LOUISVILLE LIBRARY: Writers Who Read: Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

June's book is Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen (USA, 2021) - Sunday, 2:30 pm (for 2 hours), online (see link when you register) & IN PERSON at the Louisville Public Library 2nd Floor Board Room. Facilities information here: https://www.louisville-library.org

BRING YOUR FAVORITE SENTENCE!

Controversial Voice of the Zeitgeist Jonathan Franzen has taken an unexpected turn with his latest novel: historical (gasp!) fiction. How does the author who wrote that writers should grapple with "the world in which they find themselves" justify turning back the clock to the early 1970s? By exploring head-on, a la Marilynne Robinson, matters of religious faith and the gnarled roots of altruism, timeless topics still relevant today.

We are Writers Who Read. We use Literary Forensics to dissect a recent novel (published within the past 18 months) with the goal of uncovering how the author has utilized their skills for effect. Storytelling is an art, but it's not a mystery. Every writer must address the following:

• Structure, Timeline, Pacing, Suspense, Omission
• Point of View, including Voice, Character, Place
• Language, Tense, Imagery, Metaphor, Symbols
• Motivation: Making a story pop - generating a thrill
• Why this story? And why now? Industry considerations

We ask that all attendees read the entire book in advance of the meeting, and come bearing their discoveries of how the author has addressed each of the five points above.

What is Literary Forensics? Find out here: https://www.garyalanmcbride.com/literary-forensics/