GENESEO, N.Y.—The Geneseo Milne Library and the Geneseo Literary Forum will highlight the work of Association of Writers & Writing Programs Book of Nonfiction Prize winner Sonja Livingston at 6 p.m. on March 7 in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom.
Author of Queen of the Fall: A Memoir of Girls and Goddesses, Livingston’s reading will feature excerpts from Queen of the Fall. Refreshments will be available at the event, along with a book signing by Livingston.
The reading is in support of the 2016 “If All of Rochester Reads the Same Book.” Geneseo is one of many colleges to feature Livingston, as the award-winning memoirist will be partaking in readings and book signings all over Rochester for “If All of Rochester Reads the Same Book.” Additionally, Livingston will be making appearances in various Rochester colleges, libraries and senior centers.
The mission statement of “If All of Rochester Reads the Same Book” emphasizes the importance for people in the general Rochester area to connect through the literary world. This connection includes people engaging in discussions based on the readings, so each year Writers & Books selects one book for the Rochester community to explore together through “If All of Rochester Reads the Same Book”—and now 2016 is the year of Queen of the Fall.
For such readings like Geneseo’s event, there are emphasized discussion points—for example, one question is, “What are the possible meanings of the title of Queen of the Fall?” These discussion questions are especially critical with a book like Queen of the Fall, because of its imaginative vignettes on being an American woman in the 1980s and the 1990s. A plethora of iconic women are featured in Queen of the Fall—such as Susan B. Anthony, the Virgin Mary and more—in order to highlight such female issues as teenage pregnancy.
Livingston herself is an assistant professor in the MFA Program at the University of Memphis. Other than Queen of the Fall, Livingston has written two books: Ghostbread and Ladies Night at the Dreamland. Her first book, Ghostbread, won an AWP Book Prize for Nonfiction. Additionally, her works have received many accolades, including a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and an Iowa Review Award. Livingston has also had her writings appear in many literary journals, such as the Iowa Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Southeast Review and more.
News release written by College Communications intern Alexandra Ciarcia.
Media contact:
David Irwin
Media Relations Director
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu