sign in sign up
<<
Home , Billy Bathgate, Festival book, Marie Arana, The March (novel)

GAZETTE 25, No. 33 • September 5, 2014 • A weekly publication for staff Festival Opens New Chapter Big Crowds Flock to Inaugural Event at Convention Center Ten hours By Mark Hartsell later, Doctorow helped close the or its 14th festival with the , the event’s first-ever F National “Great to Book Festival went Great Movies” indoors, watched program, a ses- great movies, stayed sion that inter- up late with a good spersed film clips book and enjoyed a with discussion festival full of firsts. about translating The book festival literary works to drew standing-room- the big screen. only crowds to the One of big- Walter E. Washington gest new names Convention Center on at the festival Saturday for the first belonged not to a best-selling evening hours in fes- Shealah Craighead tival history, the first Crowds filter into the Washington Convention Center on Saturday morning. young author but program merging lit- to a building: the erature and film, the first poetry compe- Walter E. Washington Convention center. tition, the debut of three new pavilions Inside The festival, held outdoors on the and the inaugural festival appearance at National Mall since 2003, this year moved • Making movies from great books, page 3 the convention center – the first indoor indoors to the massive facility at Mt. • Five decades of Doctorow, page 4 festival in more than a decade. Vernon Place in the District of Columbia. • Library awards literacy prizes, page 5 “It’s an amazing and wonderful occa- For patrons, the move indoors traded sion we have,” Librarian of Congress • The festival in photos, pages 6-7 the monuments and museums of the Mall James H. Billington said in opening the • Page meets stage in poetry slam, page 8 – and its rain, heat, grass and portable festival Saturday morning. “Today, we • Author talks: Alan Greenspan, Doris Kearns toilets – for the air conditioning, carpet, offer you more than 100 poets, authors Goodwin, Mona Simpson, page 9 plumbing, food courts and vast indoor and illustrators for people of all ages • Festival introduces new pavilions, page 10 spaces of the convention center. and tastes.” • Cowboy’s quest to save mustangs, page 11 “Most overheard comment at #Nat- Moments later, Billington awarded BookFest: ‘It’s HUGE.’ And it is,” tweeted the second Prize Doctorow described the methods Louisa Lim, author of “The People’s for American Fiction to one of America’s that helped him produce such surprising Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revis- literary lights, E.L. Doctorow. and different works over more than five ited.” “I believe that American originals decades of writing, from the Rosenberg Indeed, festival sessions and the are one of the glories of this country,” spy saga of “The Book of Daniel” to the crowds they drew filled each of the three Billington said. “We have before us a very mob world of “” and Sher- levels of the convention center’s 703,000 great and unique American original and a man’s campaign through Georgia in “The square feet of exhibition space. magnificent storyteller. He is in a way our March.” In one hall on the second floor, 20 own Charles Dickens. The great canvas of “The key word is ‘desperation,’ ” he book-signing lines stretched all the the American experience is his subject.” quipped. FESTIVAL, continued on page 11 2 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

NEWS

A Message from the Librarian

I want to congratulate all of you who helped make this year’s National Book GAZETTE Festival such a joyful celebration of books and . We are grateful that www.loc.gov/staff/gazette so many of you on the staff voluntarily gave so much of your time to this great GAYLE OSTERBERG annual tradition. Executive Editor Although this year’s festival took place at a new location in Washington, the MARK HARTSELL public still thronged to the occasion and took advantage of all the wonderful Editor programs arranged by our dedicated staff and partners. Contributing Editors: Erin Allen, Calendar; Carlin “René” Sayles, Moving On and Length of Service; Such a magnificent event would not have been possible without the Lisa Davis, Donated Leave support of our generous sponsors led by David Rubenstein. He was there Proofreader: George Thuronyi with us to participate in the programs, present awards and share in the public Design and Production: Ashley Jones experience that motivated everyone throughout the day. PETER BRAESTRUP GAIL FINEBERG JAMES W. McCLUNG The cheer, enthusiasm and professionalism you all brought to, and through, Founder Founding Editor Founding Publisher (1990 – 1997) (1990 – 2009) (1990 – 1994) this national event are the irreplaceable human qualities that made it a success from the very moment all of the yearlong preparations were set into motion. An official publication of the Library of Congress,The Gazette encourages Library managers and staff to submit articles and Thank you to the leaders on our team who made it all photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to work so well: Jennifer Gavin (the festival project manager), Roberta Shaffer, convey the most necessary information. Deadline for submission of articles is 5 p.m. Wednesday, one John Cole, Guy Lamolinara, Marie Arana, Sue Siegel, Sara Karrer, Steve Hersh week prior to publication date. Please submit text in digital and so many others who made this event so memorable. form via e-mail ([email protected]) preferably as an attached Microsoft Word file. Together, you all passed on to those attending the festival a shared Back issues of The Gazette in print are available in the Public experience of the mission of the Library of Congress. Affairs Office, LM 105.

Electronic archived issues and the a color PDF file of the current With appreciation, issue are available online at www.loc.gov/staff/gazette.

James H. Billington Library of Congress Gazette Librarian of Congress Washington, DC 20540-1620 Editorial: Mark Hartsell, 7-9194, [email protected] Design and production: Ashley Jones, 7-9193, [email protected]

Security-Awareness Training Deadline Nears ISSN 1049-8184 Printed on paper that contains recycled paper by the The deadline for completion of the 2014 Information Security Awareness Management Section, Office Systems Services training is Sept. 19. The course is required for all employees, contractors and

volunteers with access to Library information-technology systems. Gazette Welcomes Letters from Staff Staff is invited to use the Forum pages for lively and thoughtful To take the course: 1. Go to the Online Learning Center (OLC) website at debate relevant to Library issues. However, just as other newspa- https://olc.loc.gov/stc/olc. 2. Sign in with your OLC login and password. 3. per editors exercise discretion over which letters to publish and how to edit them, so do we. In deciding whether or how much to Search for “Information Security Awareness 2014 (LCITSEC214)” or click the publish, we consider content (including misstatements of fact, “Mandatory Training” pop-up box. 4. Click on “start course.” More information libel, innuendo, ridicule of individuals or the institution, personal attacks, and redundancy) and length (the limit is 300 words). is available at www.loc.gov/staff/security. Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work and telephone extension should be included so we can verify author- ship. Letter writers should understand that when they sign their letters and release them to us for publication they are relinquishing privacy. If a letter calls for management response, for example, Donated Time an explanation of a policy or actions or clarification of fact, we The following Library employees have satisfied the eligibility requirements will ask for management response.—Ed. to receive leave donations from other staff members. Contact Lisa Davis at 7-0033. Gazette Deadlines Craig Andrews Rose Kutcher April Spraggin The deadline for editorial copy for the Sept. Lori Ayers LeTonja Law Philip Washington 19 Gazette is Wednesday, Sept. 10. Christy Chason Karen Lund Robin Watson E-mail editorial copy and letters to the editor to [email protected]. Steven Davenport Donald Marcus Ngina West To promote events through the Library’s Tamikia Epperson Laurie Neider Arnold Wiggins online calendar (www.loc.gov/loc/events) Tanya Fletcher Veronica Newman Donna Williams and the Gazette Calendar, e-mail event and contact information to [email protected] by Melinda Friend Juan Perez Heather Windsor 9 a.m. Monday of the week of publication. Gina Greco-Emrich Amy Puryear Bernard Wooden Boxed announcements should be submitted Shalita Jones Lola Pyne Regina Young electronically (text files) by 9 a.m. Monday the week of publication to [email protected]. Marina Korenberg Valencia Roseboro SEPTEMBER 5, 2014  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE 3

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Panel Explores Journey from Great Books to Great Films

Conversations also focused on themes She came to the conclusion that By Jennifer Harbster such as the increase of books being movies tend to “focus on realism and adapted into films and how films from disregard literaryism.” A new nighttime special program on literary sources capture a pre-existing See commented on how the film adap- “Great Books to Great Movies” took a audience. tation of “Snow Flower and the Secret thoughtful and honest look at the written Hornaday began the 90-minute pro- Fan” was a drastic and radical departure word transformed into moving images. gram asking the panel, “What beloved from her book, pointing out that filmmak- With standing room only, the evening book was absolutely destroyed by a film ers added an entire new modern plotline. attendees were See remarked treated to discus- that “no one sets sions and clips out to make a of books trans- bad movie” and lated into films the reality is from four great “that authors are novelists: E.L. giving their work Doctorow (“Rag- to another artist” time,” 1982), Alice (i.e., the director) McDermott (“That and, inevitably, Ni g ht ,” 19 92), “another work of Lisa See (“Snow art will be pro- Flower and the duced.” Secret Fan,” 2011), Auster ha s and Paul Auster been able to (“Smoke,” 1995). move seamlessly Mike Mashon, b e t w e e n t h e head of the worlds of author Library’s Moving and screenwriter. Image Section, Hornaday asked introduced the Auster, “How session as a is writing a “journey from novel different page to screen,” from a screen- and the audience play?” Auster delighted at the re sponded, a opening montage novel is “a rolling of films drawn Shealah Craighead narrative” while from the National E.L. Doctorow, Alice McDermott, Lisa See and Paul Auster discuss film adaptations of books. a screenplay is Film Registry. like a “jigsaw The crowd greeted the film clips from adaptation?” Doctorow quickly and can- puzzle, a two-dimensional rectangle – the “Wizard of Oz” (1939), “2001: A Space didly responded, “I already have the you write for that frame.” Odyssey” (1968), “Mary Poppins” (1964), answer: I hated the ‘’ film!” Doctorow eloquently concluded the “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), Doctorow delved into the challenges program, saying, “There is a structural “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930), of the “literary vs. the cinematic imagina- difference between a film and novel. “The Godfather” (1972), “Gone with the tion.” He also noted that Robert Altman … In a novel, the central characters are Wind” (1939) and “The Last Picture Show” was originally set to direct “Ragtime” but looking at the world. In a film, you have (1971) with applause and laughter. was taken off the project, which caused a world looking at a central character.” The program, moderated by Wash- Doctorow to lose interest in the film. For more on the preparations for this ington Post film critic Ann Hornaday, McDermott opened up about the event, go to the “Great Books to Great was filled with insightful discussions challenges in making the author’s and Movies” post on the Library’s Now See of the perilous journeys in translating filmmaker’s voices work together in the Hear! blog at http://blogs.loc.gov/now- the page to screen and responses to the translation of her novel “That Night” into see-hear/2014/08/great-books-to-great- end product. a film. movies-at-the-national-book-festival/. u 4 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL After 5 Decades, Doctorow Still Trying to ‘Make Fiction New’

By Donna Urschel

The great American novelist E.L. Doctorow mesmerized more than 800 members of the audience in the Fiction & Mystery Pavilion with compelling details of his writing life — his inspiration, tech- nique and formative years. In the pavilion’s opening presenta- tion at 10 a.m., Doctorow received the Library’s 2014 Prize for American Fiction from Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and then participated in an interview conducted by Marie Arana — author, former editor of Book World and a member of the Library’s Scholars Council. Expressing amazement at the “incred- ible range” of his work — which includes “The Book of Daniel,” “Ragtime,” “Billy Bathgate,” “” and “Andrew’s

Brain” — Arana asked, “We never know David Rice what you are going to do next, you always E.L. Doctorow accepted the Prize for American Fiction, then discussed his work. reinvent the craft as you go. How do you do this?” days it was a well-to-do white neighbor- band as a teenager. Doctorow joked, “The key word here hood with no Negroes and no immigrants. “My family members were all read- is ‘desperation.’ ” I started to run off these images – off the ers. Books were a daily sustenance. And Then he explained, “Most times, I start wall and into a book.” there was a lot of music in the house. with an image, or even a phrase of music Doctorow also described the image Books and music,” he said. “Somehow or of language that I find very evocative. that started his latest novel, “Andrew’s the music in music and the music in So I start writing to find out why I have Brain.” words alighted in my mind. So I think that feeling. Basically, I end up writing “There was a man standing in front that was quite important to me to have to find out what I’m writing. Not entirely of a house, waiting for the door to open, that environment.” rational, but that’s the way these books and he’s holding in his arms an infant, Of all the arts, Doctorow views fic- happen. Never with an outline. Never a swaddled infant, and it’s snowing,” tion writing as “a very conservative art” with a plan.” he said. because most novelists tell a story the After Doctorow finished “Book of Doctorow grew up in the Bronx. His same way. There is not a lot of innovation. Daniel,” he said he sat around for a year, father owned a music store in Manhattan, “The tide always comes back to for- emotionally exhausted. He was living in and great musicians would stop by and mulae fiction,” Doctorow said. “If you do New Rochelle, New York. “shoot the breeze with dad.” His grand- this work long enough you get the feeling “I had my study on the third floor father was a printer by trade and loved you want to make it new. And that’s what and I was looking at the wall. So I started books. His mother was an accomplished I try to do. That’s what Ezra Pound said writing about the wall,” said Doctorow, pianist, and his brother started a jazz to the poets – ‘Make it new.’ ” u describing the start of “Ragtime.” “The house the wall was part of was built in 1902. I thought about what New Rochelle Explore Vietnamese Holdings in the Library looked like in those days. Women wore Tien Doan, the Vietnamese specialist in the Asian Division, on Sept. 15 will white and carried parasols. Men wore present “Vietnamese Holdings in the Library of Congress.” The talk will be held straw boater hats. Trolley cars carried in the Humanities and Social Sciences training room (LJ 139B) from noon to 1 people to Long Island Sound. Teddy Roo- p.m. For more information, contact Doan at [email protected]. sevelt was president at the time. In those SEPTEMBER 5, 2014  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE 5

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Quotable “Sat across aisle from @ELDoctorow on Amtrak. Realized it upon exiting DC for @NatBookFest and seeing #Ragtime author’s luggage on rack.” – Author Rita Williams-Garcia

“I can’t believe all of this is for free!” – Patron waiting to get in Poetry & Prose pavilion

“What do @amieparnes and I have in common with EL Doctorow and Sandra Day O’Connor? We’re all on this $15 T-Shirt.” – Author Jonathan Allen, tweeting an image of the National Book Festival T-shirt

“Have not seen such a mob scene since the

Adriel Bettelheim Stones played Rome.” G. Lincoln McCurdy of the Turkish Coalition of America (center) accepts the International – NPR host and author Mary Louise Kelly on crowds Prize from James H. Billington (right) and David Rubenstein. trying to see biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin

“The two great mysteries are the universe Library Awards Second Literacy Prizes and the mind.” lives and books will make them better – Michio Kaku, author of “The Future of the Mind” By Mark Hartsell human beings.” San Francisco-based Room to Read “Loved every single thing about #NatBook- The Library of Congress on Saturday was named winner of the $150,000 David Fest, where reading is a serious business named Room to Read, Start Making a M. Rubenstein Prize for outstanding and and authors are rock stars.” Reader Today and The Mother Child Edu- measurable contributions in increasing – Louisa Lim, author of “The People’s Republic of cation Foundation winners of the second literacy levels. Room to Read promotes Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited” Library of Congress Literacy Awards. literacy among primary-school students The awards, originated last year and in Africa and Southeast Asia by increas- “I tell students if you major in English lit, sponsored by David M. Rubenstein, rec- ing access to age-appropriate reading you’re majoring in death. That’s why I’m not ognize organizations that perform innova- material and improving the effectiveness a guidance counselor.” tive and easily replicable work to alleviate of teachers. – Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins, via @NEAarts illiteracy in the and around Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) the world. The awards are administered received the $50,000 American Prize, “The #NatBookFest is the only day of the year by the Library. given to a U.S.-based organization An awards program is planned for Oct. that makes a significant contribution where I can read sitting in line and people 8 in the Coolidge Auditorium; on Saturday, to increasing literacy. SMART engages don’t give me weird looks #booknerd.” representatives from each of the winning volunteers to read one-on-one with pre- – Book festival patron organizations gathered at the National kindergarten through third-grade students Book Festival to accept the prizes. in Oregon. SMART operates more than “I could never write about Stalin or Hitler. I In presenting the awards, Rubenstein 250 program sites throughout the state wouldn’t want to wake up with them in the discussed the global problems of illiteracy and serves about 9,000 children per year. morning.” and aliteracy and the importance of not The Mother Child Education Founda- – Biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin just learning to read but of reading books. tion (AÇEV) was named recipient of the “Books tell you so much more than $50,000 International Prize given to an “Do not be professional too soon. Everything you can get out of a tweet or an email,” organization, based outside the United that you do well needs to come from joy.” Rubenstein said. “I hope this book festi- States, that makes a significant contribu- —Brian Lies, author of “Bats in the Band” val is used to promote to young people tion to literacy. AÇEV is the largest literacy particularly the idea that they should read organization in Turkey, promoting family, – Jennifer Harbster, Mark Hartsell but read books. Books will change their adult and early childhood literacy. u and Wendi A. Maloney 6 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Colena Turner Amanda Reynolds

Journalist and author Cokie Roberts greets two young book fans. The Let’s Read America pavilion came with a cast of characters. Amanda Reynolds Ralphael Small

A young patron carries away her haul of book Graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier signs one of her books for a fan. festival goodies. SEPTEMBER 5, 2014  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE 7

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Matthew Kamenski

Children’s author Kate DiCamillo poses with a group of Junior League festival volunteers.

Festival Sponsors Co-Chairman, Festival Friends Board Marshall B. Coyne David M. Rubenstein Foundation Inc. Harper Lee Prize for Legal Charter Sponsors Fiction Institute of Museum and The Hay-Adams Library Services National Endowment for the The Washington Post Humanities Wells Fargo PBS Kids Small Press Expo (SPX) Patrons National Endowment for the A Note of Thanks Arts C-SPAN2’s Book TV The Junior League of Contributors Washington Erika Jayne Mensa Education and Scholastic Inc. Research Foundation WAMU 88.5 FM Split This Rock David Rice Mystery writer Sara Sue Hoklotubbe discusses her craft in the Fiction & Mystery pavilion. 8 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Page Meets Stage at Festival’s First Poetry Competition

By Mark Hartsell

The poet surveyed the scene from the stage: Wall-to-wall poetry fans. Every chair taken. Every spot of carpet that could serve as a seat claimed. More out- side hoping to get in. “Dang,” she said. “You can’t even fit this many people in Busboys and Poets.” The occasion for the invasion: the first-ever poetry slam at the National Book Festival, a collaboration among the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center, the National Endowment for the Arts and the poetry organization Split This Rock. A slam is a competition in which poets recite their own works and judges – usu- ally audience members but on Saturday Ralphael Small a preselected panel – score the perfor- A competitor, using her phone as text, recites one of her works during the poetry slam. mances. The rules limit performances to good enough. three minutes and forbid the use of props, Do you ever ask a doctor what their costumes or musical accompaniment. backup plan is? Tell lawyers that running Judges score the poems on a scale of court cases won’t put food on the table? 1.0 to 10.0 – or, in the case of one com- Tell D-1 prospects that they need to find petitor on Saturday, a “10.wow!” – and the a new hobby? … poet with the highest cumulative score I’ll be like black Shakespeare if there over two rounds wins. ever was one. I wonder if anyone ever Feel free to disagree with the judges, asked him what his Plan B was. … emcee Elizabeth Acevedo urged the Tell them that you want to become an crowd, but don’t be too hard on them. English teacher, and they’ll try to talk you “They’re good people,” she quipped. out of it, tell you that there’s no money in “They just do awful things in this room.” teaching. Tell them that you fell in love (The crowd obliged. The catcall most with a naked woman named poetry, and frequently directed at the judges was a they’ll tell you she’s not good enough. … polite, “Oh, that’s questionable!”) Never let them tell you that you need “Page ♥ Stage” pitted eight young a Plan B because Plan B is for killing poets from two of the District of Colum- dreams, not chasing them. u bia’s top competitive groups – the DC ence with teenage pregnancy: Youth Slam Team and Louder Than a Truth is, words would do more damage Bomb DMV – against each other in one than sticks ever could. Nominate Films Now round of poems about literature and Truth is, I lay in bed for three days Sept. 12 is the deadline to submit a second round about anything they when I found out I was pregnant. public nominations for this year’s wanted. Truth is, there was a deafening silence National Film Registry. Individuals The poets recited – most in a high- in my house that spoke volumes. may nominate up to 50 films each speed delivery that severely tested the At the end of the night, Quintin Pas- year. In December, the librarian skill and stamina of the sign-language chall was declared winner, in part for of Congress will select 25 titles to interpreters – works on subjects ranging a poem that wondered about his own be added to the existing 625 films from poetry, gun control, ethnic heritage, future as poet: already named to the Registry. the portrayal of women in Stephenie Mey- I got to ask a question: What’s your More information is available at er’s “Twilight” series of vampire-themed backup plan? You know, if things don’t www.loc.gov/film/vote.html. romance novels and a personal experi- work out. As if following my dreams isn’t SEPTEMBER 5, 2014  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE 9

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Eric Levin/Simon and Shuster Adriel Bettelheim Amanda Reynolds Alan Greenspan Doris Kearns Goodwin Mona Simpson As Federal Reserve Board chairman, Alan Doris Kearns Goodwin credits her career as a Novelist and professor of English Mona Simp- Greenspan developed a simple way to deflect presidential historian to President Lyndon Johnson. son opened up to her audience in the Poetry and inappropriate inquiries from cocktail-partygoers She worked for him as a White House fellow and Prose pavilion. “I am not a best-seller,” she said. “I seeking an inside line on future interest rates. later helped with his memoirs. teach, I study, and I write. I am alive in my work.” “They will fluctuate,” he’d solemnly say – a “I saw what it was like to be president,” she Rather than talk about her most recent story he recounted to laughter in an interview said. “It made me forever onward try to look inside novels, “Casebook” and “My Hollywood,” Simp- with book festival co-chairman David Rubenstein. the people I would be studying from their point of son decided to focus her program on what it For more than a half-century, the world has view to understand what they were going through takes to be a writer. sought Greenspan’s insight into economic matters. rather than judging from the outside in.” Some of the best questions came in a letter He directed an economic consulting firm begin- Goodwin’s anecdote about Johnson was one from a middle-school student investigating career ning in 1955 and, later, led President Ford’s Council of many she related in a wide-ranging interview in options. of Economic Advisers. In 1987, he was appointed the History & Biography pavilion with philanthropist Had Simpson been a good student? Simpson Fed chairman – a tenure that spanned four presi- and National Book Festival co-chairman David replied that she was an average student and that dencies and nearly two decades. Rubenstein. fiction writers are “OK students, not the best.” As chairman, he served through booms and He questioned Goodwin about her books, “We are the people in school who can’t stop busts, including the recession that followed the including her latest, “The Bully Pulpit: Theodore reading,” Simpson said. dotcom bubble collapse and the Sept. 11 terror- Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden The student asked if Simpson’s books are ist attacks. Age of Journalism.” true stories. On Saturday, Greenspan discussed economic She was asked whether she regretted that the “Absolutely and absolutely not,” Simpson uncertainty in the U.S. (“five years of false-dawn 2012 movie “Lincoln,” based on her book “Team replied. “You want to make them true in a deep recoveries”), whether he really comes up with his of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” way. … Life is not so shapely. Life doesn’t give ideas in the bathtub (yes), his impressions of world covered so little of the book. an experience that is clarifying or revelatory. figures (Queen Elizabeth is “an extraordinarily intel- “On the contrary,” Goodwin said. “The person … Truth in life doesn’t necessarily translate to ligent woman”) and the reason for his famously I knew who was Lincoln was there, the morality truth in fiction.” murky pronouncements in testimony before Con- of him. That was what I cared about – that my Questions also came from the audience, gress (“As I’m about to say something, I’d see it Lincoln came to life.” continuing the conversation on what it means as a headline in The Washington Post. My tongue Goodwin said her discovery of 400 letters to be a writer. turns over and unbelievable gibberish” comes out). between a young Roosevelt and Taft inspired the When asked which books on writing she rec- The young Greenspan had other ambitions: He angle for “The Bully Pulpit.” That the two men had ommends, Simpson said she doesn’t use books on studied music and hoped to perform professionally. been close before falling out over the 1912 election writing, per se, but prefers to use whimsical books But he eventually realized he couldn’t play on the “just intrigued” her. on grammar such as the “Transitive Vampire.” level of, say, classmate and future jazz great Stan Of her next book, Goodwin said, “I’m bringing She added that she likes to have her students Getz. “I can never match what this kid is doing,” all my guys into the room at the same time, and analyze the structure of writing by diagramming Greenspan told himself. I’m going to write about leadership. That’s what I sentences and breaking down paragraphs of So, he moved on. The rest is economic history. really care about.” great writers. – Mark Hartsell – Wendi A. Maloney – Jennifer Harbster 10 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL Big Crowds Welcome New Genre Pavilions at Festival

By Wendi A. Maloney

Standing-room-only crowds filled the large rooms allocated to three new genres at this year’s National Book Festival. Culi- nary Arts, Science and Picture Books joined the longtime lineup of familiar festival pavilions. “We wanted to make the move from the Mall to the Convention Center fun,” said Jennifer Gavin, festival project manager. “Since we had an abundance of authors in these new categories, we took advantage of the extra space at the convention center to introduce new pavilions.” Adrian Miller, author of “Soul Food:

The Surprising Story of an American Ralphael Small Cuisine, One Plate at a Time,” opened Chef and cookbook author Daniel Thomas prepares a dish. the Culinary Arts pavilion. He charted the history of soul food from its origins We Do,” talked about the role of emotions in 17th-century slave culture and shared in the inner workings of the brain. highlights from visits to 150 soul food “How do we begin to understand restaurants in 35 cities and 15 states. He the irrational side of human behavior?” said he was surprised to find that most he asked. soul food restaurants now are vegan or Sally Satel, author of “Brainwashed: vegetarian. The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neu- The trend is “really a homecoming, roscience,” discussed the limits of what because it’s tapping into a strong veg- brain scans can tell us about ourselves. etable tradition within soul food,” Miller Brian Lies enchanted a rapt crowd said. Of the recent popularity of kale, of parents and children in the Picture

Miller joked that he tells people, “Wel- Colena Turner Books pavilion. come to the party, because we’ve been Artist Bryan Collier “The whole thing was kind of an acci- eating kale for about 300 years.” dent,” he said of the concept for his best- Besides author talks, Culinary Arts University uploaded a memory into a selling “bat book” series. It started when featured live cooking demonstrations mouse brain, he reported. Relatively soon, his second-grader became enthralled by such popular chef-authors as Cathal scientists hope to reinsert memories into one December morning with a pattern of Armstrong, Sheilah Kaufman and Daniel the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. frost on a window, which she said looked W. Thomas, an innovation made possible “This is like ‘The Matrix’ – upload- like bats playing in sea foam – hence his by the festival’s new location. ing reality,” he said, referring to the sci- first title “Bats at the Beach.” Lies found Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku ence-fiction movie. Other advances he he “really enjoyed spending time in their told a capacity crowd in the Science cited included the first photos of human upside down nighttime world.” pavilion about advances in neuroscience thought and robots controlled by a per- Laura Overdeck told the story behind and physics detailed in his book “The son’s mind. “Bedtime Math 2: This Time It’s Personal,” Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest “Emergency workers may eventually the second book in a series in which she to Understand, Enhance and Empower control robots that can walk right into a aims to make math something kids “look the Mind.” fire,” he said. forward to like a play date or dessert.” “We’ve learned more about the brain The brain or mind was the focus of “We have a great culture around read- in the last 10 to 15 years than in all of two other Science pavilion presentations. ing,” she said. By uncovering the fun human history combined,” he said. David Theodore George, author of “Untan- behind numbers, she hopes to encourage Just last year, scientists at Wake Forest gling the Mind: Why We Behave the Way the same culture around math. u SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE 11

14TH NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

A Cowboy’s Quest to Save Mustangs H. Alan Day in the Contemporary Life Pavilion separate herds of wild horses scattered primarily talked about his efforts to help wild horses, which across 10 Western states, totaling approximately he accomplished through horse-whispering and 49,000 horses. The young and pretty ones were massive amounts of time and devotion. adoptable. His big sister, former Supreme Court Justice “But some were are one-eyed, crippled, mean, Sandra Day O’Connor, appeared with him on stage, ugly — unadoptable,” Day said. The Bureau of to interview him and co-author Lynn Wiese Sneyd Land Management had them in feed locks. The about their book, “A Horse Lover: A Cowboy’s Quest horses were split up from their families, crowded to Save Wild Mustangs.” together, couldn’t run and were bored. O’Connor and her brother were two of three “They were in horse prison. I thought, let’s siblings who grew up on the Lazy B Ranch in a take them out and put them on my ranch in South very remote section of southeast Arizona on the Dakota. I will give them the happiest home they New Mexico border. ever had.” After college, Day became a rancher, returning After approval from Congress, he was able to to the Lazy B and eventually purchasing two more do just that with 1,500 horses. Through a program

ranches. Throughout his life, he loved horses. of “horse whispering” and behavior training, the Justin Jamison Day recounted how he created the first horses came to trust Day, following him to fresh H. Alan Day was interviewed at the government-sponsored wild horse sanctuary pastures and living a quality life on the ranch. festival by his sister, former Supreme in the United States in 1989. There were 179 – Donna Urschel Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

FESTIVAL, continued from page 1 – the last a category that includes an him waiting to be interviewed, raised his unlikely new member: civil-rights icon hand, to laughter. Greenspan and Ruben- way across the airplane-hangar-sized Rep. John Lewis. stein engaged in a 30-minute discussion floor, mingling autograph-hungry fans Lewis told a standing-room-only audi- about his experiences as Fed chairman, of graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang with ence that he was more than a little skep- the nature of economic bubbles, the folks on the opposite side hungry for tical when staff member Andrew Aydin impact of political uncertainty on the gyros, jerked chicken and ice cream. urged him to write a graphic novel about economy and Greenspan’s proudest One hall over, children in the Let’s his civil-rights activism. achievement in office (maintaining low Read America pavilion clambered aboard A graphic novel? “What are you talk- inflation). the Wells-Fargo stagecoach, tossed hula- ing about?” Lewis told him. “I don’t think The festival offered new pavilions for hoop sized rings around the necks of so …” science, culinary arts and picture books. stuffed horses, lounged on bean-bag But Lewis eventually gave in. He and In the Science pavilion, theoreti- chairs and played impromptu games of Aydin co-authored “March,” a work that cal physicist Michio Kaku described volleyball on the carpeted floors with tells the inspiring story of Lewis’ lifelong advances in neuroscience and physics. inflated PBS balloons. fight for civil rights, from the Freedom “In the future, it’s conceivable that we Next door, patrons shopped in the Rides to the march at the Edmund Pettus will upload the memory of a vacation larger spaces of the temporary Politics Bridge and beyond. that you never had or the mathematics and Prose bookstore, making its debut “ ‘March’ is saying in effect that there course that you never passed,” Kaku said. as festival’s book vendor. comes a time, yes, to find a way to get And for the first time, the festival pre- If the venue lacked the National Mall’s in the way, find a way to get into good sented evening programs: the “Great grand vistas, patrons seemed pleased trouble, necessary trouble,” Lewis said. “It Books to Great Movies” panel, a graphic with the added amenities – air condition- also said that we can create a community novels super-session, a centennial explo- ing, plumbing, more food options, carpet at peace with itself.” ration of three Mexican literary legends – and the shelter from the elements. In the Special Programs pavilion, book and the first-ever poetry competition – an “Oh, I like it,” said one. “It’s cool in festival co-chairman David Rubenstein event that packed the house. here, and we don’t have to worry about turned to the audience from the stage When the final session ended at 10 rain.” and asked, “How many people here want p.m., patrons exited to another festival Crowds packed pavilions to hear from to know where the economy is going?” first: darkness, following a brilliant day.u the 110 authors, poets, illustrators, pho- Former Federal Reserve Board Chair- Wendi A. Maloney contributed to this tographers, chefs and graphic novelists man Alan Greenspan, sitting alongside report. 12 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER victories leading to the act’s 4 p.m., Mumford Room, LM Comics Every Day and Still FRIDAY passage. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 649. Contact 7-5394. Be Alive.” Noon, West Dining 5 p.m., Southwest Gallery, Room, LM 621. Contact Aerobics Class: Strength Film: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” Jefferson Building. Contact (20th Century Fox, 1986, 7-1522. training and floor exercise. 7-4604. Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA R-rated). 7:30 p.m., Packard Aerobics Class: Strength B-36. Contact 7-8637. Forum: Bible study. Open Campus Theater, Culpeper, training and floor exercise. to all. 12:05 p.m., LM 542. Va. Contact 7-9994. Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA Benjamin Botkin Lecture: Contact [email protected]. B-36. Contact 7-8637. Alex Steyermark and Lavinia SEPTEMBER Jones Wright present “The 78 Aerobics Class: Strength FRIDAY Film: Directed by Ken Russell training and floor exercise. 12 series: “The Music Lovers” Project: Documenting Historic Books & Beyond: Ezra 12:30 p.m., LC Wellness (1970, R-rated). 7 p.m., Mary Sound in the Contemporary Greenspan discusses and Center, LA B-36. Contact Pickford Theater, LM 301. World.” 2 p.m., Mumford signs his new book, “William 7-8637. Contact 7-5502. Room, LM 649. Contact Wells Brown: An African- 7-5510. Yoga/Pilates: Start at your American Life.” Noon, Mary Film: “The Hunt for Red Film: Directed by Ken own level. 1 p.m., LM SB-02. Pickford Theater, LM 301. October” (Paramount, 1990). Russell series: “Lisztomania” Contact 7-3013. Contact 7-1519. 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact (1975, R-rated). 7 p.m., Mary SEPTEMBER Lecture: Cartoonist Box 7-9994. Pickford Theater, LM 301. THURSDAY Brown presents “How to Make Contact 7-5502. 11 Conference: “The Second Film: “Mrs. Doubtfire” (20th Conference on Latvian Join Weight Watchers at Work Century Fox, 1993). 7:30 Diaspora Archives, p.m., Packard Campus and Material Culture” looks Want to lose weight using a sensible eating plan, Theater, Culpeper, Va. at the Latvian diaspora accompanied by the support of like-minded group Contact 7-9994. collections and the members? Want weekly meetings in a convenient SEPTEMBER preservation, cataloging and location? Then Weight Watchers at Work is for you! housing of the historical and SATURDAY (Sponsored by the Library’s Health Services Office.) 6 cultural materials. 9:30 a.m., Film: “Aladdin” (Disney, Montpelier Room, LM 619. An open house and registration will be held Sept. 9 1992). 2 p.m., Packard Contact 7-3928. Campus Theater, Culpeper, at 12:45 p.m. in LM 209. The next 17-week session Va. Contact 7-9994. Homegrown Concert: begins Sept. 16. The cost per session is $186. Weekly The Alliance for California meetings are held from 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in LM 209 Film: “Good Morning, Traditional Arts presents Vietnam” (Touchstone, 1987, master artists and their Questions? Contact [email protected] or 7-0022. R-rated). 7:30 p.m., Packard apprentices from Northern Campus Theater, Culpeper, and Southern California Va. Contact 7-9994. performing son jarocho, folk OED Membership Drive SEPTEMBER music from Veracruz, Mexico. MONDAY Noon, Coolidge Auditorium. The Organization of Employees with Disabilities (OED) will 8 Contact 7-5510. hold its annual membership drive from Sept. 9 to Sept. Yoga/Pilates: Start at your own level. 1 p.m., LM SB-02. Aerobics Class: High-Low. 10 in the Madison Building. OED representatives will be Contact 7-3013 Noon, LC Wellness Center, located in the sixth-floor café and outside the ground-floor LA B-36. Contact 7-8637. SEPTEMBER snack bar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Yoga: Noon, LM SB-02. 9 TUESDAY Contact 7-5984. OED provides those with disabilities a clearinghouse for Bloomsday Camerata: Presentation: Terrence information on workplace adjustments, accommodations, Reading aloud Borges’ Rucker of the U.S. House of universal design, programs and services at the Library. “Collected Fictions.” Noon, Representatives Office of the LM 227. Contact 7-0013. For more information, contact chairwoman Tamara Rorie at Historian and Tracy North Aerobics Class: High-Low. of the Library’s Hispanic 7-3001 or [email protected] or visit www.loc.gov/staff/groups/ Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA Division present “Hispanic oed/. B-36. Contact 7-8637. Americans in Congress.” 1 Meditation: Open to all. p.m., Mary Pickford Theater, 12:15 p.m., LA G-06. Contact LM 301. Contact 7-6404. The Library Shop’s Top Pick [email protected]. Reading: Writer-editor Frank SEPTEMBER Stewart and scholar-translator Be a book booster. Keep calm and Katsunori Yamazato read 10 WEDNESDAY read on. American made ceramic. Staff from the MANOA Journal members receive a 10 percent discount. Exhibition Opening: “The special feature “Living Spirit: Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Literature and Resurgence in Jefferson Building (LJ G-62), Monday Long Struggle for Freedom” Okinawa” and participate in through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., highlights the legal and a moderated discussion with www.loc.gov/shop. legislative struggles and poet Brenda Shaughnessy.

Request ADA accommodations for events five business days in advance at 7-6362 or [email protected]. See www.loc.gov/loc/events for the Library’s online calendar.