An Evening with Sarah Vowell

45 Rowland Avenue,Delaware OH 43015

20 May, 2022

Description

Hear a moderated conversation with Sarah Vowell, New York Times’ bestselling author of seven books on American history and culture. Event DetailsDoors open: 6:30 p.m. Author Presentation: 7:00 p.m. Book Signing: 8:00 p.m. Submit Your QuestionsThe conversation will be moderated by Delaware County District Library Director George Needham. Questions will be accepted in advance and the night of the presentation. Please submit them to [email protected] with the subject “Sarah Vowell.” BooksBooks will be made available for sale through Beanbag Books both in advance and the night of the event. The 2022 Author Series is presented by the Delaware County District Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Library and Beanbag Books. BioSarah Vowell is the New York Times’ bestselling author of seven nonfiction books on American history and culture. By examining the connections between the American past and present, she offers personal, often humorous accounts of everything from presidents and their assassins to colonial religious fanatics, as well as thoughts on American Indians, utopian dreamers, pop music and the odd cranky cartographer. Her most recent book is entitled Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. Vowell’s book, Unfamiliar Fishes is the intriguing history of our 50th state, Hawaii, annexed in 1898. Replete with a cast of beguiling and often tragic characters, including an overthrown Hawaiian queen, whalers, missionaries, sugar barons, Teddy Roosevelt and assorted con men, Unfamiliar Fishes is another history lesson in Americana as only Vowell can tell it – with brainy wit and droll humor. The Wordy Shipmates examines the New England Puritans and their journey to and impact on America. She studies John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” and the bloody story that resulted from American exceptionalism. And she also traces the relationship of Winthrop, Massachusetts’ first governor, and Roger Williams, the Calvinist minister who founded Rhode Island – an unlikely friendship that was emblematic of the polar extremes of the American foundation. Throughout she reveals how American history can show up in the most unexpected places in our modern culture, often in poignant ways. Her book Assassination Vacation is a haunting and surprisingly hilarious road trip to tourist sites devoted to the murders of presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Vowell examines what these acts of political violence reveal about our national character and our contemporary society. She is also the author of two essay collections, The Partly Cloudy Patriot and Take the Cannoli. Her first book Radio On, is her year-long diary of listening to the radio in 1995. She was guest editor for The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2017. Vowell was a contributing editor for the public radio show This American Life from 1996-2008, where she produced numerous commentaries and documentaries and toured the country in many of the program’s live shows. She was one of the original contributors to McSweeney’s, also participating in many of the quarterly’s readings and shows. She has been a columnist for Salon.com, Time, San Francisco Weekly, and is a contributing op-ed writer for the New York Times. Vowell has made numerous appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She is the voice of teen superhero Violet Parr in Brad Bird’s Academy Award-winning The Incredibles, and its sequel, Incredibles 2, from Pixar Animation Studios. Vowell was the president of the board of 826NYC, a nonprofit tutoring and writing center for students aged 6-18 in Brooklyn, from its founding in 2004 until 2014. She is still a member of its advisory board, along with its sister organization in Los Angeles, 826LA. Building a Literary Community! Formed in 2007, the Friends of the Delaware County District Library is a non-profit organization that supports the mission, services and needs of the Delaware County District Library (DCDL).  We attempt to focus public attention on the DCDL and its many contributions to the Delaware County community.   The Friends raise funds through our volunteer service by hosting book sales, author visits and children's events and through membership dues and donations.  In 2019, we awarded over $30,000 in grants to the Delaware County District Library.   DCDL grants help support the Summer Reading Club and other library initiatives.   Remember when you Join, Donate or Volunteer with the Friends you support all four DCDL branches: Delaware, Orange, Ostrander and Powell.  We are always looking for volunteers to help with our Friends initiatives and activities.     Learn more about the Friends:  Website:  www.delawarelibraryfriends.org Email:  [email protected] Facebook: friendsofthedelawarelibrary