Viewpoints » Editorials

Subscribe

American Book Review reading series shines with fabulous literati

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • Originally published April 25, 2008 at 5:35 p.m., updated April 25, 2008 at 5:35 p.m.

Thursday marked the end of the spring American Book Review series hosted at the University of Houston-Victoria.

And what an array of literary artists this spring’s presentations featured:

The season began in January with Thomas Williams, short story writer and winner of three Pushcart Prizes and a James Michener Fellowship.

Then, Pulitizer Prize winner David Oshinsky was featured in February. His book Polio: An American Story won that prestigious prize for him.

Oshinsky also serves as the Jack S. Blanton chair in History at the University of Texas-Austin.

Following Oshinsky was Lance Olsen in early April. He is author of nine novels and many other pieces, as well as serving as the associate editor of the American Book Review.

Thursday’s ABR finale featured Farnoosh Moshiri, who in 1983 fled Iran after massive arrests of secular intellectuals and feminists.

She is author of many plays, short stories and poems and teaches literature at the University of Houston.

American Book Review began here in late 2006 and has hosted great writers since.

Notable was Andrei Codrescu, Romanian-born American poet, well-known commentator for National Public Radio, and author of more than 25 books.

Codrescu not only gave an American Book Review presentation on May 11, 2007, he also served as UHV’s 2006-2007 commencement speaker.

Charles Alcorn, ABR’s managing editor, said the authors who have stayed in Victoria have expressed delight with the community.

“They appreciated the depth of understanding of their works,” Alcorn said.

“We’ve got good momentum and now finishing our second year, we know what we are doing.

“For next season, we are working on a really exciting line-up again. We will announce this by June,” he said.

Clearly, the ABR is a great asset to the Victoria community and area.

We are lucky that the internationally published ABR chose the University of Houston-Victoria and Victoria for its home.


Sign Up
CLOSE

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •