We are fortunate that San Miguel is so rich in cultural offerings.
A new and exciting project is San Miguel's Big Read.
On November 12th, at the literary Sala's monthly meeting, the San Miguel Writer's Conference will launch the Big Read: creating a community of readers in a town wide read of Barbara Kingsolver's dazzling new book,
The Lacuna.
The Lacuna is an absorbing and richly intelligent page-turner of a novel, recounting the impassioned lives of Frida Khalo, Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky, as played out amidst the hot bed of revolutionary ferment that was Mexico in the 1920's and 30's.
I asked Diane Berman, the Big Read coordinator, her thoughts about featuring
The Lacuna for the town wide read.:
"It's a perfect book for our readers and writers: themes of political struggle, historical conflict and personal drama are set against intensely beautiful descriptions of Mexico at that time. And, it is a perfect book for 2010, as this year is the 200 h anniversary of the Mexican Revolution."
Barbara Kingsolver herself will be the key note speaker at the upcoming Literary Conference, February 19th-23, and she will be discussing
The Lacuna. Barbara has said that she is eager for dialogue at the Conference about this period in the Mexican Revolution.
" The Big Read is an exciting opportunity to invite all San Miguel readers and writers to read
The Lacuna either in small discussion groups or individually and wonderful for us all to be informed and excited participants in these discussions with Ms. Kingsolver.".
At the launch we will be talking about the book and encouraging people to join small groups for discussion. There will be ample time for people who are not already in a book group to sign up for one-and volunteers to help people find groups that fit their schedule."
Even if you have had the pleasure of participating in a book group, The Big Read is a truly unique opportunity to engage in lively discussion, not only with fellow readers, but with the great author herself.
At the November 12th launch, there will be copies of
The Lacuna in English and Spanish, as well as a list of excellent reference books such as Graham Green's
The Power and The Glory and John Reed's
Insurgent Mexico. There will also be discussion guides for those that are interested.
'In addition", Diane added, "we are also offering two presentations before the February 19th Conference, that will enhance our understanding of Mexico at the time of the setting of
The Lacuna.
On December 16, a Wednesday evening at 7, we will host a showing of Julie Taymor's film,
FRIDA, a visually extraordinary experience.
"Because
FRIDA focuses on the exact period of Ms. Kingsolver's book, it is the perfect film to engage our San Miguel audience. This stunning movie portrays and illuminates Ms. Kingsolver's excellent descriptions of Mexico's landscapes, holidays, and both Frida's and Diego's art work. I think it will add immensely to the richness of our experience of The Lacuna."
Next, in the exciting schedule of events leading up to the Writer's Conference, on January 8, at the Teatro Santa Anna, Arturo Morales Tirado, a noted local historian, will give a bilingual talk exploring and explaining the social, cultural and historical currents in San Miguel during the same time that
The Lacuna is set.
Lastly, for those who would like to share their thoughts before Ms. Kingsolver's talk, and perhaps configure and clarify their own questions about the book, there will be an informal meeting at Diane's house.
Diane added " This is not only our opportunity to read a fabulous historical novel written by one of our best modern authors as a community, but also a chance to think about the experience of the novel in the context of the Revolution and our current experience of living in Mexico-and-share those thoughts with each other and with Ms. Kingsolver at an open discussion!"
And-sizzle, sizzle- you can purchase your-hot off the press-copy of
The Lacuna at the Launch! But, you don't have to wait!
The Lacuna is currently available at La Tienda at the Biblioteca and the Tecolote Bookstore.
And what a great addition to the Literary Sala's regular monthly reading, where the two presenters that evening are Barbara Levine, introducing her widely praised new book on Frida Kahlo, and Sandra Gulland, presenting her new historical novel,
The Sun King."Bottom line", added Diane, "this is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of our ever growing literary community and to support the Writer's Conference. We will be reading a great book and bring people together to have a forum to share and explore our thoughts, and be a part of a community preparing to be informed and articulate about
The Lacuna."
And to this we can only add, Corre le Vox-spread the word! A community that reads together! Seems like we get luckier every day, or good keeps getting better!
