The book selection for Pasadena ’s ninth One City , One Story community reading celebration is Hillary Jordan’s novel “Mudbound.”
Jordan ’s prize-winning debut novel, published in 2009, tells the story of two families and their struggles in post-World War II Mississippi as the forces of change and resistance collide with terrible consequences. City-bred Laura McAllan is trying to raise her children on her husband's Mississippi Delta farm, a place she finds foreign and frightening. When it rains, the waters rise up and swallow the bridge to town, stranding the family in a sea of mud.
In the midst of the McAllans’ struggles, two celebrated soldiers return home to the Delta. Jamie McAllan is everything his older brother Henry is not: charming, handsome and sensitive to Laura’s plight, but haunted by his memories of combat. Ronsel Jackson, eldest son of black tenant farmers who live on the McAllan property, comes home from fighting the Nazis with the shine of a war hero, only to face far more personal – and dangerous – battles against the ingrained bigotry of his own countrymen. It is the unlikely friendship of these two brothers-in-arms, and the passions they arouse in others, that drive this powerful debut novel.
One City, One Story activities and events will be scheduled for March and April 2011. A community dialog with the author is scheduled Saturday, March 26, at the Pasadena Convention Center . Details of book discussion groups, film series, lectures and other events will be announced later.
Jordan grew up in Texas and Oklahoma . She received her Masters in Fine Arts Degree in creative writing from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Political Science fromWellesley College . Her short fiction has appeared in several literary journals, including StoryQuarterly and The Carolina Quarterly. She lives in New York .
One City, One Story is designed to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading and literature in the community, engage participants in dialog and bring Pasadenans together by promoting greater understanding of differing points of view.
This year’s One City, One Story book selection committee included Brian Biery, director of community organization, Flintridge Center; Rosemary Choate, presidents, Friends of Caltech Library; Sally Kousser, reference librarian, Pasadena Public Library; Mary Ann Laun, director, Stratford Library at Pasadena City College; Fred Messick, associate vice president for public affairs, Fuller Theological Seminary; Christine Reeder, manager, San Rafael Branch Library and Lamanda Park Branch Library; Jan Sanders, director of libraries and information services, City of Pasadena; Susan Schmid, account manager/sales and marketing, Kaiser Permanent; Jolly Urner, founder, Pasadena One City, One Story; Pat Walker, assistant manager, Vroman’s Bookstore; and Larry Wilson, public editor, Pasadena Star-News.
Other finalists in the selection process for 2011 were “A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore, “City of Thieves ” by David Benioff, “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese, “The Lotus Eaters” by Tatjana Soli and “Wife of the Gods” by Kwei Quartey.
One City, One Story selections in past years were “Gardens of Water” by Alan Drew in 2010, “The Hummingbird’s Daughter” by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2009, “Easter Island” by Jennifer Vanderbes in 2008, “The Distant Land of My Father” by Bo Caldwell in 2007, “Kindred” by Octavia Butler in 2006, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini in 2005, “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger in 2003 and “The Soloist” by Mark Salzman in 2002.
For more information visit www.onecityonestory.com or call (626) 744-7270.
No comments:
Post a Comment