Former North Dakotan and retired academic Brenda Daly has a new blog, www.readingnorthdakota.net, that is devoted to books about North Dakota or by North Dakota authors. Ole Rolvaag’s homesteading classic, Giants in the Earth, was the first book to be discussed. The January selection is Dakota, Or What’s a Heaven For, and I have happily agreed to answer any questions Dakota readers might have. You don’t have to be from North Dakota to join in!
Posts Tagged ‘book club’
ReadingNorthDakota
Thursday, January 10th, 2013Connecting with an Old Friend
Friday, February 17th, 2012Skyping last night with a book club from Grand Forks, North Dakota, I had the chance to reconnect with a college buddy I haven’t seen for years. I was really pleased to get a couple of tough questions from the club, and of course I’m always happy to talk about the research that went into writing Dakota, Or What’s a Heaven For, as well as the process of writing itself. Sometimes I hear from readers who just aren’t sure whether they like the central character, Frances Bingham, who can be just as bad as Scarlett O’Hara, and just as driven as that famous North Dakotan, Jay Gatsby, but this crew got right behind her.
Thanks, Kim, for inviting me into your living room. It was great to catch up, and nice to talk with your club.
Great Party!
Thursday, September 15th, 2011Last night a good friend in Ann Arbor, Michigan, hosted a book party to which she invited several of her friends who were eager to talk about Dakota, Or What’s a Heaven For. I read some passages from the novel, and then we had a great discussion (laced with comparisons of Dakota to other 19th-century novels) about the challenges, restrictions, and possibilities for women at this time, about the definition of family, about so many other things (including a good deal of speculation about what happened in the days, weeks, and years following the last page of the novel). It was a privilege to be in the company of these close, smart readers. Thanks, Peggy, for making this happen! Good food, nice wine, lively conversation…a night to remember.
Books and Brunch for DAKOTA
Sunday, February 20th, 2011A friend (and neighbor) hosted a reading and brunch party at her home today to introduce other friends and neighbors to Dakota, Or What’s a Heaven For. It was a great opportunity to talk about books and writing with a roomful of fun people. Many thanks to our host, Lisa, for bringing all of these readers together, and thanks to everyone at the party, for your enthusiasm and interest.
Book club at the ND governor’s residence
Monday, February 14th, 2011My sister’s book club in North Dakota has invited me to join them in May as they discuss DAKOTA, OR WHAT’S A HEAVEN FOR, and I am looking forward to hearing what these smart readers have to say. One of the book club members, Betsy Dalrymple, wife of the new ND governor, is hosting the meeting at the governor’s residence in Bismarck. This is an honor and I am very grateful.