UW on NY Times Top Ten Books of '09 Lists

The New York Times posted its literary critics' top ten books of 2009 today, and we were thrilled to see that former undergrad Patrick Sommerville's first novel, The Cradle, made Janet Maslin's list, while Prof. Lorrie Moore's latest novel, A Gate at the Stairs, was on the list compiled by Michiko Kakatani. Here are the critics' thumbnail descriptions of these novels:

Maslin on Sommerville: A slim, enchanting, unsentimental debut novel in which a young father-to-be’s journey to retrieve his wife’s stolen cradle sends him on an unexpectedly important journey. (Little, Brown & Company)

Kakatani on Moore: By turns heartbreaking and funny, sobering and wry, this novel chronicles the coming of age of a young woman in the year after 9/11 and her initiation into the adult world of loss and grief. (Alfred A. Knopf)

Congratulations to both Pat and Lorrie!

Kelly Cherry's Newest Books

Professor Emerita Kelly Cherry has two new books out. Her latest collection of poetry is The Retreats of Thought, a book-length sonnet sequence that explores the philosophical domain, addressing classic questions, raising new ones, and sometimes doing philosophy in fourteen lines.

And a starred review in Booklist says of her new collection of essays, Girl in the Library: On Women Writers and the Writing Life, "Piquant essays on family history and coming-of-age are deepened by reflections on beauty, art, and vocation. In fresh and inquiring portraits of exceptional southern women writers--Eudora Welty, Elizabeth Hardwick, Mary Ward Brown, Bobbie Ann Mason--Cherry explores the nature of a literary life." Library Journal adds, "Cherry explores the craft of writing, tracing her own development from rebellious college student to award-winning author of 19 books... Cherry's story will prove inspirational to aspiring writers as will her critical essays."

Another Blue Ox Reading comes to town this Thursday, November 19. The series features work by MFA candidates from UW-Madison's Program in Creative Writing.

Angela Delarmente and Vanessa Merina will share their fiction at Avol's Bookstore in downtown Madison.

Blue Ox Reading Series
Angela Delarmente & Vanessa Merina
Thursday, Nov 19 at 7:00 pm
Avol's Bookstore
315 West Gorham St

Even though he's left home, MFA grad Dean Bakopoulos is still a local hero, as you can tell by reading this article.

WI Council for the Blind: Reading & Artist Reception (Dec 4)

2009 Reading & Artist Reception

Friday, December 4
4-7pm
Wisconsin Council for the Blind
754 Williamson Street

6pm Reading by Lake Effect Poets
Poems for this exhibit were written by: Robin Chapman, Susan Elbe, Rasma Haidri, Catherine Jagoe, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Sara Parrell, Judith Strasser, and Alison Townsend. Lake Effect Poets has met, in its variations, over the past 20 years as a writing group. They have read in public forums, including the Wisconsin Book Festival and the grand opening of the Overture Center for the Arts. All members are award-winning poets who are widely published, including more than 36 books since the inception of the group.

Art Exhibit
“BORDERLAND: where worlds arise out of touch” is a collection of photographic portraits by Thomas Ferrella. Each of his nine pieces is accompanied by a poem that is brailled directly onto the portrait, thanks to the hard work of Council staff member Virginia DeBlaey. Madison-based Lake Effect Poets wrote new poems specifically for this exhibit. Runs from December 4, 2009 through February 5, 2010. Regular viewing hours are 8am to 4:30pm, M-F.