from Western literature, and this year’s presentation, according the Center’s website, “honors the tireless and oftentimes thankless exertions of Colorado’s public servants” (Although this press release is unsigned, I can hear the delightful voice of the scholar Patricia Limerick, who directs the center, in that phrase). Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who has been a “tireless” book booster, will host.
Speaking of books Mayor Hickenlooper has boosted, this year’s One Book, One Denver is wrapping up with Nick Arvin’s readings from Articles of War at the LoDo Tattered Cover on November 8 (7 p.m.) and at Manual High School on November 14. Look for my interview of Arvin in the Rocky Mountain News Books section and on NewWest.net/books on Friday.
The Rocky Mountain News ran an item Monday on the objects that people are forbidden to bring to Jenna Bush’s reading at the Tattered Cover in LoDo on November 29 (7 p.m.). The extensive list includes the expected, such as weapons and plastic replicas of weapons, and the unexpected, such as umbrellas, backpacks, “containers of any type—bottles, cans, spray containers,” unopened envelopes and packages, and knitting needles. In case you’re tempted to just show up naked, that would probably be frowned upon by the security team who will begin screening patrons an hour before the reading. (Free tickets are available now with the purchase of the book, Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope.)
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Comments
As for me, I have no plans to attend at the moment--I don't feel like buying the book with all the stacks and stacks other great things I have to read that haven't gotten as much attention. I'd love to hear someone's report on it, though.
And according to the AP, all of Jenna Bush's proceeds from the book will be donated to UNICEF, the organization through which she met the subject of the book.