Our New Boyle-Wright Window, Bohjalian Guests, Hessler Slides

Today is the start of the "Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century" exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Our window celebrates Wright and T.C. Boyle, whose novel, The Women, is the subject of their first book salon on Saturday, February 19th, at 10:30 am.

And Boyle is coming to Boswell on Thursday, February 24th. His new book, When the Killing's Done, lands on February 22nd. Fortunately Boyle has a lot of backlist, as it can be tough to promote an event so close to the release of a new book.

For Peter Hessler and Chris Bohjalian's events yesterday (2/11), we brought in their hardcovers, since the paperbacks would not be out on either until just before the events started. I went in a panic as I like to have hardcovers available at paperback reprint events. In Hessler's case, we sold out of hardcovers?

So I'm sure you're wondering, how did the events go and are you going to show me photos?

Bohjalian's event for Secrets of Eden was just lovely--beautiful setting, delicious meal, incredibly charming guest host. Everyone loved it, and why not? At what other event could you speak intimately with an author. Bohjalian sat at a different table for each course. I had hoped to take a photo of each table, but sadly, I got so involved in my dessert conversation that I forgot. Could we do this again? I'd definitely need a larger turnout to continue this. Help me figure out how I can convey the value of this very special kind of event. After the lunch, we had over both sections of the Oprah's Book Club class at Alverno college for a brief talk. Yes, we're a classroom too!

Hessler's talk for Country Driving was great and for once, the weather was perfect, for February at least. And yes, we used the slide projector again. I'm becoming an old pro at this. If you're hosting him at an upcoming event, you should be aware that his wife is Leslie Chang, the author of Factory Girls, and he talks about her and the event in her talk. I'd bring in at least five copies--we sold out immediately and had several more folks asking for it. And just to talk it up further, my sister Claudia (who came out, along with my brother-in-law Les), is a huge fan. Hessler and Chang talk about the same factory in their books, but in a totally different way. Their stories complement each other perfectly.

Talking Up Peter Hessler's February 11th Appearance at Boswell at the UWM Chinese New Year Gala

Don't forget that Wade is appearing at the store tomorrow, which is Tuesday, February 8th, at 7 pm for his new book, It's All Relative. Very, very, very, very funny. More about Rouse, plus our Chris Bohjalian lunch on Friday at Lake Park Bistro in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel roundup yesterday. And no, we're not sold out. And we're still at the Riverside with Cesar Millan on Friday evening. And I don't think they are sold out either.

But enough about these guys--they already got their posts. I'm talking about Peter Hessler here.

I hoped to have finished Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory by now, but I'm still plowing through it. It's the third book in his China trilogy, which started with River Town and continued with Oracle Bones. I read River Town at the suggestion of my sister Claudia, the Chinese professor who is a huge fan of Hessler. She's putting together a list of essential books to understand China, and Hessler's definitely on the list.

The new book is divided into three sections. First it follows Hessler's acquisition of a driver's license, and his subsequent 7000-mile road trip across Northern China. He sees agricultural areas being abandoned for the bigger cities, and small towns turning into tourism meccas and industrial powerhouses as roads create new access for both people and business.

We're honored to be part of Hessler's tour. Not in Milwaukee? Here's the rest of his itinerary:

Monday, February 07, 2011
Word
126 Franklin ST Brooklyn, NY 11222

Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Harvard Bookstore
1256 Massachusetts AVE Cambridge, MA 02138

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut AVE NW Washington, DC 20008

Friday, February 11, 2011
Boswell Book Company--hey, that's us!
2559 N Downer Ave Milwaukee, WI 53211

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Left Bank Books
Maryville University Auditorium
650 Maryville University Dr Saint Louis, MO 63141

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Powells
1005 West Burnside Portland, OR 97210

Thursday, February 17, 2011
Mrs. Dalloway's
2904 College Ave Berkeley, CA 94705

Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tattered Cover
2526 E Colfax AVE Denver, CO 80206

We have several events that reflect on Chinese culture this spring. As always, I'm a little off, timing-wise, as there is a big China promotion at the Milwaukee Art Museum this summer, with five concurrent exhibits. The big deal is Treasures from the Forbidden City, which starts on June 11th. More on their website.

But we had enough that I found myself in correspondence with Lorna Young of OCA-WI (Organization of Chinese Americans, Wisconsin) to see what we could do together. Together with Janet, another OCA member, we set up an event for a local writer, Nicholas Hartlep, whose new book, Going Public: Critical Race Theory & Issues of Social Justice Critical Race Theory & Issues of Social Justice. This is a co-sponsored event with OCA on Saturday, April 2nd, at 2 pm. I can't link to it as it's not in our database yet--sorry!

And we're very excited to say that Anchee Min is appearing at Boswell for the paperback of her novel, Pearl of China, on Tuesday, April 13th, at 7 pm. You will, needless to say, hear more about both of these books in the next few months.

But what about Hessler? Lorna put together a handout of our upcoming events and brought them to Chinese New Year's celebrations. And so, how could I resist an invitation to attend one of them myself last Saturday at the UWM Ballroom?

It's the Year of the Rabbit, and we celebrated with a tasty meal, including steamed brined duck, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, Chinese cabbage with black mushrooms and soy sauce marinated beef. And I'm not sure if everyone got this, but we had a bag of candy to pass out. Preserved plums!

The festivities started with the Lion Dance, presented by Shao Lin Boxing Methods. The MCCC (Milwaukee Chinese Community Center) had a number of dance groups participate, including the children's group that danced to Wa Ha Ha, and the women's group, that did a kongfu fan dance. There were 16 performances in all.

This is the 10th year of the Chinese New Year Gala in Milwaukee. Other participating organizations in addition to the Organization of Chinese Americans include the Association of Chinese Scientists and Engineers, the Marquette CSSA, the Medical College of Wisconsin CSSA, the UWM CSSA, the Milwaukee Chinese Community Center.

And so, I think I'm now in the mood for Peter Hessler's Country Driving talk this Friday, February 11th, 7 pm, aren't you? I'm excited to say my sister is coming, as well as her husband, Les, who is a lawyer in Beijing. He's here because the country shuts down for...Chinese New Year. Happy Year of Rabbit!