Venue
Enjoyed learning how he approaches a subject and limits the scope of the book. Plan on reading several of his books that he talked about. Would have enjoyed another hour, at least!
72 year old who has never been to a book review. I read a lot just have never been to one. Found this to be very informative and interesting. Would go to another if I find one that sounds interesting.
We drove from Nashville to hear Erik Larson discuss The Splendid and the Vile. Erik Larson was funny, informative and possessed a bit of stand-up comedian flair when answering questions from the audience. The Bijou staff were professional and friendly, and the theatre itself is a wonderful piece of architecture from the "Golden Era" of film. All together an excellent evening.
I was SO looking forward to this evening. Things started out a bit rocky when the head of the Knoxville Library Association came out to introduce Dr. Liulevicius from the University of Tennessee's Department of History and Director of the Center for the Study of War and Society, who then gave an excellent introduction for Mr. Larson's talk and to his work. Sadly, she was unable to pronounce Dr. Liulevicius's name, even though he's been at UTK for over 2 decades. You would think that would be long enough to learn. In the main, Mr. Larson (perhaps our greatest living non-fiction author of historical dramas) did not disappoint. He was lively, accessible, funny, and even when he spoke from prepared notes seemed to be doing so for the first time. To hear him speak on the very day that "The Splendid and the Vile," was published was something special although, oddly, no one seemed to mention that. After speaking for a bit and then reading 3 or 4 passages (all of which were either bone-chilling or hilarious), he took questions from the audience and that was very good too. The Library folk who were the titular organizers of the event did a pretty lousy job. 1) It was unclear where one would find the copies of his new book and where the signing would happen -- at the Union Street Books Store, at the Theater, at an undisclosed Safe House?; 2) inside the theater the "organizers" had taped off the first 2 or 3 rows of seats and as often happens at these sorts of homespun affairs, no one seemed to know who was and who was not a VIP; 3) I had brought all of my copies of Mr. Larson's previous books for his to sign and was looking forward to meeting him. Typically these book signings are in the lobby of theaters, but apparently this one was not. If there was an announcement about having one's books signed down at the stage, I never heard it, and I was listening. I did hear the head of the Library folk announce at the end that one could have their "already autographed books" personalized if they liked, but that was it. So I rushed out to the lobby where there were only other patrons and dust bunnies. These things are not really that difficult to organize. If the Library folk are not up to it, they should hire an organizer for the evening and add a few dollars to each ticket to cover the added cost.
Erik Larson was fantastic & v entertaining at the Bijou book reading. The Q & A session at the end was informative. Quick wit & great sense of humor was so evident. The Union Ave Book Store & Knox County Library sponsored the event are the best
