Review: The Hour I First Believed

As mentioned previously, I visited with author Wally Lamb while on his book tour promoting The Hour I First Believed. I just finished reading the signed copy donated by Harper Collins Publishers to the Popular Reading Collection and I encourage you to check it out.

Even though the large size of the book looks intimidating, I read through it quite quickly because I was immediately drawn into the characters and the story. The main fictional characters experience the real life tragedy of the April 20th 1999 shooting at Columbine High School. Lamb recreated that day and its aftermath through extensive research and his experience as a high school English teacher. He drew from his knowledge of teens, classical mythology, and female prison inmates to draw realistic characters who are stumbling through mazes and slaying monsters--sometimes victorious and sometimes not. In an author essay Wally writes, "A fiction writer weaves a fabric of lies in hopes of revealing deeper human truths." He weaves "lies" and facts to create an engaging story that does reveal many truths about the human condition.

In the book's afterward, Wally said he "had a terrible time starting this story." It took him nine years to get past everyone's expectations of him and "discover a story" to tell. Last time I checked, it was number nine on the New York Times Bestseller list. It also had a high rank on the bestseller for college campus list I saw at the bookstore. I will share more insights from Wally throughout the month but the Harper Collins website is great--full of information including a Q & A about this book.
Also, you can visit the reference area at the library to see a display on researching an author, the inspirations for this book, and the influence of popular fiction/nonfiction in general.

Kristen

Well worth the visit!

Dakota student reporter Sara Tezel encouraged making the trek to Fargo on Saturday to see Wally Lamb and yes, it's incredible to see a professional in action. I had scheduled a brief meeting with Wally thanks to publisher Harper Collins and the NDSU bookstore manager Carol Miller. When I asked Wally about his recreational reading in college I received a torrent of wonderful information that I frantically tried to memorize as I pulled out notebook and pen. I shouldn't have been surprised -- he must have given thousands of interviews because of his Oprah book club fame.

Later I listened to him reading an autobiographical essay and a section from his newest work, The Hour I First Believed. The audience was in turns laughing, uncomfortably quiet, close to tears, and energized. During the Q & A session he told us how at ease he felt with us and how he ran the risk of getting carried away and making a fool of himself. He said his father had been a great storyteller who liked to make people laugh--even if that meant telling a slightly dirty joke. Wally himself was quite animated retelling his "role as victim" to bossy older sisters and girl cousins while growing up.

I will share his message to UND students in the coming weeks as we promote Wally Lamb as "author of the month." An English/Creative writing teacher on the high school and college level, his caring nature is evident in his work. His support of female prison inmates who needed to tell their stories resulted in two books, Couldn’t Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters and I'll Fly Away: Further Testimonies from the Women of York Prison. His newest work grapples with the traumas to the collective American consciousness resulting from the Columbine school shooting, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the War in Iraq. His connection with people -- whether via an audience, one-on-one in the book signing line or through his written word -- comes from genuine concern for his fellow human beings.

Heading South

This Saturday I'll be going to see Wally Lamb at NDSU. I'll get a chance to meet with him before his book reading and signing that afternoon. Janet and I plan to highlight Lamb as "author of the month" so you'll be hearing more about him. He's already generously donated a copy of his newest book, The Hour I First Believed, to the Popular Reading Collection. Please feel free to join me this Saturday -- send an email (before Friday quitting time) to librarypop@gmail.com and I'll give you the details.

Also, GREAT NEWS! The Student Senate has agreed to help fund the Popular Reading Collection for another year. Get your requests in/post to the blog -- this is your collection! Thanks so much to Seinquis and the other members of student government for their support.

Kristen

Wally Lamb in ND!

Wally Lamb, author of bestsellers and Oprah Book Club selections will be visiting this area at the end of the month. On November 22nd he'll be in Fargo for a reading and book signing from 1-3 pm at Century Theater, Memorial Union, NDSU. I urge you to take the road trip if you're a fan -- it's exciting to see an author you admire in person. If you want to take an extra long trip, he will be in Saint Paul on Nov 20th (Thurs Night) as part of Minnesota Public Radio's Talking Volumes book club.

Most famous for I Know This Much Is True and She's Come Undone, his new book is already on order for the popular reading collection, The First Hour I Believed. I've read a couple of his books and I encourage the student body to get familiar with his works. I'll even contact his publisher to see if we can feature him as an "author of the month" but I need you to read/review his work to make this successful.

I'll keep you posted!
Kristen