This week started off with a bang and is ending with a whimper, thankfully.
This summer, I wrote about how author, Joanne Rendell, contacted me about reading an advanced copy of her book, Crossing Washington Square. Monday night, we were very honored to host her on our campus for a reading. While the event itself went fabulously, the days leading up to her visit were not so smooth. They included a realization on Friday that no food had been ordered for the reception and a trip on Sunday to Georgetown Cupcake to cut in front of a crazy-long line to pick up three dozen of their tasty treats.
The madness was worth it, though. Joanne agreed to eat dinner with a few students at Figs on MacArthur Boulevard before heading over to her reading. She talked for a bit about the novel then called on a few eager students to assist her with the reading. Afterwards, the audience asked questions, enjoyed the cupcakes, and chatted informally with each other and with Joanne. Quite a few of my students came, as I had hoped. They read a piece ("Unschooling") in class by Joanne and were excited to see the face behind the words. The next night, I took a few up to the Borders in Friendship Heights where Joanne gave a repeat performance.
After the first event, I had a student email me to say that she had never before met an author whom she had to read in class. Her email ended with the declaration, "I love college." The second night, a male student (mind you, I teach a course themed around women's autobiography and, very often, my male students are a little disgruntled) told me that another male student, who had attended the reading the first night, texted him to say that it was "totally worth it" and that he should head up to the Borders if he had time. Sometimes, students can be so sweet.
The cupcakes, though... they were definitely the icing on a truly terrific two days.
Thanks, Joanne!
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watching Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Rachel Zoe Project. Not reading fast enough.
