Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Struck
Tuesday night was Alan Lightman. The reading, which took place at the UWS Barnes, was actually more of an introduction/discussion. It was a moving experience for me, to say the least.
Lightman teamed up w/ two other writers, both whom appear in this, a new anthology edited by AL. Admittedly, my hung-around-the-UWS-maybe-thrice-so-didn't-really-know-where-I-was-going self was a wee bit late, but that's pretty much par for the course, no? Anyway, when I arrived the intros were just concluding, the discussion segment next up. Topics revolved around the value of science writing--what science can bring to writing (and the visual arts), what writing can bring to science, how today's journalists are making science more accessible to a general readership... While all three speakers spoke passionately and optimistically, a couple of audience members tossed out some pretty disparaging remarks, mostly directed toward journalists. Most of these science-writing journalists don't know a damn thing about science was roughly one such remark, which compelled a response from Lightman along the lines of with the right research techniques, general intelligence/writing aptitude, and appropriate enthusiasm, journalists make fine science writers. Damn thing guy also expressed disdain for a perceived shortage of contemporary Americans studying science as a hobby. Which incidentally reminds me of this book. Read it? It's in a league of its own. It's wistful and strange and I recommend it.
Lightman. In short, he's a physicist by trade. He's done plenty of technical science writing, but he's managed to squeeze in a fair amount of fiction, albeit generally w/ a science-y component to it. One of his best known works is Einstein's Dreams, which dukes it out w/ this book for the title of *all-time-absolute-favorite-ever book in the universe.* ED is written so beautifully, w/ such care, that I stumble over words just trying to explain its basic premise. It's too, too good.
Fast forward to the conclusion of the evening: book signing time. I rarely stick around for this, as I figure I can't possibly come up w/ anything unique to say, anything the author hasn't heard a thousand times over. (I know, I know.) But, last night was the exception to end all exceptions. Alan Lightman! Man turned on to me by *Good 'Ol Stoopes,* WWU lib studies prof to whom I'm forever indebted. So I stood in line, a line thankfully short (less freak-out time). As it neared my turn, I felt a knot growing in my stomach, a knot followed by a lump. In my throat. Oh geez, I was totally going to lose it, and I hadn't even spoken to the guy yet. I managed to swallow said lump--just before delivering the most awkward little monologue. I started by interrupting A. He was trying to get my name right at the same time I was trying to express the indelible impact of ED* on my life. Whatever, I suppose it came out alright in the end, jumbled as it was.
And I didn't even cry. Until my back was turned, that is, at which point I lost all self-control. It felt great.
What a perfectly sweet evening.
*I read somewhere that Invisible Dreams by Calvino is similar in format to ED. Or maybe it was some other Calvino book. I love when this happens. (I love both A & C so much.)
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Awww.... Good ol' Stoops. If he only knew....
Your report is the next best thing to being there. I think Alan Lightman is wondrous. I would have been choked up too! Einstein's Dreams is the most amazing interweaving of poetry and science. Thanks for the 100 novel list too! MM
I love your sweet honesty about how you felt. I get nervous about what to say too, so I miss many great opportunities to meet authors.
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