Beautiful Boy

Tomorrow, I’m going to facilitate a discussion group of First Year Students around David Sheff’s memoir, Beautiful Boy.  I liked Beautiful Boy, even though addict (or parent of addict) memoirs aren’t one of my favorite genres.  Sheff really focuses on the details and specifics of his family, so I felt like I had a clear understanding of his son Nic–the music he liked to listen to, his favorite clothes, and where he liked to surf.  I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s discussion and hearing more from the new students.  This week, I’ve fortuitously encountered a few articles that mention the Sheffs in light of Julie Myerson’s The Lost Child, which her son (the book’s subject) rejects as being an incomplete and unfair story. It certainly made me think that being a writer’s family member could be tough, particularly if you cling to your privacy.   If anyone else has read Beautiful Boy, I’d like to hear your take too!

Green Masterpieces

On Wednesday, September 2nd the Boston Landmarks Orchestra will present “Green Masterpieces”, a free concert at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. The concert, which begins at 7:00 PM will feature nature-themed pieces by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Handel and others. NU’s very own Michael Dukakis will be narrating The Story of Frederick Law Olmsted by Thomas Oboe Lee. This will be a carbon-neutral concert because all emissions generated by it will be offset. The Hatch Shell is just a short walk from the Green Line’s Arlington stop.

Thanks, Ted!

I’ve enjoyed seeing the “Thanks, Ted!” signs on the expressway over the past few days, reminding us to reflect on the contributions Kennedy made to Massachusetts’s infrastructure.  Of course, it’s not all about roads!  Kennedy was instrumental in helping NU get funding for numerous projects, and you can learn about his contribution to the federal student aid program in an online exhibit created by our own Archives and Special Collections staff, in honor of Kennedy’s visit to NU in March, 2008.  I was a beneficiary of that program myself…So, thanks, Ted, for helping me get a college education!

Boston GreenFest 2009

If you’re looking for something fun (and free!) to do this weekend, go check out Boston GreenFest 2009 at City Hall Plaza, right outside the Government Center T stop. This event runs from 10 AM to 10 PM August 21st and 22nd with a kickoff concert tonight from 5 to 10. Over the next two days there will be screenings of the films “The Greening of Southie”, “Fresh”, “Out of Balance: ExxonMobil’s Impact on Climate Change”, and “Flow: The Film”. There will be speakers and workshops covering everything from green cars to eco-games to the Charles River. You can also walk around and check out the art gallery, exhibits and listen to some live music. This looks like a really fun event with something for everyone. I’m planning to attend on Saturday so maybe I’ll see you there.

Lord of the Flies

I recently read an interesting post on William Golding and Lord of the Flies that I wanted to share.  (As a warning, the post gives away part of the book’s ending.)  A new biography by John Carey details Golding’s rather unpleasant personal history, including his attempted rape of a 15 year-old girl when he was 18.  I never had to read the Lord of the Flies for school, and last year I added it to my TBR list (as an alternate selection).  I tried reading it, but like Kim, couldn’t really get into it.  I read the first quarter of the book and don’t see its appeal, but I know enough people who recommend it that maybe I’ll need to give it another chance in the future. I think that there’s no harm in discussing an author’s biography (though fourth grade seems awfully young to delve into either the themes of the book or Golding), but I often found that diving into an author’s history (whether heroic or unsavory), paled in comparison to discussing the dramas of the story itself. What do you think? About William Golding, Lord of the Flies, or learning more about the cruel parts of an author’s (or artist’s, or historical figure’s) past?