2008 Woodie Awards
Professor holds book signing, upcoming talk to be held on Sunday
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
This past Saturday, October 20, Harry Marten, Chair of the English Department, held a book signing at The Open Door Bookstore on Jay Street.
Marten's book, entitled "But That Didn't Happen To You," is described by his colleague, English Professor Judith Lewin, as centering around "the concept that memory is reconstruction, and among the materials for that reconstruction are other peoples' stories about events that seem so vivid, that one is certain one was there!"
While this is the premise behind the book, it is about much more than that. Marten says, "It's set mostly in New York City neighborhoods during the last hundred years or so, and it offers a picture of-and reflections on-the immigrant experience, storytelling, old age, the tricks and complexities of memory, family relationships, the things we leave behind and the things we pass on."
"The book's stories are tales about old world dislocations and new world relocations, about finding a home and settling a home, about growing up and growing old. They suggest ways of finding a path from Russia to America, from downtown to uptown, from generation to generation," Marten continued.
Marten says that he wrote the book "at a time when I was thinking a lot about memory-how it works, how easily it is lost. My grandparents were long dead, and my parents were growing old and ill (and forgetful). At the same time, my sons were moving into their own worlds, their own lives. I wanted to make sense of the stories of these lives-my own life, really. And I wanted to understand the role that memory and storytelling play in shaping a sense of personal history. I wanted to tell good stories-funny and moving, and to share them with others."
The book was published this past winter, and this is Marten's first book signing as of yet.
Marten says, "I'm enjoying activities that help to bring the book into public view. The Open Door Bookstore has an autumn series for book signings, and I was pleased to participate in it. Also, I'll be reading from the book and talking about it at the Schenectady Jewish Community Center…The presentation is called: "'Remembering Lives: A Conversation Across Generations.'"
Freshman Davis Knox says, "the historical connotations of this book seem very interesting…I have never heard of a book like this!"
Rachael Singleton, '11, believes that it is important to support Union's professors. "I would go to the book talk just because he is a Union professor! It sounds very interesting," Singleton exclaimed.
Lewin agrees that it is important that her peers support each other. She says, "I like it when my colleagues show up to my gigs…I want to show support for Marten's creative work, which goes beyond his already formidable scholarship…I love hearing folks read from their own work, for only then can you really hear the voice of the author as he gives voice to his narrator."
Marten's upcoming book talk will be held at the Schenectady Jewish Community Center on Sunday, October 28th at 2 p.m.
Marten's book, entitled "But That Didn't Happen To You," is described by his colleague, English Professor Judith Lewin, as centering around "the concept that memory is reconstruction, and among the materials for that reconstruction are other peoples' stories about events that seem so vivid, that one is certain one was there!"
While this is the premise behind the book, it is about much more than that. Marten says, "It's set mostly in New York City neighborhoods during the last hundred years or so, and it offers a picture of-and reflections on-the immigrant experience, storytelling, old age, the tricks and complexities of memory, family relationships, the things we leave behind and the things we pass on."
"The book's stories are tales about old world dislocations and new world relocations, about finding a home and settling a home, about growing up and growing old. They suggest ways of finding a path from Russia to America, from downtown to uptown, from generation to generation," Marten continued.
Marten says that he wrote the book "at a time when I was thinking a lot about memory-how it works, how easily it is lost. My grandparents were long dead, and my parents were growing old and ill (and forgetful). At the same time, my sons were moving into their own worlds, their own lives. I wanted to make sense of the stories of these lives-my own life, really. And I wanted to understand the role that memory and storytelling play in shaping a sense of personal history. I wanted to tell good stories-funny and moving, and to share them with others."
The book was published this past winter, and this is Marten's first book signing as of yet.
Marten says, "I'm enjoying activities that help to bring the book into public view. The Open Door Bookstore has an autumn series for book signings, and I was pleased to participate in it. Also, I'll be reading from the book and talking about it at the Schenectady Jewish Community Center…The presentation is called: "'Remembering Lives: A Conversation Across Generations.'"
Freshman Davis Knox says, "the historical connotations of this book seem very interesting…I have never heard of a book like this!"
Rachael Singleton, '11, believes that it is important to support Union's professors. "I would go to the book talk just because he is a Union professor! It sounds very interesting," Singleton exclaimed.
Lewin agrees that it is important that her peers support each other. She says, "I like it when my colleagues show up to my gigs…I want to show support for Marten's creative work, which goes beyond his already formidable scholarship…I love hearing folks read from their own work, for only then can you really hear the voice of the author as he gives voice to his narrator."
Marten's upcoming book talk will be held at the Schenectady Jewish Community Center on Sunday, October 28th at 2 p.m.
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