Links & notes: 'French Lessons'

Photo by Borja Lopez from Pexels.

Thank you to everyone who joined this month’s conversation about French Lessons: A Memoir by Alice Kaplan.

A few literary links to note:

• Alice Kaplan's page at Yale, with her biography, list of authored books, and more.

• Video of a 2018 lecture by Alice Kaplan about Camus: "Looking for the Stranger: Albert Camus and the Life of a Literary Classic"

• Alice Kaplan's latest book: States of Plague: Reading Albert Camus in a Pandemic.

• Gunter Grass was among the writers with complex histories whose name came up during the discussion. In 2006, he spoke to why he kept his experience in the SS a secret for decades. The Guardian article.

• The October schedule has been posted for Litquake, our local literary festival. As usual, many events are free; donations, of course, help to make it all possible. Click here to find details and sign-ups (as well as volunteer opportunities).

• This week was Banned Books Week. Books Inc. shares top banned books and trend info.

October Discussion

Following up on Professor Kaplan's reflections on the post-graduate and professorial experience, in October, we turn to Stoner by John Williams. This novel, published in 1965, has had a recent resurgence in attention in Europe and the US.

Sunday, October 16, 2022

11:00 a.m. to approx 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time