Savvy Readers in Emporium, PA

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Savvy Readers in Emporium, PA
On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, I met with 14 savvy readers at the Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library in Emporium, PA, for two hours of discussion. All had read the book, and as a group, appreciated the attention to language, the rendering of landscapes, and the interpretation of regional heritage. One participant remarked that every word was important, and we spent some time citing examples. The attention to language in Heartwood isn’t for everyone, but this group by and large saw it as complementary to the overall aesthetic. A particularly touching comment was: “I find myself smiling as I think back on the book, even days afterward.” Another: "It's so nice to have a book that stands out from the popular material, and makes you think."