2B — Thursday, September 15, 2016
the b-side
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
A book travels a long way
to get to its reader. It starts as
a prod in the author’s mind,
a call to action. That nudge
then turns into a spilling of
words out onto a page, which
is then sent to a publisher to be
critiqued and reshaped. There,
the words of the eager author
are molded into their final
form, as author and editor alike
shape this literary outpouring
into its most impactful self.
Finally, the book is ready to be
distributed to curious readers.
Clasping the freshly bound
work in their hands, feeling
the feathery weight of a newly
purchased book, bibliophiles
delve into the carefully crafted
story.
Sunday, the 14th Annual
Kerrytown BookFest brought
together all aspects of the
novel experience — author,
reader, publisher and more.
The festival took over the
Ann Arbor Farmers Market,
sporting booths and tents with
a wide range of attractions
under this year’s theme,
“Travels with Books.” The
avenues of the market were
filled with meandering
townsfolk and students,
soaking in the culture and
crafts of literature. The sky was
cloudless, and the air was crisp.
It was a perfect day to find a
new favorite book.
Local authors, booksellers
and publishers ran the bulk
of the booths. Locally owned
bookstores, such as bigwig
Literati, made their presence
known by setting up their own
booths full of unique books for
purchase at their respective
stores. The owners of these
establishments were often
manning their displays, giving
festivalgoers a personal look
into the management of some
of their favorite haunts. The
BookFest also highlighted
other, lesser-known local
establishments. In a time when
privately owned bookstores
often succumb to the pressure
of larger chain stores, the
presence of locally owned,
thriving businesses was
refreshing to see.
Aside from those selling
the finished product, the
BookFest included individuals
who help transmit books from
the imagination to the shelf.
Michigan-based, first-time
authors proudly displayed
their debut works, engaging
passersby in debates about
literature, form and authorship.
Also present were publishers,
ranging from the large Wayne
State University Press, based in
Detroit, to individually owned
establishments like Splattered
Ink Press, based in Grand
Haven.
BookFest also showcased
readers, sharing the art of
anyone inspired by written
word. Cropping up among
the novels was a vast range of
paper- and literature-based
art of all shapes and sizes.
Artists brought to light the
potential that paper has on its
own, rather than just being a
vehicle for words. There were
dainty, hand-painted prints
on cream-colored cardstock
alongside purses made from
the shelled-out hulls of beloved
novels. Attendees could
purchase jewelry incorporating
favorite quotes — long pendants
containing character’s quips
and hand-etched bracelets with
simple quotations — or journals
to archive their own lives and
stories. The beauty of words,
especially when displayed
artistically, was evident in the
countless prints, canvasses and
paper collages brought by the
artists.
While the sheer volume of
new work presented at the
Fest was enough to inspire
confidence in the future of
print literature, the Kerrytown
organizers made sure to
include the storied past of
print. Vendors toting vintage
magazine covers, comic books
and more of the same were
sprinkled throughout the
displays rooted in the now.
Drawing visitors in with the
unmistakable scent of aged
paper, these vintage booths
reminded those gathered of
just how far the production
of literature has come. From
1900s children’s fiction, to early
music magazines, to books
on the history of dentistry in
the United States, any literary
craving could be satisfied.
An interesting dynamic was
created in the nooks of these
booths. Some visitors were
drawn in by memories from
their youth, but others were
experiencing this aged art for
the first time.
Celebrating the power of
words and art, the BookFest
also provided attendees with
resources to improve their
own literary lives. Resources
made available spanned age,
gender and level of experience
to include anybody who may
want to delve deeper into the
written world. Local libraries,
such as the Ann Arbor District
Library, took part in the Fest,
as well as literacy groups and
book clubs. The literacy groups
were directed at a wide range of
clientele, including the school-
aged youth of 826michigan
and the women of Women
Writers of Ann Arbor/Ypsi.
The presence of these groups
made the BookFest inclusive,
welcoming to neophytes and
veterans alike.
Like the festival resources,
the literature itself didn’t cater
only to seasoned bibliophiles.
There were several booths
toting clever children’s
literature, and an entire tent
dedicated to children’s book
readings. The Children’s Tent
featured animated readings
by authors, illustrators and
storytellers. Kicking off the
day was Mother Goose, who
shared nursery rhymes with
the flocks of children gathered
at her feet. Looking the part,
Mother Goose sported wire-
rimmed glasses, a floral dress
and a plush pet goose. The
later storytellers followed suit,
donning costumes or using
enthused voices to bring the
stories to life. All smiles and
bursts of laughter or surprise,
the Children’s Tent was a place
of candid wonder throughout
the day.
To inspire a more adult
sense of awe, the BookFest
also offered various panels and
speakers throughout the day.
Taking place at the Main Tent
and in the Kerrytown Concert
Hall, these presentations
ranged in topic from the sense
of place in novels, to how to
make a living as a writer, to
the hidden gems of Michigan.
One particularly telling panel,
including authors Desiree
Cooper, Kelly Fordon and
Andrew Mozina, discussed
the essential place of identity
within narratives. The
discourse was rich, tackling
questions of sexuality, familial
relations, personal morality and
more. Each author explained
the integral role of identity in
their respective works, despite
their differences in content.
As the question of identity is
one that everyone faces, the
complexities discussed during
“The Quest for Identity”
reverberated outside the
literary realm and into the
everyday lives of listeners.
Stepping even deeper into
the lives of attendees was R.J.
Fox, the Writer in Residence
of this year’s BookFest. Fox,
who graduated with an English
degree from the University
of Michigan — Dearborn, is
a screenwriter, novelist and
teacher. He was granted the
task of reading and critiquing
the first 20 pages of six
manuscripts submitted prior to
the festival to a live audience
during the event. His love of
writing and narrative, though,
began well before this past
Sunday.
“Writing has been my
passion since high school,”
Fox said. “I’ve been working
towards it, writing script after
script, story after story, getting
rejected over and over. I just
kept working at it and not
giving up.”
This drive to succeed allowed
Fox to successfully publish his
novel, “Love and Vodka,” which
he hopes will be made into
a movie. While budding as a
novelist, Fox is also an English
teacher at Huron High School
in Ann Arbor. Working closely
with students and helping them
develop their own narratives
made Fox the perfect pick for
Writer in Residence.
“I love teaching reading
and writing,” Fox said. “I love
telling students that when I
teach, it’s not just because it’s
my job. I have this passion
for writing and helping other
people with their writing. The
Writer in Residence was right
up my alley because it combines
my teaching and my writing
background.”
As the submitted
manuscripts were chosen on a
first-come-first-serve basis, Fox
encountered a range of style.
Works spanned from fiction to
memoir and were penned by
newcomers as well as published
authors. The diversity in
submissions reflected the
variety of experience found
within Ann Arbor.
“It’s a wide range of memoir,
fiction and even poetry,” Fox
said, referring to the chosen
manuscripts. “Each one has
its own challenges. Using any
information I had myself about
each genre, I applied it to each
writer’s piece. Each piece had
to be treated differently.”
Meeting at the crossroads
of education and creation,
Fox pulled from his own
inspirations as well as academic
influence to help guide the
writers. Through his own
work, as well as the work of
his students, Fox has learned
the value of vigilant revising
and editing. There is always
room for improvement and
expansion.
“Writing is hard, even if
you’re a writer,” said Fox.
“Any piece of writing, whether
it’s someone who has been
published a hundred times or
someone who has never been
published, you can always find
things to make better.”
Fox applies this kind of
optimism and drive not only to
his own writing but also to his
outlook on his work as a whole.
At last year’s BookFest, Fox
was one of the flocking authors
aspiring to one day run a booth
at the festival. He pinned up
flyers for his then-new novel in
any available space, hoping to
get his name into people’s heads
and his book into their hands.
One year later, Fox is becoming
a respected author and voice in
the Ann Arbor literature scene.
“Good storytelling is good
storytelling, whether it’s on
film or in a book,” Fox said.
“It’s not about number of copies
sold, but about meeting people
and having a chance to do even
more events like this.”
Events like the Kerrytown
BookFest, so full of passion for
creation and art, are always
zestful and seldom leave
their attendees unchanged.
Aside from the splendor of
displays and presentations,
it was impossible to miss
the conversations going on
around these attractions. Each
visitor, bringing his or her own
experiences, shared a piece of
themselves — with a stranger,
a friend, a favorite author. As
they so often do, books sparked
conversation after conversation
between kindred spirits. The
connectivity was tangible.
Bubbles of shared experience
popped up and engulfed
visitors, reminding them just
why books are so gratifying.
The pleasant hum of chatter
warmed the quickly chilling
September air as the visitors
of the Kerrytown BookFest
returned to their homes, ready
to crack open a new book.
THE SECOND CITY
Improvising through the void.
At this point in my life, my gaze
is fixed on what is ahead. New
classes, new friends, interests and
questions are moving me toward
the next step. Whether that next
thing is simply
the reading I
have for class
tomorrow or,
to the more
distant future,
graduation
and
grad
school — I’m
setting
my
course.
While
I
progress toward the next dream
(attainable or not), I’ve found it to
be a valuable time for reflection. In
pursuit of what is to come, I have
revisited the dreams I abandoned
along the way: past dreams that
came from my childhood hobbies.
Back then, my way of thinking
was very simple. It wasn’t always
as structured and planned out as
my life is now. My (hopeful) career
in English started from my love for
books at an early age. I didn’t know
exactly where that would take me.
At 6 years old I wasn’t planning for
now. I was caught in the waves of
my own simple dreaming, allowing
them to guide me wherever they
pleased.
I wanted to become a ballerina.
My weekly ballet classes were
always packed with new music,
skills and games. I loved the light
pink slippers and soft tan tights.
I grew a collection of leotards
through my years of dancing,
convinced I could never have
too many. After overcoming my
paralyzing case of stage fright,
I even grew to love the spring
recitals. Dance demanded energy
and
passion,
both
of
which
required an exploration into who
I was and how I wanted to present
myself to those around me.
Why now, at 20 years old, do I
find myself reminiscing on a dream
that is far gone and fairly irrelevant
to my life now?
Because
lately,
in
daily
discussions of my future plans
and goals, my past dreams have
found their way back into my
mind. While discussing this trend
with friends around me who are
facing similar life pressures of
what life will be after undergrad,
we all agree we have hobbies
we wish we never quit. Friends
of mine shared a vast array:
piano, guitar, painting, ceramics,
singing lessons and horseback
riding. That isn’t to say what I am
studying now or investing time
into isn’t fulfilling. But recently,
I’ve done a great deal of thinking
about the hobby I wish I had
never let go.
Two questions have emerged
from the data collected from my
small sample pool: Why did we
give up these hobbies in the first
place? And why are we now faced
with some form of regret toward
the decision to move on from our
Tuesday night ballet classes or
Sunday afternoon piano lessons?
In
the
midst
of
school,
homework,
team
sports
and
clubs, there are always things we
decide we must “let go.” I decided
to spare myself of activities
requiring
personal,
artistic
expression in exchange for fully
pursuing academics.
The
problem
is
that
the
majority of the hobbies we push
aside are some variation of art.
As dynamic and unique people,
we must find ways to express
ourselves and at a young age,
and art is our escape. Art, music
lessons and dance classes foster
creativity in ways the classroom
doesn’t offer.
Yet, it’s the first thing we part
with when time runs out. We turn
to stacks of textbooks and course
packs, abandoning the hobbies our
artistic selves so desperately need.
Now let me aim to address why
there is some form of regret while
reminiscing. I think the appeal
toward our past hobbies arrives
when we witness others engaging
in a hobby they have mastered.
I have met so many different
students at this university studying
different types of art and I always
wonder what my life could have
looked like if my childhood hobby
had become my career. Watching
artists who have devoted their
lives to their art form is inspiring.
I think we look back to our past
hobbies and wish we could have
done more to reach that level.
This leaves me stuck: stuck in
this mindset that I’ve reached
my limit, stuck with the belief
that anything I start now won’t
produce the results of something
I started years ago and could have
further pursued.
No dream is dead until you let
yourself kill it.
I think it’s time I tie on my
ballet shoes, roll up my tights and
allow my childhood dreaming to
lead me to new paths of greatness
—
whether
that
is
simply
admiring a hobby I once partook
in or engaging in something
entirely new myself. The freedom
to dream at age 6 is still available
to me now. There is potential I
haven’t tapped into yet — maybe
more available to me now than
ever before.
Did you dream of going horseback
riding? Saddle up with Kadian and
email bkadian@umich.edu.
COMMUNITY CULTURE COLUMN
Less adulting, more
childhood dreams
Second City brings
improv laughs to Ark
BAILEY
KADIAN
By KELLY MARTINEK
Daily Arts Writer
On Sept. 16 and 17, Chicago’s
legendary
improv
comedy
group The Second City will visit
Ann
Arbor,
performing
at The Ark
for
the
seventh
consecutive
year.
Formerly
the home of
well-known
comedians
such
as
Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and
Amy Poehler, The Second City’s
touring cast is currently made
up of six performers: Mark
Campbell, Ross Taylor, Danny
Catlow,
Jo
Scott,
Andrew
Bolduc and Claudia Wallace.
“Expect SNL-type comedy,
usually around political and
social current issues,” said Barb
Chaffer-Authier,
The
Ark’s
marketing director. “This isn’t
the typical kind of event The
Ark presents, since we normally
present music, but we’ve really
enjoyed
having
the
troupe
every year. It’s always popular
with people.”
Since The Second City is an
improv comedy group, each
show is inherently different,
playing off the given theme
for the season. This season’s
show is titled “Free Speech!
(While Supplies Last),” based
on American politics and the
current election cycle. A press
release from The Second City
calls it “an irreverent look at
America’s electoral insanity.”
The Ark is a small, intimate
performance
venue,
usually
hosting solo artists and small
bands, so the seats sell out
quickly.
Chaffer-Authier
estimates the show’s capacity
at about 380 and said the small
theater space makes The Ark
an ideal setting for this kind of
performance.
“It’s a nice-sized audience,
there’s a lot of room for
interaction
between
the
performers and the audience,”
she said. “No seat is more than
about 40 feet from the stage. It’s
a really popular event, both with
students and the community
who come out for it.”
Campus groups and residence
halls often buy group tickets for
performances like this one. LSA
sophomore Caleb Kaczmarek
attended
the
Second
City
performance last year with the
LSA Honors Program.
“Second
City’s
impressive
stage presence comes not only
from the pride of their progenies
such as Bill Murray and Tina
Fey, but also their confidence
that their live audience is
waiting breathlessly for every
next laugh,” Kaczmarek said.
In past years, all of these
performances have sold out,
and the Ark hopes to continue
that trend this year, according
to
Chaffer-Authier.
She
encourages
those
interested
to buy tickets in advance for
the popular event. There are
a limited number of tickets
available at the student price for
each night.
“The Second City is really an
icon for comedy and improv, so
it’s an opportunity for people
to see this famous troupe in
person without having to go to
Chicago or Toronto,” she said.
“They always are really on
point with current topics, and
it’s always a really fun evening.”
The Second
City
September
16-17, 8 p.m.
The Ark
$36, $26 with
student ID
NEED SOMEONE TO IMITATE
YOUR ENGLISH PROF.?
HIRE BEN ROSENSTOCK, UNDERRATED CHARACTER
ACTOR, BY CALLING BDROSEN@UMICH.EDU
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
BOOKFEST
From Page 1B