Winter 2009 Workshops at Writers & Books

Reading Seminars

Dostoevsky’s The Idiot

WA9-R01
6 Tuesdays 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 27-Mar. 3
$142 W&B members / $149 general public
Instructor: Alfred Geier

In Dostoyevsky’s famous novel, the reader is carried through a studied conflict between light and darkness through the characters of Prince Myshkin and Rogozhin, and their confrontation with tragic love and desire in the character of Nastasya Filippovna. This class will read, analyze, and discuss this complex work, one of the pinnacles of nineteenth-century Russian literature.

Reading Tolkien’s The Silmarillion

WA9-R04
5 Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 through Mar. 5
$99 W&B members / $104 general public
Instructor: Thomas Albert

This class will examine the literary essence of The Silmarillion to better understand not only its content, but how it connects with other books in the Tolkien legendarium—particularly The Lord of the Rings. Discussions will cover how the material relates to classical literature and how events in Tolkien’s personal life affected the story. The class will make it easier to follow the story lines of Silmarillionand will bring greater richness to the reader’s enjoyment of all Tolkien’s works.

It’s Perfect! Reading and Writing Utopias

WA9-R02
5 Wednesdays 7-9 p.m.
Feb. 11 through Mar. 11
$99 W&B members / $104 general public
Instructors: Nick DiCharioand Tim Madigan

In this workshop, students will have an opportunity to read and discuss classic examples of utopian literature and write their own utopian short stories. Each student will need to purchase a copy of The Utopia Reader, edited by Claeys and Sargent (available through Amazon.com) and will be given a copy of Philosophy Now’s special Utopia issue set to be published in January 2009. The instructors will concentrate on discussing authors such as Thomas More, H.G. Wells, George Orwell, Kurt Vonnegut, and many others, and will also focus on the craft of fiction. Students will have a chance to write in class and work outside of class. This unique workshop combines reading and writing — a perfect combination! — and by the end of workshop you could have a completed short fiction of your own utopian design.

What Would Jane Austen Do?

WA9-R03
5 Thursdays, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 15 through Feb. 12
$99 W&B members / $104 general public
Instructor: Melissa M. Slocum

Jane Austen is a timeless writer, one still being read and written about today. In this reading seminar we’ll focus on three of her works, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion, and discuss how her topics may still be relevant to current and future generations.

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