Spring Break
Dorothy Allison to speak, sign books today on campus
Samantha Salas
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: News
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"Bastard Out of Carolina" author Dorothy Allison will be speaking on campus at two free events today, one at 3 p.m. in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and the second at 7:30 p.m. in the Music building Concert Hall.
"Many people recognize her work before her name," said Kelly Harrison, co-director of SJSU's Center for Literary Arts. "But with a heart of gold, and as easy going and down to earth as she is, students can take a lesson or two from Dorothy Allison."
Professor Susan Shillinglaw said even if students haven't read Allison's work, they should still attend the reading just to hear her speak.
"She is very forthright and honest - very clear and no nonsense," Shillinglaw said. "Students would really appreciate her as a voice. She is such an engaging story teller."
According to the center's press release, Allison is a National Book Award finalist and the 2007 winner of the Robert Penn Warren Award for Fiction, in addition to being the author of the bestselling novel "Bastard Out of Carolina", which has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
"Dorothy is not only a great model because of her work and her experiences in her life," Harrison said, "but she is simply amazing. She starts to speak at her readings and magic fills the room."
Harrison, who went to one of Allison's readings last year, said Allison has a great way of incorporating readings of her past and current works and speaking about writing in general, what it means to her and how it has transformed her life.
"She speaks to her audience like a Baptist speaker," Harrison said. "She is just so passionate about what she believes in."
Kate Evans, also co-director of SJSU's Center for Literary Arts, agrees and said if she is like a Baptist speaker, her religion is humanity.
"Dorothy is an amazing speaker, and she really believes in the reading and writing of literature," Evans said. "She advocates literature's connection to humanity, and I think that is so necessary in our world."
"Many people recognize her work before her name," said Kelly Harrison, co-director of SJSU's Center for Literary Arts. "But with a heart of gold, and as easy going and down to earth as she is, students can take a lesson or two from Dorothy Allison."
Professor Susan Shillinglaw said even if students haven't read Allison's work, they should still attend the reading just to hear her speak.
"She is very forthright and honest - very clear and no nonsense," Shillinglaw said. "Students would really appreciate her as a voice. She is such an engaging story teller."
According to the center's press release, Allison is a National Book Award finalist and the 2007 winner of the Robert Penn Warren Award for Fiction, in addition to being the author of the bestselling novel "Bastard Out of Carolina", which has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
"Dorothy is not only a great model because of her work and her experiences in her life," Harrison said, "but she is simply amazing. She starts to speak at her readings and magic fills the room."
Harrison, who went to one of Allison's readings last year, said Allison has a great way of incorporating readings of her past and current works and speaking about writing in general, what it means to her and how it has transformed her life.
"She speaks to her audience like a Baptist speaker," Harrison said. "She is just so passionate about what she believes in."
Kate Evans, also co-director of SJSU's Center for Literary Arts, agrees and said if she is like a Baptist speaker, her religion is humanity.
"Dorothy is an amazing speaker, and she really believes in the reading and writing of literature," Evans said. "She advocates literature's connection to humanity, and I think that is so necessary in our world."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Al Mason
posted 10/03/07 @ 9:25 AM PST
I heard her speak in New York. Only thing better than hearing her is reading her writing.
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