Even more cultural variety

After a day working it would seem impossible that I might have the energy to go out to a Writers Festival event but go I did. It was at the New York Times Center on 41st Street. A great auditorium with a great view out through the courtyard. Just before the discussion started they closed the blinds I presume so that we didn't get distracted or distract passersby!
This time it was to hear Ian McEwan and other writers speaking about American Literature as seen from abroad. I have to admit that it was the chance to hear Ian McEwan that drew me to the event and I hadn't really thought about what the subject of the talk was. Two other writers joined him, Yousef Al-Mohaimeed and Binyavanga Wainaina neither of whom I had heard of let alone read.
Yousef Al- Mohaimeed spoke through an interpreter to a certain extent although he was hampered by the interpretation and the complexity of the discussant's questions.




Apparently Yousef had only arrived today and was treated rather badly by immigration having been detained by them for three hours for no reason and very little explanation given other than it was his first time in the country and next time it would be a quicker journey through immigration!
The empty chair at each of the PEN sessions is part of the campaign to win release of more than three dozen writers and journalists held in Chinese prisons before the Olympic Games open in Beijing. It's also a "reminder that the silencing of writers in one country robs the entire world of their voices"
We chose to leave the session as the questions started given the habit that many have of making statements rather than asking questions.


Part of the reason why we left was to head for our next event. Jude and I dashed up through the light rain to Radio City Music Hall and a Dolly Parton concert. She is amazing- Dolly that is- Jude is too but the concert in particular highlighted the variety of skills and talents that Dolly Parton has. Her musical versatility and her capacity to engage an audience are fantastic. In one part of the program she mentioned her books for kids program that provides a book for children - one a month until the age of 4. Fantastic!Jude, Sue, Helen and I then walked home feeling that we really had had a great night's entertainment.