catapult magazine

With a month to go before the conference I was wondering if any who are planning to attend have any advice for good reads to prepare for the authors. I’ve read both [u:8ec58da36e]Jacob Have I Loved[/u:8ec58da36e] and [u:8ec58da36e]Bridge to Terebithia[/u:8ec58da36e] by Patterson (good books for younger readers). I’ve read a number of short strories by Oates (“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” being my favorite) and [u:8ec58da36e]Expensive People[/u:8ec58da36e] which got rave reviews though I didn’t care for it much. I don’t know if I’ve ever read anything by Buechner. I know that Godric was his biggie. Has anybody read it? Does anybody have any other recommendations from any of the participating authors?

, from what i remember was very good—a testament to God creating us as creatures who are earthly and earthy.

i’ve purchased Oates’ [u:5ec212fbc2]We Were the Mulvaneys[/u:5ec212fbc2] and Lauren Winner’s [u:5ec212fbc2]Girl Meets God[/u:5ec212fbc2], but haven’t gotten to them yet. i’m trying to bait myself through non-fiction with the promise of memoir/fiction (even if it will be as dark as [u:5ec212fbc2]Mulvaneys[/u:5ec212fbc2].) i wish non-fiction were easier for me… maybe when i grow up it will be.

by the way, Norb, are you bringing students?

What are you guys talking about?

I’m curious, as I read most of those books awhile ago.

What are we talking about? Why the Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing my good Annie. Great times. See this site: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engl/festival.htm

] sounds interesting. Maybe I’ll look at that one. Any others?

Leif Enger’s [u:1e896de949]Peace Like a River[/u:1e896de949] is a very engaging story with strong themes. i can’t say i’ve read many of the other specifice suggestions. see a full list at:

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engl/conf/program/toread.htm

Buechner’s [u:1e896de949]Longing for Home[/u:1e896de949] is a lovely collection of essays, including a small one on the nature of faith and doubt, which was very influential for me. i should return to that book one of these days…

i’m sorry to see that Douglas Coupland will not be attending after all.

as far as musicians go, what’s the scoop with Carrie Newcomer? she good?

maybe he’s come up on the music threads already (i honestly don’t pay as much attention to those as i should), but Sufjan Stevens is playing with some other folks on the evening of April 22. we only heard a bit of his album at a record store in Chicago, but it was fabulous. i believe it was [i:b0efafd899]Greetings from Michigan[/i:b0efafd899]. anyone else going to this concert? if you go to http://www.sufjanstevens.com/, you can hear song clips and play with an interactive map of my new home state.

I am so jealous…I so wish I could attend!

I haven’t read [u:576e49c3bb]Godric[/u:576e49c3bb] but I have enjoyed Buechner’s [u:576e49c3bb]Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC[/u:576e49c3bb] and have on my shelf waiting to be read, [u:576e49c3bb]Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale. [/u:576e49c3bb]
I just purchased L. Winner’s [u:576e49c3bb]Girl Meets God [/u:576e49c3bb]and [u:576e49c3bb]Mudhouse Sabbath[/u:576e49c3bb]…liking very much her thoughts in [u:576e49c3bb]Mudhouse[/u:576e49c3bb].

Y’all soak up your time at the Festival of Faith and Writing. I am determined to get there next year! It’s hard to read your posts and not be going!

We’ll miss you Alice. I’d love to be able to see you again! My first year at LWC, Len let me go, so I would think that the school would be behind you. Make sure you check again in 06 (they only hold them every other year).

Son of Laughter, Buechner’s account of the story of Jacob, is my favorite. It’s gritty, as the Hollywood execs say.

Douglas Coupland is, of all the presenters, my favorite. His book Life After God is, to me, the most beautiful, honest, fictionalized mind-memoir of my (29) generation.

And don’t forget Thomas Lynch, poet and undertaker, whose collection of essays The Undertaking: Life Studies From The Dismal Trade is one of my three favorite essay collections from the past 5 years.

Thanks eprentiss. Those are guys I know nothing about. I have a feeling that the next month may be busy for me.