TRACY K. SMITH
This afternoon, Tracy K. Smith gave a fantabulous reading down in the TCNJ Library Auditorium. The turn out was superb which can only mean that the PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP did their job, top notch.
*wink wink*
(I have to represent for my people, obviously.)
She read a good assortment of her poetry, with special emphasis on Duende, which came to be expected as it is the more recent book. She then let us in on a couple pieces from her up and coming book (the date of its release as well as the expected title have completely escaped me) which was a real treat. The slight, distopian, otherworldly themes that she only slightly touched upon in Duende, are a main focus in her new work. The pieces gave way to wit and humor as well as peaceful beauty and scene. She read with grace and comfort infront of the crowd, which led me to believe she may have some theatre background; however, when asked, she denied anything of the sort. Just natural ability!
After the reading, she was superbly receptive to the questioning, especially when we got down to the hard ones, digging into her nitty-gritty detail. Even when a random crowd member asked her what "her body's question" was, she handled with with a giggle and a joke.
Then rest of the event went on with only a slight hitch...the girl from the bookstore had LEFT!!!! I suppose she got bored and figured, "well, who would want to buy a book and get it signed now that Ms. Smith has read and we know just how great her work is?" I was ready to get fist'a'cuffs! So after I ran back to the bookstore and gave them a piece of my mind, I returned with the books and a man to sell them.
At the end of the day, I think we were all rather pleased.
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