Regarding “PEN World Voices, The Three Musketeers, again”

It’s fun to see these accounts and it was a fun evening. As much as I do indeed think there was a tremendous amount of ego on display, I’m also glad to see that writers can fill a hall like that. The audience was varied and enthusiastic and that counts for a lot when there’s so much focus on how many people don’t read.

Regarding “Pen World Voices Photos: Three Musketeers Event”

I had the distinct pleasure on May 1 of hearing two of the three musketeers (Umberto Eco and Salman Rushdie) reading from their works and conversing with each other with the excellent moderation of Joanna Scott at the University of Rochester as an extended event (350 miles) of the PEN World Voices Festival. We were not favored with Italian but had the pleasure of hearing them interact with each other and stimulate each others’ imaginations. Thanks to both authors for favoring those of us living in the provinces under the aegis of the Holland Land Office.

Regarding “PEN World Voices: Reading the World”

Thanks for this, Geoff. I read it as I was half-way through writing up my own reaction. Ours are markedly similar.

For me, too, Malcolm was the highlight.

And, working on my own editing project right now, I learned so much for her about how to make a “minor” detail of textual editing into a groundbreaking argument.

It was lovely to meet you on Friday and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of your Africa book!

Regarding “PEN World Voices: New Directions in Spanish-Language Literature report”

Thank you for such detailed notes!  (I had the privilege of seeing Lago speak in Cartagena in 2007.) Here he clearly pinpoints a major problem for translated literature.  It seems hard to believe that monolingualism rules the U.S. publishing world, but it’s a sad truth.  (Why can’t lovers of literature also be lovers of languages?) The enormous disconnect between U.S. publishers and original works in other languages is at the root of the problem.  It will be interesting to see how the English Pen Online World Atlas evolves.  Hopefully, this resource (once developed further) can be something for publishers to use as well.

Regarding “The Bodies Exhibit: Why We Read Frankenstein”

I saw the Bodies exhibit several years ago at South Street Seaport in New York. Contrary to your experience, there were quite a few children of all ages viewing the exhibit with their families. The children was curious as children tend to be. Children as well as parents approached each body respectfully and in hushed tones, fascinated by the structure and functions of the various parts of the human body and what disease and our own disrespect for the body can do to it (E.G. lungs of a smoker.)My human biology teacher many years ago told us in class that everything required to happen during embryonic development, it is amazing that anyone is ever born. I came away from the exhibit with a better understanding and respect for human life. I think many of the children did too. No matter what the situation, we always have an opportunity to learn about life and appreciate it more.
Joseph G. Langen, Author- The Pastor’s Inferno