📚 Grisham @ MJCCA Book Festival
New chapters for shorter days Oct Welcome to the October issue of Stacks the monthly newsletter about Atlanta s literary scene We publish on the second Sunday of every month but we are sending this time on Monday after a busier-than-usual weekend at Atlanta Pride October has arrived with cooler mornings and a particular quality of light that makes the indoors seem ever so appealing The urgency of summer fades replaced by a slower rhythm of pumpkin spice lattes and evenings that invite you to cozy up next to a warm fire It s the month of carved pumpkins glowing on front moves ghost stories that make you laugh for hours and the autumn nostalgia atmosphere that naturally lends itself to reading In this edition we take a look at books that have a haunting yet nostalgic history upcoming literary events ghosts of famous literature and their integral influence on the arts and an awesome author spotlight Rough Draft s Cathy Cobbs also got the chance to speak with author John Grisham who is the opening night speaker at the Book Festival of the MJCCA which begins on Oct Thanks for reading and please don t hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback Also if you enjoy Stacks please forward it to a friend and encourage them to subscribe using this link -Caroline Sarah and Madeleine Via Adobe Stock Books That Haunt Us Atonement by Ian McEwan The novel begins with a single devastating falsehood that lingers throughout and calls into question what truth even means and how easily it can be misrepresented Briony s lie doesn t just alter Robbie and Cecilia s lives it haunts them leaving them searching for reason amidst confusion and betrayal The past echoes and whispers constantly in the background Briony s quest for atonement becomes a kind of haunting she s pursued by the ghost of her own guilt Trapped in an endless loop of confession she rewrites and rewrites a novel to make sense of her shame and remorse She summons the dead trying to speak to them through fiction But can words resurrect the truth The final twist in Atonement packs the cruelest punch of all the revelation that the author s final atonement is only an illusion I ve tried to put my finger on what s so haunting about this story and I ve realized it s the could ve-been that will forever leave me wondering Caroline The Things They Carried by Tim O Brien In the novel the memories are the ghosts Taking place during the Vietnam War it describes soldiers who carry not only guns and letters but also memories Memories of Kiowa and Lavender linger their deaths replaying endlessly and guilt manifesting in each soldier s haunted mind However the heaviest things they carried were the ones no one could explain like a land that speaks back and hides enemy soldiers behind every curve The soldiers came home but they never really left the jungle The war followed them into their dreams and into their silence They struggled to talk about their experiences and at times it felt like no one longed to listen until the silence began to fester In this way O Brien gets to the real purpose of writing stories to release the silence However The Things They Carried is also an attempt to preserve the memories of real people In literature they come alive again and he can talk to them They keep on living in this way Caroline The following morning and The next morning and The coming day by Gabrielle Zevin This novel centered around video games and creativity leaves a lasting message about the isolation of grief Sam Masur and Sadie Green have been friends since they first met as kids in the hospital Sam there for an injured leg and Sadie visiting Their friendship lasts through thick and thin with various struggles along the way pushing them apart but they unfailingly find their way back to each other As they enter adulthood Sam and Sadie become business partners on their shared video championship project with their other close friend Max Watanabe Max is not just a friend but practically family and for Sadie a romantic interest as well When Max passes away suddenly in a tragic accident Sam and Sadie struggle to go on ultimately icing each other out They struggle to connect again for years separated by the strong barrier of grief between them Eventually Sam and Sadie reconnect but this time they have to rebuild with grief embedded in them This story haunts me as it beautifully captures the essence of how grief has a mind of its own and sometimes blinds you from seeing what you need most of Madeleine Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens In this novel Owens underscores how we can hide the ghosts of our pasts but they will inevitably come back to haunt us Kya Clark more commonly known as the marsh girl was left to raise herself in the wild starting at the age of ten after she was abandoned by her abusive father Kya goes on to learn to provide for herself and eventually becomes enamored with a local boy named Chase Andrews who has an abusive past like her father When Chase is discovered dead the mysterious marsh girl is everyone s first suspect Kya is put on trial and eventually uncovered not guilty but it is later suggested at the end of the novel that she did take part in his murder To me the novel really highlights that as much as Kya wants to escape her past and move on with her life she never truly can The ghosts of her past keep coming back to haunt her whether it s her dad in the form of Chase or how Chase s death haunts her guilt and conscience This novel made me think a lot about how we are the product of the impressions others have made on us and how these impressions continue to haunt us One thing to say though this book made a lasting impression on me and will definitely continue to haunt my thoughts for years to come Madeleine The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold The Lovely Bones opens with the voice of fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon as she narrates her own murder from heaven pulling readers into a world suspended between life and loss I remember feeling that ache in my chest when her father refuses to give up standing outside in the snow with a baseball bat convinced the killer is still close The image of her little sister emerging into the murderer s house years later still makes my heart race Sebold captures grief in all its messy shapes anger guilt numbness and somehow makes it luminous What haunts me majority of is how Susie lingers as a ghost watching over her family and hoping the people she loves find a way to keep living Sarah The Road by Cormac McCarthy I ll never forget the feeling of finishing The Road and sitting there in silence McCarthy tells the story of a father and his son as they approach an abandoned and desolate world no sunlight no laughter no names The landscape feels lifeless yet somehow alive with dread As I read I discovered myself holding my breath at moments of success when they discover a hidden bunker stocked with canned peaches or when the father manages to start a fire in the cold Those brief moments of safety feel like almost holy miracles What haunts me preponderance isn t the apocalypse itself but rather the tenderness of the father-son relationship The father s love for his son is fierce and fragile all at once leaving you quiet haunted by the question of what you d do to protect the last bit of light in your life Sarah Chamblee s Storybook Charm SPONSORED BY DECIDE DEKALB Chamblee offers a city brimming with taste heritage and connection Culinary traditions from around the world meet on every corner while coffee shops provide a cozy retreat to recharge Families spend time in parks where green spaces and outdoor engagements create lasting memories Entertainment draws the neighborhood together through events music and celebrations that inspire Maomi Bookstore and Wild Aster Books is a local favorite a place where stories captivate the neighborhood In Chamblee fun food and family blend into unforgettable experiences Literary Witches Via The Marginalian Reclaiming the Witch Power myth and women in literature Circe by Madeline Miller This novel gives the witch archetype new emotional and feminist depth Madeline Miller allows Circe to tell her own story and reclaim her narrative from the myths that demonized her Her banishment to the island of Aeaea isolates Circe and her magic grows from this solitude and self-discovery So her witchcraft is really a language of resilience Unlike the static cursed witches of folklore Circe changes emotionally morally and spiritually Her immortality doesn t trap her it forces her to grow Circe doesn t seek power over others Instead she seeks knowledge of the natural world her emotions and her limits Every spell she crafts is deeply personal What s more Circe s power doesn t vanish when she becomes a mother it deepens Her witchcraft begins to stem from a fierce protective care for her child and her spells turn into safeguards against the gods cruelty In the end Circe chooses mortality developing a usual stereotype and siding with humanity over eternity Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman You might recognize this title from the movie and if so you know Hoffman brings magic down to earth The Owens women bake garden fall in love and grieve in a small American town proving that magic can exist in ordinary life Magic in Practical Magic isn t solitary but communal The Owens women draw strength from each other rewriting the archetype of the lone isolated witch into one rooted in connection and love Spells in Practical Magic aren t flashy or dark but subtle metaphors for human emotion Magic reflects their inner world Ultimately Practical Magic restores tenderness to the figure of the witch The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Unveiled in any great English class you may remember The Scarlet Letter and its emphasis on Romanticism but more importantly how romantic ideals are used to comment on women s roles in society The Scarlet Letter is set in Puritan New England where citizens pride themselves on their lack of greed and want for worldly pleasures In reality though this Puritan society is extremely corrupt with statesmen indulging in the finest goods with zero consequences while women are held accountable for even the smallest wrongdoing The townspeople are wary of any slight misconduct from women as they believe it to be part of dangerous witchcraft especially when it comes to Mistress Hibbins Mistress Hibbins often holds her rumored witch meetings which are never outright portrayed in the novel but seem to be mere gatherings of independent women in the forest to perform witch-like rituals This in itself is enough for society to label it as sin although there is no direct harm Overall Hawthorne highlights the importance of witches in Puritan society and how swiftly people will ignorantly use women as scapegoats A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L Engle A Wrinkle in Time puts a new spin on the darkness typically associated with witchcraft and magic Witches often associated with evil and historically linked to women s wrongdoings are framed in a much more positive light in this novel about cosmic balance Madeleine L Engle introduces three witches in her novel Mrs Who Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit These three witches are associated with ever-flowing knowledge which is especially relevant in their names They provide a source of guidance throughout the novel and display immense intelligence in their demeanor Witches are often seen as the antagonists but in this story the witches are the ones fighting off evil and doing their best to better their world Literary Events On Mon Oct at p m join writer fashion editor and activist Michaela Angela Davis in conversation with Charles M Blow at the Georgia Center for the Book at the Decatur Library for a discussion of Davis s new memoir Tenderheaded In this powerful and deeply personal work Davis VIBE s founding fashion editor and a CNN correspondent reflects on race identity and the legacy of Black media celebrating its cultural impact while confronting the forces that have shaped and erased it This event is free and open to the citizens registration is requested but not required On Tues Oct at p m journalist Tom Johnson visits the Atlanta History Center to discuss his new book Driven A Life in General Utility and Journalism from LBJ to CNN Johnson has held numerous impressive positions in the journalism field serving as both the chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Times and CNN making him a role model to multiple His new book chronicles eyewitness events of a large number of key points in American history Tickets are free to the population On Wed Oct at p m A Cappella Books hosts artist Ann Litrel and science journalist Charles Seabrook in conversation with award-winning reporter and environmentalist Sally Sears at the Georgia Center for the Book for a discussion of their new book Natural Wonders of Georgia to See Before You Die This illustrated guide celebrates Georgia s majority breathtaking landscapes from the Okefenokee Swamp to Brasstown Bald through art storytelling and science This event is free and open to the population registration is preferred but not required On Sun Oct at p m A Cappella Books welcomes Miriam Udel as she discusses her latest work Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children s Literature Udel uses her knowledge as a scholar of the Yiddish language as she explores the history and future of Yiddish in her newest book Udel emphasizes in her work the historical importance Yiddish children s literature has had on the perception of the Jewish area and its relative importance This event is free and open to the citizens copies of the book will be available for purchase On Thurs Oct at p m join award-winning creator and producer Shonda Rhimes at the First Baptist Church of Decatur for a special event celebrating the th anniversary of her New York Times bestselling memoir Year of Yes In this expanded edition Rhimes creator of Grey s Anatomy Disgrace and Bridgerton shares new stories and reflections on progress courage and the transformative power of saying yes In conversation with special guests Rhimes will revisit the year that changed her life and explore what it means to keep embracing satisfaction and possibility a decade later Tickets are non-refundable On Sun Oct at p m join debut novelist Margaret Hutton in conversation with Atlanta literary advocate Alison Law at A Cappella Books for a discussion of Hutton s powerful new novel If You Leave Set against the backdrop of World War II and the decades that follow the book traces the intertwined lives of three women Audrey Lucille and Lake as they tackle motherhood art love and the lingering pull of the past This event is free and open to the population On Thurs Oct at p m join former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in conversation with Pamela Kirkland host of GPB s Morning Edition at Wild Heaven Garden Club for a discussion of Jean-Pierre s new book Independent A Look Inside a Broken White House Outside the Party Lines In this urgent and revelatory work Jean-Pierre draws on her experiences serving under Presidents Obama and Biden to examine America s fractured two-party system and make a powerful episode for political independence and individual conscience Tickets are non-refundable signed book bundles may be picked up in-store after the event On Mon Nov at p m join the Atlanta History Center as they welcome best-selling author Jeffrey Rosen to share his newest work The Pursuit of Happiness In this new historical text Rosen takes a deep dive into the differing interpretations of the Constitution expressed by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson and how these opposing views have lasted over years Rosen expresses how debates over the Constitution continue as a lively discussion among presidents all the way from Washington to Trump Tickets are for not yet members and for members On Wed Nov at p m CNN s Abby Phillip visits the Atlanta History Center in conversation with celebrated civil and human rights advocate Ambassador Andrew Young Listen as Phillip and Young explore Phillip s newest work unpacking the influence of Jesse Jackson s political campaigns and how they fostered change for Black political power With Phillip s background in expert reporting and Young s extensive and impressive political background the event promises a riveting experience for the audience Tickets are for not-yet members and for members On Thurs Nov at p m the Atlanta History Center hosts sports history professor Johnny Smith as he discusses his latest work The Fight of His Life Smith uses his research in sports history to explore the influence renowned boxer Joe Louis had not only on sports but also on societal and political change The book celebrates the life and work of Joe Louis as well as all the lessons he taught Tickets are for not-yet members and for members Local Author Spotlight Anna Sonoda Anna Sonoda LCSW is a Decatur-based author therapist and mother of five whose work bridges the worlds of psychology prevention and storytelling A graduate of the University of Georgia and Emory University Sonoda spent years as a licensed clinical social worker Her early career included working directly with convicted offenders a rare and invaluable vantage point that shaped her life s mission to help families recognize the earliest signs of grooming before harm occurs That expertise inspired her to create Wait That s Weird a forthcoming children s book co-written and illustrated by her middle-school-aged daughter Designed to help families recognize the subtle signs of grooming the book gives parents and kids the tools and language to talk about safety with confidence and compassion Through her work she continues to champion family-centered instruction that replaces fear with empowerment to reflect how lifesaving conversations can begin with a simple story shared at home The post Grisham MJCCA Book Festival appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta
