st. louis literary calendar January 2009 | Vol. VII No. 5

One Civilized Reader Is Worth a Thousand Boneheads The Great Goat Gland Humbug The Center for Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Humanities middle-aged men have been searching for ways to the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Advisory Board cure impotency and loss of libido. As Brock writes, 2008–2009 Flimflam “Ever since man began to walk upright, he had been Nancy Berg By Pope Brock obsessed when his penis would not behave likewise Associate Professor of Asian and Near and searched for ways to fix the problem.” (One of Eastern Languages and Literatures Crown Publishers, 2008, 324 pages with photos, Ken Botnick the attractions of hardcore pornography for male Associate Professor of Art endnotes, bibliography, and index viewers, as cartoonist Robert Crumb’s wife pointed Gene Dobbs Bradford Executive Director I. Sex and Everlasting Life out, is the vicarious pleasure of seeing men who can Jazz St. Louis unfailingly and with great gusto perform sexually “How can I help being a humbug,” the Wizard Lingchei (Letty) Chen with nubile young women. Such fantasy viewing is Associate Professor of Modern Chinese says in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Language and Literature an anxiety reducer because watching athletic sex is Oz (1900) after giving the Scarecrow his brains, the Elizabeth Childs so much easier and satisfying than trying to have it.) Associate Professor and Chair of Tin Woodman his heart, and the Lion his cour- Department of Art History and Archaeology age, “when all these people make me do things that In November 1917 in Milford, Kansas, Brinkley Mary-Jean Cowell everybody knows can’t be done?” What people wish came up with the idea of inserting goat testicles into Associate Professor of Performing Arts the scrotum of a local farmer named Stittsworth, Phyllis Grossman for most that cannot be done is to be young forever, Retired Financial Executive to not grow old and die who reported that the opera- Michael A. Kahn painfully. It is this particu- tion worked wonders. Brock Author and Partner What people wish for most Bryan Cave LLP lar fear, old age and death, provides a description of Chris King intensified by a consumer that cannot be done is to be such a surgery at the open- Editorial Director The St. Louis American Newspaper society that worships youth, young forever, to not grow ing of his book that vividly Olivia Lahs-Gonzales that produces the greatest convinces the reader that Director old and die painfully. Sheldon Art Galleries amount of humbug and the procedure was as painful Paula Lupkin quackery, cure-alls and in execution as it was crude Assistant Professor of Architecture Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts lifesavers—from snake oil (the actual liquid that in concept. It is not surprising that some people, Erin McGlothlin is produced when squeezing a snake, a common more than a few, died from this or were completely Associate Professor of German incapacitated. After all, Brinkley was not a trained Steven Meyer elixir in the nineteenth century) to Vitamin E, from Associate Professor of English graham crackers and hot springs to Botox injec- surgeon; he was not even a trained physician. He Joe Pollack had no medical degree from any reputable school. Film and Theater Critic for KWMU, tions, from HGH and yogurt to the transplanting of Writer animal glands, the last being the business of John R. And why would any rational person think for a Anne Posega Brinkley, the subject of Pope Brock’s Charlatan. minute that placing the glands of some animal in Head of Special Collections, Olin Library your body would do anything at all for you, other Qiu Xiaolong Brinkley, one of the greatest of all American Novelist and Poet than possibly make you sicker than you were before mountebanks, made millions transplanting the Sarah Rivett you got the transplant? Why goats? Because they Assistant Professor of English testicles of young goats to men (mostly) and to are, by all accounts, frisky critters blessed with a Henry Schvey women (strangely). At first, it was touted as a cure Professor of Drama great deal of sexual brio. Wang Ning for a flagging sex life. Since long before Viagra, Professor of English, Tsinghua University James Wertsch Marshall S. Snow Professor of Arts and Sciences Jian Leng’s column will resume next month. Director of International and Area Studies Ex Officio Ralph Quatrano Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts & Sciences Zurab Karumidze visit our blog site at http://cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu/publications/blog.html Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia editor’s notes continued

II. The Science of the Humbug Mexico, promoting his clinic between There were a number of factors that presentations of country and hillbilly helped Brinkley with his long con, music. (Brinkley has an important which lasted until his unsuccessful libel place in the history of popular music suit against his nemesis, Morris Fish- because he became one of the major bein and the American Medical Asso- promoters of country music. Whether ciation (AMA). The suit went to trial in he himself liked this music is unclear, 1939 and caused Brinkley’s fortunes— but he knew that his audiences did.) like those of Oscar Wilde and Alger Morris Fishbein, friend of novelist Hiss, famous others who brought un- Sinclair Lewis and journalist H. L. successful libel suits—to fall so rapidly Mencken, editor of the Journal of the that he was stone broke and dead by American Medical Association, and May 1942. First, glandular transplants relentless promoter of the AMA, was were all the international rage when Brinkley’s sworn enemy and ultimately Brinkley started his operations: Charles the cause of his downfall. Like his Édouard Brown-Séquard, a Harvard co-religionist Harry Houdini, who physiologist, started things in 1889 “by declared war against spiritualists and injecting himself with an emulsion of mediums, Fishbein had an obsession dog and guinea pig testicles.” He was to hunt down and expose quacks, suddenly sexually reactivated and also fakes, and humbugs, which kept him rediscovered the power of defecation. in business all the time. Fishbein was (He had suffered from chronic con- responsible for Brinkley not getting stipation.) Others both European and a license in California, for losing American, in the early twentieth cen- AMA-approved doctors killed plenty his honorary degree from an Italian tury, nearly all of whom were respected of people in their practices, the state of university, and for getting kicked out of physicians and scientists or what passed medicine being what it was. In this fron- Kansas. But the big opportunity came for that at the time, began messing tier atmosphere, it was as easy for quacks when Brinkley sued him for libel for around transplanting and injecting mon- like Brinkley to practice as it was easy an article that appeared in the January key glands, the testicles of dead young for medicine shows and ads for won- and February issues of Hygeia entitled men, and other such sources of male der cures (mostly made of alcohol; the “Modern Medical Charlatans,” in which potency, and the glandular-rejuvenation popularity of these “medicines” almost Brinkley was prominently featured. movement was born. It was the miracle singlehandedly defeated Prohibition) to Brinkley was partly motivated because cure of the age. Everyone was getting pop up like weeds. (Brinkley started out he was anti-Semetic and he also believed gland transplants, including the famous in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1913 that the AMA was a tyrannical organi- and the intellectual (who were actually restoring the tired manhood of the yo- zation. Fishbein was a remarkably calm among the most gullible) such as Wil- kels by injecting colored water into their and knowledgeable witness and Brinkley liam Butler Yeats and Harry Chandler, buttocks and calling it “electro medi- was destroyed on cross-examination. owner of the Los Angeles Times and cine.”) And since AMA medicine wasn’t Charlatan is a lively and entertain- West Coast wheeler-dealer. It seemed that reliable, most people felt, why not ing book, with the readability of a good as if every old or middle-aged man who try a quack? Maybe the quack really does novel. Those with an wanted to marry some young hottie felt know something that the standard docs interest in the history the necessity to get his scrotum refitted don’t. Maybe the standard docs want to of American medi- and turbo-charged with the testicles of keep me sick to stay in business. cine, popular attitudes some randy animal. Second, the practice III. Legitimate versus Illegitimate toward science, and of medicine was still fairly unregulated Science the rise of radio and in the United States well beyond World Brinkley became so famous and pow- country music will War I. State licensing and accreditation much enjoy this work. procedures and standards varied widely. erful that he twice ran for governor of A great range of institutions could call Kansas and probably should have award- Gerald Early themselves medical schools. The AMA ed the office at least once if all the votes Director was trying to establish itself as the chief had been counted. He understood radio Center for the Humanities regulatory agency for physicians— and the power of advertising and oper- but not without more than a ated some of the powerful radio stations little resistance. Moreover, even of his day in the United States and in st. louis literary calendar book of the month by Gerald Early

Faith and Politics: How the “Moral reading for all the members Values” Debate Divides America and of our college-educated elite.) How to Move Forward Together She reserves her best sarcas- By Senator John Danforth tic shots for Palin, whom she wishes to blame for McCain’s Viking Press, 2006, 238 pages, no notes, defeat but cannot quite do so, no index, no photos or illustrations what with the overwhelming I. Wailin’ About Palin facts of, first, a total economic meltdown that started in The postmortems of the Republican early September (until this Party’s most recent national defeat— point McCain, as many will particularly the failure of its presidential remember, was running even ticket of Arizona Senator John McCain with or even slightly ahead of and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin—have Obama, despite the presence been pouring in. After all, commenta- of the duncelike governor, and tors must find something to comment it was not her idea to, dunce- on in order to justify their role and their like, jump up and suspend the paychecks. Conservative pundit Kath- campaign in the midst of the leen Parker, in her November 19, 2008, first congressional delibera- column weighing in on the GOP defeat, tions of a bailout) and, second, stated that the party had a “great big the intense public dislike of problem: G-O-D.... To be more specific, President Bush—another the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy- dunce, as far as liberals and boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails many pundits were concerned. the erstwhile conservative party and will Perhaps the real problem with continue to afflict and marginalize its the GOP is that it suffers from constituents if reckoning doesn’t soon the slogan of change. The fact that Palin low IQ: Remember that other dunce, cometh.” I assume by “reckoning” Ms. is Pentecostal hardly matters in any con- Ronald Reagan, who, in his charismatic Parker means something like a purge of sideration of her failure as a candidate— cloud of unknowing, was maybe more the white conservative Christians, whom if, indeed, she was a failure. Her stump lucky than good—or so all of us good she considers the “lowest brows,” the speech, which I listened to on several oc- liberals would like to think. In any case, anti-intellectuals, the people who don’t casions, was standard anti-liberal stuff— Parker joined such conservative pundits apparently understand that religion must Obama is weak on national security, as George Will, Charles Krauthammer, be returned “to the privacy of one’s heart vaguely disloyal, a big tax and spender, Heather McDonald, David Brooks, and where it belongs” and removed from etc.—that the GOP had used with Peggy Noonan as strongly anti-Palin. the public sphere. Of course, we might, success against Democrats like McGov- according to her column, still continue Let’s be clear that it is unlikely that ern, Mondale, Carter, Gore, and Kerry. to speak in public of some vague thing the GOP lost because of its appeals to The fact that Palin is strongly pro-life called a “Creator” or something even “the base,” or the religious conserva- or attended the same church as former more vague called “Judeo-Christian tives who support the party because of Attorney General John Ashcroft was not values.” As she writes, “[belief] in a few specific issues like abortion, gay the reason she may have been undone. something greater than oneself has marriage, and the like. The Republicans After all, they had won with those posi- much to recommend it.” Doubtless it probably would have lost this election tions in the past, and they may win with does, although believing in something (and it had been so predicted by pundits them in the future. The fact that many greater than oneself does not necessarily and scholars months, even a few years, thought she might not be prepared to be have anything to do with believing in before the election took place) no mat- president was probably a far greater fac- God, which does not, by itself, define ter whom that party nominated for the tor, although even this would probably the significance of practicing a religion. presidency and no matter who ran for not have prevented a Republican victory This sort of patronizing makes Ms. vice president. The Republicans were if Bush had not been so unpopular. (Re- Parker only slightly more genial about tremendously unpopular, as the 2006 member, the Republicans were successful religion as a serious practice than, say, national elections indicated and gave with Richard Nixon and Dan Quayle as Christopher Hitchens or the late, great us fair warning of what was to come. vice presidential candidates even though H. L. Mencken. (It makes one wonder if Further, the Democrats nominated a they were thoroughly ridiculed by the William James’s classic Varieties of Reli- highly skilled and charismatic, appealing press and regarded as lightweights by gious Experience should not be required candidate who powerfully symbolized significant segments of the public.) book of the month continued

Essentially, Ms. Parker wants serious no robust minority party system, are the reserved for all Christians when, in their Christians to behave publicly and politi- major political parties harmed by some good conscience, they do not wish to cally very much like people for whom of the factions that choose to join, and compromise and accommodate them- religion does not matter. She likes her are the parties too weak-kneed to fight selves to evil? conservative Christians in much the way them because they need the votes? 2. Did not the famous Federalist conservatives like their homosexuals: III. Devil’s Advocate Paper No. 10, written by James Madi- invisible, nonvexing, and closeted like son, make clear that the United States crazy relatives in an attic. I would assume a thoughtful conser- vative Christian would respond in this was a country of factions that were not II. The Conservative Christians’ Search way: expected to be reconciled but only held for Politics in abeyance so that none would be able 1. The idea that the Christian’s civic But still the larger questions remain: to have enduring power over the oth- duty is to be reconciliatory is largely a ers? Senator Danforth notes this in his are white Christian conservatives a biased judgment. Was not Jesus Christ problem for the GOP, and what is the book but seems discomforted by how himself a hugely divisive presence in factionalized the country is. National proper place for ardently religious people his own community during the years in a world of secular politics? Former political campaigns are far less fraught of his ministry? Were not abolitionists with invective today than they were in Missouri Senator Danforth’s book, Faith like Theodore Weld, Theodore Parker, and Politics, addresses these questions the early days of the republic. Take, for William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet example, the Jefferson versus Adams with sensitivity and intelligence. His Beecher Stowe largely driven by the idea book is likely to become particularly campaign, the Andrew Jackson presi- that to be Christian was to be divisive dential campaigns, and the Abraham timely in light of the Republican Party’s in an unjust society? Was not Martin defeat, as people both within and outside Lincoln presidential campaigns as truly Luther King Jr. equally so when he wrote vicious politics. conservative circles try to understand his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, cas- exactly what went wrong. Senator tigating the white southern Christians? 3. The current concern about the Danforth’s main thesis is that the Is the right to be a disruptive, divisive Christian Right as an unsuitable fac- Republican Party “has identified itself Christian reserved only for when liberal tion for the GOP is very similar to the with the Christian Right” and as a result Christians see evil in society, or is it not concern expressed in the 1980s about has lost its ideological bearings, crippled African Americans and the Democratic by being frequently on the wrong side Party (the decade when Jesse Jackson of “wedge issues.” Senator Danforth twice ran for the Democratic presi- discusses these wedge issues at length: “If, in the divine plan, dential nomination and Reagan was abortion, stem cell research, and gay there were sure answers in his ascendancy). At that time, many marriage. The Christian Right is itself pundits said that the Democratic Party unnecessarily divisive and has rendered to questions of public was doomed as a national party because the GOP far less attractive to the average policy, God seldom gave of its black constituency and its iden- moderate voter. Some might say that as tification with civil rights, affirmative Senator Danforth is an Episcopalian, them to me. If God gave action, and the limited political agenda a generally liberal Protestant sect (even the answers to anyone, a of blacks—and thus the party would though in recent years it has been riven lot must have been lost never be able to get enough whites to by its own crisis with conservatives vote for it and so would never win the opposed to the appointment of openly in translation, for on the presidency. Senator Danforth sounds a gay bishops), he might find conservative “religious issues” – abortion, bit like a modern-day Henry II de- Christians and their emphatic beliefs nouncing Thomas Becket: Can anyone simply uncongenial to his taste. This stem cell research, public rid me of these troublesome Christian may be true, but Senator Danforth’s display of religion and the conservatives? It is part of the organiza- concerns may still be valid: First, what tional skill of a party to deal with and is the particular duty of the Christian like – people who worship integrate the vociferous factions within voter? (Senator Danforth feels it is to God are on opposing sides. it, not to bewail the fact that they have be reconciliatory rather than divisive.) If there is a Christian them and that they are disagreeable. Second, how important is it for the pub- Remember the lesson of blacks and the lic to understand why various segments agenda for politics, what Democratic Party. of it vote the way they do? Third, how should it be? I, for one, Granted that a minority ethnic group important is it to understand why and cannot be certain.” with a history of victimization is differ- how people identify with particular ent from a religious group that some feel political parties? And fourth, in --Faith and Politics, p. 53 is more persecuting than persecuted, America especially where there is announcements both are alike in two vital ways: they wish to have an identity as an autonomous The Center for the Humanities group and they wish not to be excluded from the centers of power based on how Faculty Fellows Lecture and they choose to define themselves and their Workshop Series, 2009 interests. Guest Faculty Presentation As an Episcopalian and a liberal myself and as someone who finds consensus as attractive as Senator Danforth, I am Johannes von decades, Alexander Kluge’s films and sympathetic to his message but not quite Moltke, Profes- writings reveal both—the taboo thesis persuaded by it. What Senator Danforth sor of Screen Arts and the “emotional turn” in historical seems greatly to fear is a creeping anti- and Cultures at representation—to be little more than intellectualism in conservative politics, the University of convenient marketing devices in the that the conservative Christians’ only Michigan race for new media content and formats. weapon against liberalism and secular- Invited by 2009 Since the late 1960s, Kluge’s work has ism is anti-intellectualism. There are two Faculty Fellow indefatigably circled around the ques- warnings that must be issued here: first, Jennifer Kap- tions of war and suffering; what is more, anti-intellectualism is to be deplored as a Johannes czynski, As- films such as Die Macht der Gefühle suppression or hatred of knowledge but von Moltke sistant Professor (1983) and the reissue of Kluge’s writ- intellectualism is no guarantee of suc- of German and ings under the title Chronik der Gefühle cessful or even rational politics: please Film and Media Studies at Washington (2000) foreground the centrality of feel- recall David Halberstam’s The Best and the University in St. Louis ings, or affect, as a category for thinking Brightest (1972) and the roll call of liberal through these questions. Reviewing Johannes von Moltke has done path- intellectuals who got us into Vietnam examples from Kluge’s films and writ- breaking work on German cinema of the and, as a bonus, gave us high crime rates ings, von Moltke shows how this prolific 1950s, on the negotiation of space and and high taxes. It was with some tongue- auteur has consistently positioned the modernity in the genre of the Heimat- in-cheek justification that conservative war experience as a question of aesthetic film. His more recent work on the place writer William Buckley famously said representation and public affect. Kluge’s of emotion in the negotiation of national he’d rather be governed by the first hun- cinematic treatment of war as well as his history in German cinema promises to dred names in the Boston phone directory understanding of the critical function become another important contribution to than by the faculty of Harvard. Second, of feeling in history provide a valuable the field. some degree of anti-intellectualism, as a vantage point for assessing the osten- form of populist skepticism, is a neces- —Jenifer Kapczynski sible affective turn in the representation of wartime suffering on German screens sary corrective against the arrogance of Tuesday, January 27 intellectualism and elitism. After the today. 4 p.m., Hurst Lounge (Room 201), Scopes trial of 1925, Christian conserva- Wednesday, January 28 Duncker Hall tives as an organized group, probably the 12 p.m., The Graduate Center, Room most persistent voice against liberalism Lecture: “Confusion of Feelings”: War 300, Danforth University Center. in the United States, laid out of politics and Emotion in the Films of Alexander for several decades. They have returned Kluge Graduate Workshop: Cinematic Empathy with a renewed critique of liberalism. It is In this presentation, Johannes possible that they can make it a better one von Moltke (German/Screen Arts & In this workshop, we will examine the but not if they are forced from politics. A Cultures) discusses the role of war and construction of affect in melodrama, forceful ideological engagement with the affect in the work of Alexander Kluge. drawing on brief, precirculated readings limitations of liberalism from conserva- Recent blockbuster films and a steady and specific examples taken largely from tives is what the country needs for its own stream of mega “TV events” devoted the history of German cinema. safety. No dominant ideology such as to World War II and its aftermath The events are free and open to the liberalism can go unchallenged from vari- have claimed to break new ground by public. Please call the Center at 314- ous points on the political spectrum. Let breaking taboos on the representation 935-5576 for a free parking sticker Christian conservatives have their hand at of German suffering; they do so in ways and to reserve a seat so that we can it, along with others interested in being a that emphasize an emotional engage- have an accurate count. Refreshments loyal opposition. All roads lead to Rome, ment with the past, particularly through will be provided. as my mother used to say, and all roads forms of sympathy and empathy. must be taken. Predating these developments by several st. louis literary calendar

Events in 7pm, Border’s Café in Sunset Hills, 10990 talk by Dr. George Pepe of Washington Uni- Sunset Hills Plz., 909-0300. versity in St. Louis, “Brutus: Murderer or Ty- January rannicide?” 1:30pm, SLCL–Oak Bend Branch, Thursday, January 8 842 S. Holmes Ave., 636-527-2148. St. Louis County Library’s Mystery Lover’s Write-Along Writer’s Workshop asks, Are Book Club will discuss True Evil by Greg you a writer? Come get critiqued by your writ- Saturday, January 3 Iles. 10am, SLCL–Headquarters Branch, East ing peers! We offer support, constructive criti- Room, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300. St. Louis Writer’s Guild invites you to the cism and positive feedback. Please bring a January workshop, presented by award-win- HQ Afternoon Book Discussion Group in- sample of your writing. All genres of writing ning television writer Paul Guyot. Register vites you to join them to chat about Winter are encouraged, and all ages are welcome. in advance; free for SLWG members, $5 for Wheat by Mildred Walker. 2pm, SLCL–Head- 11am, SLCL–Indian Trails Branch, 8400 Del- nonmembers.10am, B&N Crestwood, 9816 quarters Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., port Dr., 428-5424. Watson Rd., 971-6045. 994-3300. Tuesday, January 13 SLCL–Indian Trails Branch invites you to join Monday, January 5 the Murder of the Month Book Club, which Join As the Page Turns book discussion The Main Street Books’ First Monday Book will be discussing Bridesmaids Revisited by group at the SLCL–Weber Road Branch to Club will meet to discuss Pillars of the Earth Dorothy Cannell. 3:30pm, 8400 Delport Dr., talk about The Camel Bookmobile by Masha by Ken Follett. 7pm, 307 S. Main Street, St. 428-5424. Hamilton. 7pm, 4444 Weber Rd., 638-2210. Charles, 636-949-0105. SLPL’s Carpenter Branch hosts Public Con- SLCL invites you to join the Book Discus- St. Louis County Library hosts the Book templation: A Philosophy and Religion sion Group. Are you interested in literary Bunch, whose selection this month is The Book Discussion Group, whose selection conversation or do you just like to talk about Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. Registration for January is Plato and a Platypus Walk into the books you enjoy? Copies of the book will required. 7pm, SLCL–Grand Glaize Branch, a Bar: Understanding Philosophy through be available to check out prior to the meet- 1010 Meramec Station Rd., Meeting Room 1, Jokes by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein. ings. Please ask for one at the circulation 636-225-6454. Call to reserve a copy. 7pm, 3309 S. Grand desk. 7pm, SLCL–Sachs Branch, 16400 Bur- khardt Pl., 636-728-0001. Tuesday, January 6 Ave., 772-6586. Observable Readings, hosted by the St. SLCL–Tesson Ferry Branch hosts the Reader Machacek Book Discussion Group wel- Rendezvous book club, whose selection this comes new members. Call for the current Louis Poetry Center, presents poet Quincy Troupe, author of The Pursuit of Happyness. month is Great Expectations by Charles Dick- selection. 10am, SLPL–Machacek Branch, ens. 7pm, 9920 Lin-Ferry Dr., 843-0560. 6424 Scanlan Ave., 781-2948. His most recent book for children is Little Ste- vie. Patrick Rosal, author of two full-length Brentwood Public Library Book Club will Webster Groves Public Library Book Dis- poetry collections, Uprock Headspin Scram- meet to discuss Little Heathens: Hard Times cussion Group will meet to discuss You ble and Dive and most recently My American and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Have to Be Careful in the Land of the Free Kundiman. 8pm, Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Great Depression by Mildred Kalish. 7pm, by James Kelman. 6pm, 301 E. Lockwood, Southwest Ave., 241-2337. 8765 Eulalie Ave., 963-8630. 961-3784. Writer’s Workshop invites writers sixteen All those 18+ are welcome to the St. Louis Come join the discussion the first Tuesday of years and up to present their own works-in- Writers Guild’s Loud Mouth Open MIC the month. January’s selection is The Friday progress of fiction, poetry, and essays in a Night. Please register in advance www.stl- Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Light re- supportive atmosphere of constructive cri- writersguild.org. 7pm, The Mack, 4615 Mack- freshments served; everyone is welcome for tique. A moderator will lead the discussion. lind Ave., 971-6045. a lively discussion. No reservation required. 7pm, SLCL–Grand Glaize Branch, Meeting The Main Street Books’ Second Tuesday 7pm, SLCL–Meramec Valley Branch, 625 Room 2, 1010 Meramec Station Rd., 636- New Smizer Mill Rd., 636-349-4981. Book Club will meet to discuss Identical 225-6454. Strangers by Elyse Schein. 7pm, 307 S. Main SLWG invites you to Open Mic Night. Please Missouri’s first black congressional represen- Street, St. Charles, 636-949-0105. register in advance at www.stlwritersguild. tative, William “Bill” Clay Sr., will discuss The Tuesday Night Writers’ Critique Group org. 7pm, Wired Coffee, 3860 S. Lindbergh his new book, The Jefferson Bank Confronta- Blvd., 971-6045. will meet to read and critique one another’s tion: The Struggle for Civil Rights in St. Louis. work. We hope to meet twice per month start- 7pm, SLCL–Florissant Valley Branch, 195 ing in January. For more information contact Wednesday, January 7 New Florissant Rd., 921-7200. Thornhill Book Chat will meet to discuss 9p4a-p8bp2dea.spamcon.org. 7pm, B&N The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. Book Saturday, January 10 Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd. discussion, book reviews, and book gossip. The Mystery Lover’s Book Club will meet to The Foreign Literature Discussion Group 10:30am, SLCL–Thornhill Branch, 12863 Wil- discuss Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana will meet to discuss Under Western Eyes by lowyck Dr., 878-7730 Franklin. 10am, SLPL–Carondelet Branch, Joseph Conrad. Book is available at a dis- Borders Book Club will meet to dis- 6800 Michigan Ave., 752-9224. count from Left Bank Books and Borders cuss Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle. Brentwood. 7:30pm, Washington University, The St. Louis Classical Club will sponsor a West Campus, 7425 Forsyth, 727-6118. st. louis literary calendar continued

Wednesday, January 14 Tuesday, January 20 SLCL–Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., 921-7200. Boone’s Bookies will discuss The Year the Join others to discuss A Thousand Splendid Colored Sisters Came to Town by Jacqueline Suns by Khaled Hosseini. 2pm, SLCL–Flo- Thursday, January 22 Guidry. 2pm and 7pm, SLCL–Daniel Boone rissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant The Book Discussion Group will discuss Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd., 636-227-9630. Rd., 921-7200. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. 7pm, Thursday, January 15 The Tuesday Night Writers’ Critique Group SLPL-Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid, 367- will meet to read and critique one another’s 4120. Join others in discussing Standing in the work. We hope to meet twice per month start- Rainbow: A Novel by Fannie Flagg. Please ing in January. For more information contact: Friday, January 23 call to register and pick up a copy of the book 9p4a-p8bp2dea.spamcon.org. 7pm, B&N The Asian Center Let’s Chat: Book Discus- at the library. 10am, St. Charles City-County Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd. sion Group meets to discuss The Coroner’s Library–Deer Run Branch, 1300 N. Main Lunch by Colin Cotterill. 2pm, SLCL–Daniel Street, Meeting Room A, 696-978-3251. SLPL invites you to a Book Discussion Group. This month we will discuss DeNiro’s Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd., 636-207- Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear is the Game by Rawi Hage. 7pm, SLPL–Kingshigh- 0175. topic at the book discussion club this month. way Branch, 2260 S. Vandeventer Ave., 771- Please call to register and pick up a copy 5450. Saturday, January 24 of the book at the library. 2pm, St. Charles St. Louis Public Library invites you to join City-County Library–Middendorf-Kredell Mother–Daughter Book Club will meet to a Writer’s Workshop: meet with your peers Branch, 2750 Hwy. K, Meeting Room A, 636- discuss Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman. and the St. Louis Writers and Performing 978-7997. 7:30pm, Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jef- Guild and learn how to enhance your writ- ferson, 821-5770. Authors @ Your Library presents poet and ing skills. 10am, SLPL–Baden Branch, 8448 St. Louis Poetry Center curator Sally Van Wednesday, January 21 Church Rd., 388-2400. Doren, who will read from her book Sex at Pageturners Book Club meets to discuss A Buder Book Discussion Group will discuss Noon Taxes. 7pm, SLPL–Schlafly Branch, Certain Justice by P. D. James. 2pm, SLCL– Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. 1pm, 225 N. Euclid, 367-4120. Tesson Ferry Branch, 9920 Lin-Ferry Dr., SLPL-Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., St. Louis Writers’ Guild and Barnes & 843-0560. 352-2900. Noble invite you to the January Lecture Se- Join the Eureka Hills Book Discussion Authors @ Your Library presents Keisha ries: “The Evolution of Television,” presented Group, which meets once a month on every Ervin, who will discuss and sign her new by Don Marsh, who will discuss his book third Wednesday of the month to discuss a book, Finding Forever, the highly anticipated Flash Frames. 7pm, B&N Ladue, 8871 Ladue new and exciting selection. The group will sixth novel of this Essence Best-selling Nov- Rd., 971-6045. have input on the book that will next be dis- elist. Books will be available for purchase. Saturday, January 17 cussed. Stop by the Eureka Hills circulation 2pm, SLPL–Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural desk to check out your copy of the next book Bridge Rd., 383-3021. Local mystery writer Laura Bradford tells up for discussion. 6pm, SLCL–Eureka Hills how she became a publisher writer—and Branch, 103 Hilltop Village Ctr., 636-938- Monday, January 26 how you can, too. Presented by the St. Louis 4520. Join the Thornbirds for a lively talk about Up Chapter of the Romance Writers of Amer- Island by Anne Rivers Siddons. 2pm, SLCL– ica (RWA). Visitors are also welcome to at- River Styx’s popular reading series con- Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Dr., 878- tend the MORWA chapter meeting at 10am. tinues its 34th exciting season of lively and 7730. 11am, B&N Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd., thought-provoking literature with its first read- 843-9480. ing of 2009, featuring two new voices in poet- Tuesday, January 27 ry: Oliver de la Paz and Virginia Slachman. Romance Readers Book Club will discuss Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagina- Admission is $5. 7:30, Duff’s Restaurant, 392 tion, a reading and discussion series, con- Dragon Earl by Jade Lee. 10am, SLPL–Buder N. Euclid, 533-4541. Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900. tinues with “Between Two Worlds: Stories of All seven-year-olds are invited to join Lucky Estrangement and Homecoming,” a presen- Sunday, January 18 Seven Book Club for a lively book discus- tation to discuss Exodus: The Second Book The BookClub will have its 396th discussion sion, a fun activity, and a delicious snack. of Moses. Please RSVP. 10am, Saint Louis on Wider than the Sky: The Phenomenal Gift January’s book is Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln by University, Pius XII Memorial Library (Knights of Consciousness by Gerald M. Edelmann. Judith St. George. Stop by the circulation Room), 3650 Lindell Blvd., 977-3107. For more information, venue, and time, email desk to pick up a copy of the book and to sign Poetry at the Point will feature John Warren [email protected] or call 636-451-3232. up. Books are available on the date (required) Owen and Pamela Garvey. Hosted by St. registration starts. 7pm, SLCL–Grand Glaize Sunday Workshop features poet/critic Pa- Louis Poetry Center. 7pm, The Focal Point, Branch, Meeting Room 1, 1010 Meramec 2720 Sutton Ave. mela Garvey. Poems for review must be Station Rd., 636-225-6454. pre-submitted by January 12; see website for guidelines: www.stlouispoetrycenter.org. Join the Wednesday Evening Book Club 1:30pm, UCPL, 6702 Delmar Blvd. as they meet to discuss Middlesex. 7:30pm, st. louis literary calendar continued

Wednesday, January 28 Monday, January 12, 6pm, SLPL–Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 772-6586 Central Book Discussion Group will discuss Make a Gift to the Center The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Wednesday, January 14, 6pm, Knitty Couture, for the Humanities 4pm, SLPL–Central Branch, Meeting Room 1, 6148 Delmar Blvd., 727-6500 1301 Olive St., 539-0396. Tuesday, January 20, 10am, SLPL–Machacek oin other donors and supporters Branch, 6424 Scanlan Ave., 781-2948 to ensure that the Center for the Notices JHumanities can continue to fulfill Thursday, January 22, 7pm, B&N Ladue, 8871 The Big Read is an initiative of the National its mission. Help us continue to Ladue Rd., 862-6280 Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with make the humanities a part of public the Institute of Museum and Library Ser- Saturday, January 24, 9am, Borders Brentwood, life and yours. vices, and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. 1519 S. Brentwood Blvd., 918-8189 Send your check, payable to The purpose of the Big Read, like the purpose Saturday, January 24, 1pm, SLPL–Barr Branch, Washington University, to: of literature itself, is pleasure—not necessar- 1701 S. Jefferson Ave., 771-7040 The Center for the Humanities ily an easy pleasure, but a deliciously rich and Tuesday, January 27, 12pm, Left Bank Books, c/o Shannon McAvoy Grass complex one. Modeled on successful “city read” 321 N. 10th St., 367-3256 Washington University in St. Louis programs, the Big Read is hosted by Washing- Campus Box 1202 ton University in partnership with several St. Tuesday, January 27, 7pm, Left Bank Books, One Brookings Drive Louis organizations; area sponsors include the 399 N. Euclid, 367-6731 St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 Regional Arts Commission, KTVI Fox 2, and Wednesday, January 28, 7pm, UCPL, 6701 HEC-TV. This year’s selection is To Kill a Mock- Delmar Blvd., 727-3150 ingbird by Harper Lee. Saturday, January 31, 3pm, B&N Ladue, 8871 Events begin January 6 with a reading and Ladue Rd., 862-6280 Abbreviations discussion at the Missouri History Museum, B&N: Barnes & Noble; LBB: Left Bank Books; Mid Rivers Review, St. Charles Community which will feature St. Louis television person- SLCL: St. Louis County Library; SLPL: St. College’s literary magazine, is accepting sub- alities Christine Buck (CW11) and Summer Louis Public Library; SCCCL: St. Charles City missions of poetry and short fiction through Knowles (Fox 2), along with local actors. County Library; UCPL: University City Public January 31. For additional information and Library, WGPL: Webster Groves Public Li- Book discussion groups are listed below. For a guidelines, call 636-922-8407 or see the web- brary complete Big Read schedule and updates, visit site www.stchas.edu/midriversreview. http://bigread.wustl.edu. Check the online calendar at cenhum.artsci. The Wednesday Club of St. Louis is accepting wustl.edu for more events and additional de- Wednesday, January 7, 6pm Knitty Couture, submissions of poetry through February 1 for tails. To advertise, send event details to litcal@ 6148 Delmar Blvd., 727-6500 the Eighty-third Original Poetry Contest. Grand artsci.wustl.edu or call 935-5576. Thursday, January 8, 7pm, Borders Brentwood, prize is $700; second prize, $300; third prize, 1519 S. Brentwood Blvd., 918-8189 $150. See website for complete details: www. wedclubstlouis.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO The Center for the Humanities Campus Box 1071 Permit No. 2535 Financial assistance for this project has been pro- vided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, Old McMillan Hall, Rm S101 and the Regional Arts Commission. One Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 Phone: (314) 935-5576 email: [email protected] http://cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu