Salon@615-Elizabeth Strout with Ann Patchett

Salon@615 presents bestselling authors free to the public through a unique partnership between Nashville Public Library, Humanities Tennessee, Parnassus Books, BookPage and the Nashville Public Library Foundation. Together, we nurture and celebrate the literary life of Nashville by presenting author talks and book signings to our community.

[@mairianncullen8753]

That was so interesting! I loved hearing about the way Elizabeth Strout writes her books and how long and deep was her search for the truth from which she writes

[@dootscat3798]

Wonderful interview!

[@AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

Loved it!

[@sdachannel7331]

ascolta anche I TEMI DELL'UMANO: Benini/ Strout "Mi chiamo Lucy Barton" (Einaudi)

[@h.a.s.7336]

Patchett is reading O'Conner in a strange way. O'Conner is all about Grace, not judgement. It's on every page. If she is judgmental at all, she includes herself in that judgement and that too is evident on every page. Her characters are more symbolic which lends to some detachment, but definitely not self-righteous judgement.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Patchett is reading 'Connor in a literal way, and with literary logic. O'Connor agrees with Patchett as anyone knows who's read her diaries or letters. Read her on James Baldwin, Elizabeth Ames, or writers who are not Christian. I agree she judges herself; how could she not, as she breaches her own espoused standards constantly. You might also want to want to read her fury, in her letters, at being described by critics as symbolic!

[@h.a.s.7336]

@@lizziebkennedy7505 Thanks for sharing... I'm not that much of a fan or a scholar that I've read her letters. I wrote this comment three years ago, before the pile on of the last two years since O"Conner's "other correspondence" was released (I never read those either). She is in heaven now, free from her frailties and the culture that affected her formation, thankfully. As for symbolism... All fiction "points to other things" in one form or another... which is symbolism. Any passing essay I've read about O"Connor's work talks about symbolism. Whether the writer likes it or not, the reader often gets to decide. She may not have wanted symbolism to be a part of her work, but it's there. I see it. Cheers.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Flannery O'Connor did have some form at hating. She hated Elizabeth Ames at Yaddo and she hated James Baldwin, as her non fiction ans epistolary oeuvre attends. Southerners seem to be able to except the practice and disposition of hatred from their Christianity, which of course makes no sense. In Flannery's case especially, given her writing is so concerned with direct experiences of God's grace and glory. Unless you're black, northern, or agnostic.