I didn't expect to be writing again so soon (or at such length!), but here I am, having survived yesterday's book talk at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Vermont. Toshi and I were a bit crazed setting up. We arrived, along with the rain, at the entrance to the library with the first of our bags and boxes of things (display items and copies of the books for sale). There were about 20 people already waiting for the doors to open. It looked like the first day of a big sale at some store. Actually, it left me feeling hopeful seeing so many people anxious to get into the library. I worry too much that "real" books are losing out to electronic versions. I won't even think about the fact that some of those people may have been waiting to go in and use the computers. One looked like she might be homeless and hoping to spend the rest of the day inside out of the chill and rain with a good book.
Getting back to my talk - Toshi left me in the room as he made several trips to the car to bring up the rest of our things. He prepared his ikebana (flower arrangement) while I set up the chairs and tables and started arranging the display of photos, newspaper articles from 1960 about Addie and gifts given to her by the Japanese. I placed a framed copy of the LIFE Magazine article on an easel and we were halfway there.
Three people arrived before 1:00, and I was still arranging things. Toshi had had to return home for something we'd forgotten. I told the early birds to take a look at the display as I turned on a CD of koto music. It had been dubbed from a reel-to-reel tape of koto music from the 1960 welcome party for Addie in Kyoto. Little by little, other people started arriving. It was a small but pleasant, attentive and appreciative group of people. I knew half of them and most of those already owned copies of the book. Since I knew so many people, it seemed natural to introduce everyone around.
This talk was somewhat different from most of my previous book talks. Aside from the displays, I used a Power Point show to explain how some of the images in the book were created. Besides the koto music, when my mother died, my sister and I discovered other tapes of her from after the trip. These included appearances on TV and radio programs in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. I was overjoyed when I found I could have them cleaned up and put on CD's. The recordings of my eloquent, 35-year-old mother are true treasures.
So, although I really enjoy reading out loud, especially my mother's and Suzue's writing, I gave up most of the time I would have spent doing that. Instead, I played part of the audio portion of a TV show from November 11, 1960. It's quite a powerful show, following on the heels of President Kennedy's election. Addie's speaking ability shines. Sharing her, almost in person, with my audience was so much better than hearing me read portions of things she'd written.
I'm signing off to finish recuperating. We have the trip down to NYC this week and another book talk there. Be well. —Susan
Getting back to my talk - Toshi left me in the room as he made several trips to the car to bring up the rest of our things. He prepared his ikebana (flower arrangement) while I set up the chairs and tables and started arranging the display of photos, newspaper articles from 1960 about Addie and gifts given to her by the Japanese. I placed a framed copy of the LIFE Magazine article on an easel and we were halfway there.
Three people arrived before 1:00, and I was still arranging things. Toshi had had to return home for something we'd forgotten. I told the early birds to take a look at the display as I turned on a CD of koto music. It had been dubbed from a reel-to-reel tape of koto music from the 1960 welcome party for Addie in Kyoto. Little by little, other people started arriving. It was a small but pleasant, attentive and appreciative group of people. I knew half of them and most of those already owned copies of the book. Since I knew so many people, it seemed natural to introduce everyone around.
This talk was somewhat different from most of my previous book talks. Aside from the displays, I used a Power Point show to explain how some of the images in the book were created. Besides the koto music, when my mother died, my sister and I discovered other tapes of her from after the trip. These included appearances on TV and radio programs in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. I was overjoyed when I found I could have them cleaned up and put on CD's. The recordings of my eloquent, 35-year-old mother are true treasures.
So, although I really enjoy reading out loud, especially my mother's and Suzue's writing, I gave up most of the time I would have spent doing that. Instead, I played part of the audio portion of a TV show from November 11, 1960. It's quite a powerful show, following on the heels of President Kennedy's election. Addie's speaking ability shines. Sharing her, almost in person, with my audience was so much better than hearing me read portions of things she'd written.
I'm signing off to finish recuperating. We have the trip down to NYC this week and another book talk there. Be well. —Susan