Randall Kenan grew up in North Carolina, and that state proudly claims him as one of its literary heroes. But he had many Tennessee connections, including teaching stints at Tennessee universities, a long association with the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and membership in the Fellowship of Southern Writers in Chattanooga. We were all looking forward to his appearance at this year's Southern Festival of Books, and the news of his death last week at the age of 57 came as a shock. It's an enormous loss to the literary community. Kenan was a wise and supportive teacher, as well as a brilliant writer, and he leaves behind countless friends, fans, and grateful former students. Chapter 16 will publish a review of his latest book this week, and you can read recent work by him here, here, and here.
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Next week, I'll return to the usual practice of sharing links to recent news about Tennessee writers, but this week I want to call special attention to an upcoming event with writer Helen Macdonald and Chapter 16's founding editor, Margaret Renkl. They'll be discussing Macdonald's new book, Vesper Flights, and this ticketed event on September 15, hosted by Parnassus Books, is a benefit for Humanities Tennessee. It's sure to be a fascinating conversation between two extraordinary observers of the natural world.
On a tangentially related note, I also want to call attention to a recent op-ed by Kiran Singh Sirah, president of The International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. He makes a compelling case in The Tennessean for the importance of cultural organizations during this troubled time. As he puts it, "Our museums, libraries, concert halls, dance companies and other treasured cultural institutions collectively form the soul and the imagination of this country. We aren’t just stewards of great American traditions, but also shepherds of a better future. The arts and humanities are not peripheral or superfluous to the economy; we are a living part of it."
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(Review)
In Vesper Flights, Helen Macdonald explores the interconnectedness of humans and wildlife.
By Emily Choate
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Bestselling kids’ author Alan Gratz talks about his love of detective novels and a book that surprised him.
By Maria Browning
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What does it mean to go where you don’t belong?.
By Lou Vargo
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(Review)
The Southern Wildlife Watcher surveys the region’s creatures.
By Lyda Phillips
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Julia Alvarez talks with Chapter 16 about sisterhood, global community, and living by metaphor.
By Joy Ramirez
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Review of Snake by Wartrace native Erica Wright
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Review of If I Had Two Wings by Randall Kenan
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Q&A with Renée Watson re Ways to Make Sunshine (appearing at the 2020 Southern Festival of Books, held online 10/1-11)
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Review of Sleepovers by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips (appearing at the 2020 Southern Festival of Books, held online 10/1-11)
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Review of Dear Ann by Bobbie Ann Mason (appearing at the 2020 Southern Festival of Books, held online 10/1-11)
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