Winter 2005 Workshops at Writers & Books

Reading Seminars

A Short Reading Course for Those Who Don’t Read Poetry

• WA5-R19
• Four Mondays, April 4–25, 6–8 pm
• $72 W&B members / $79 general public
• Instructor: Donna Marbach

This reading course is meant to be an enjoyable introduction to the many faces of poetry. It is designed to show that poetry was meant for the average person—not the esoteric upper echelons. After all, the very first literature was written in poetry—the Illiad, the Odyssey, Canterbury Tales, and even parts of the Bible.

Today people are constantly exposed to poetry in song lyrics, advertising, and greeting cards. This course is not meant to be a heavy analysis that looks for symbolic meaning or requires knowledge of poetry. Instead, students will read for pleasure and emotional affect.

The text for this course is Poetry 180, edited by Billy Collins.

Crime & Punishment

• Three Wednesdays, 7–8:30 pm
• January 19, February 16, March 16
• $3 W&B members / $6 general public per discussion

Read the books in advance and discuss the issues at W&B. All book discussions will be led by experts in the field of crime, punishment, and the death penalty.

• Wednesday January 19: Hon. Karen Morris ( Brighton Town judge) will lead a discussion of Billy, a novel by Albert French.
• Wednesday February 16: Bill Easton (capital defense attorney) will lead a discussion of Ultimate Punishment, a novel by Scott Turow.
• Wednesday March 16: Rosemary Mitchell (Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley) will lead a discussion of Who Owns Death: Capital Punishment, The American Conscience, and the End of Executions by Robert Jay Lifton and Greg Mitchell.

Join us for insights and lively debate. Books and presenters for this program were chosen in collaboration with the Reconciliation Network: Don’t Kill in My Name.

Note: It’s okay to attend the discussions even if you have not read the books.

Philosophy & Literature II: This Time It’s Personal!

• WA5-R36
• Six Thursdays, January 20 – March 3, 7–9 pm
• No class March 10
• $99 W&B members / $119 general public
• Instructor: Tim Madigan

Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Don’t kill yourself! Come and examine your life with us. Yes, just when you thought it was safe, Philosophy and Literature returns! Join Dr. Tim Madigan for more explorations into works of deep thought that are guaranteed to change your life (dramatically?) for the better:

• “The Apology” by Plato
• “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes
• “In Praise of Folly” by Erasmus
• “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• “Looking Backward” by Edward Bellamy
• “Herland” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

For the first night, read Plato’s “The Apology” in advance and be prepared to discuss. Students may use the Dover Classic editions (around $2.50 each). Death, sex, folly, liberty, futurism, and women’s equality—all that and more are yours for the asking. In the words of Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill, “Oh don’t ask why!”—just come on in.

Reading Nicholson Baker

• WA5-R37
• Four Wednesdays, March 9–30, 6:30–8:30 pm
• $72 W&B members / $79 general public
• Instructor: Jonathan Rich

Nicholson Baker has become a great success story. As a Brighton High School student he used to write in the old Howard Johnson’s at Twelve Corners and hang out at the downtown Rundel Library. Thirty years later he is a frequent contributor to the New Yorker and the author of eight critically acclaimed books.

This literary journey will begin with two short novels, The Mezzanine (his first), and Vox (did you say phone sex?), and then move on to Double Fold (non-fiction about libraries and crumbling old newspapers) and conclude with Checkpoint (his latest about two guys discussing the assassination of George W. Bush).

In addition to examining these works, the instructor will discuss how this Rochester-born-and-bred author fulfilled his lifelong dream of making a living as a writer. Participants should read The Mezzanine in advance and be prepared to discuss.

Check our Calendar of Events for Jonathan’s reading on Tuesday evening, March 15!

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