In any given city, I am in search of two things: good food and good bookstores. Independent institutions of books and food indicate to me that someone has cared enough about their community to invest in it and contribute to the culture of a place — to surround others in the things that comfort themselves. […]
literature
Posted inHot Tin Roof
Hot Tin Roof: Rolling In The Deep At Old Man’s Creek
The geriatric van tattooed with faded peace signs sped past golden stacks of Iowa wheat on this sticky September afternoon. Our driver, Ana Mendieta, had the five of us, plus her photography gear and plastic buckets, stuffed in her vehicle for the short drive to Old Man’s Creek near Sharon Center.
Posted inHot Tin Roof
Hot Tin Roof: Forgiveness
Hot Tin Roof is a program to showcase current literary work produced in Iowa City. The series is organized and juried by representatives of three Iowa City-based cultural advocacy organizations: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature and Little Village magazine, with financial support from M.C. Ginsberg Objects of Art.
Posted inHot Tin Roof
Hot Tin Roof: Self Help through IKEA Furniture Assembly
The dream fills the room when we unpack — the parts — the makings of our soon-to-be kitchen table.I remember reading that IKEA furniture in particular is more self-gratifying than the non-IKEA do-it-yourself-put-it-together furniture because of the self-assembly required.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Welcome to Night Vale’s Joseph Fink discusses religion and science in his new novel ‘It Devours!’
Fink and co-author Jeffrey Cranor will hold a reading and discussion of their new Night Vale novel for the Witching Hour festival on Saturday.
Posted inCommunity/News
Author faces ‘ghosts’ of family separated by World War Two
Among the Living and the Dead: A Tale of Exile and Homecoming on the War Roads of Europe, the recently published book by University of Iowa Assistant Professor Inara Verzemnieks, explores her family’s diverging journeys as war descended on their Latvian home — resulting in trauma and loss that would reverberate through the generations.
Posted inCommunity/News
Author, Iowa Writers’ Workshop alumnus Denis Johnson passes away
Author and former University of Iowa Writers Workshop alum and faculty member Denis Johnson passed away Wednesday at the age of 67.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Mission Creek Festival announces full 2016 literary line-up
More than 30 events, mostly free, make up the literary track of this year’s Mission Creek Festival, which kicks off on Apr. 5. The emphasis is on “Literature Within & Beyond Text,” a concept highlighted by festival headliners Alison Bechdel, who rose to fame with her graphic memoir Fun Home (recently adapted into an award-winning […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Watson and Holmes: Re-imagining the classic sleuth
Writer Kent Bollers and artist Rick Leonardi invite you to look up Sherlock Holmes at a new address. Oh, the detective still resides at 221B Baker Street. But in Watson and Holmes, Baker Street isn’t in London—it’s in Harlem. In the crowded landscape of recent and ongoing Sherlockiana, Watson and Holmes stands out because the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Mission Creek Bookshelf: What every living room is missing, but only one living room will have
Each spring, the Mission Creek Festival brings diverse thinkers and makers to Iowa City for a weeklong exchange of ideas and hospitality. In this spirit, Little…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Book Plug: B.J. Novak’s literary debut
In February, B.J. Novak made his literary fiction debut with One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, a collection of 64 darkly comic vignettes. Novak is most well known for his work as a writer, actor and producer of NBC’s The Office. His comedy writing chops shine bright as short fiction. One More Thing shares […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Jesus’ Son and then some: Denis Johnson reads to Iowa City this week
According to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the acclaimed poet, playwright, essayist, short-story guru and award-winning novelist Denis Johnson has returned…
