National Book Award nominee visits OSU
Jess Walter continues the OSU Visiting Writers series as he will read from his latest novel
Craig Bidiman
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Diversions
By Craig Bidiman
Diversions
On Friday night, the department of English welcomes a finalist for the National Book Award, Jess Walter, to campus as a continuation of their OSU Visiting Writers Series.
Walter was nominated for his novel "The Zero," which is based around the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. He will be reading from his latest novel, "The Financial Lives of the Poets."
This novel has been toted as a darkly comic tour de force and continues garnering nationwide acclaim. "The Financial Lives of The Poets" follows protagonist Matt Prior, who quits his job to pursue an online journalism career. The novel unravels as Prior spends nights driving to 7-Eleven and even falling in with a few teenage drug dealers. His attempts to save his marriage are comical, yet touching. In hopes of working his way back up in the world, he looks for ways to earn money to avoid foreclosure on his home - even if it means compromising a few central moral fibers.
Walter is known for his career as an investigative journalist. His work on "The Financial Lives of the Poets," as well as his other works, reflects much of his expertise in the area.
Bringing his hysterical view on life and the human condition, Walter's readings are known to end up as sights for audience members falling over in the aisles from laughter.
A few tears may be shed in this reading, but one thing is for sure: Patrons are in for a treat by merely sitting in on the experience of this multi-talented writer.
Jess Walter's reading will begin Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Valley Library second floor rotunda.
Craig Bidiman
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Diversions
On Friday night, the department of English welcomes a finalist for the National Book Award, Jess Walter, to campus as a continuation of their OSU Visiting Writers Series.
Walter was nominated for his novel "The Zero," which is based around the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. He will be reading from his latest novel, "The Financial Lives of the Poets."
This novel has been toted as a darkly comic tour de force and continues garnering nationwide acclaim. "The Financial Lives of The Poets" follows protagonist Matt Prior, who quits his job to pursue an online journalism career. The novel unravels as Prior spends nights driving to 7-Eleven and even falling in with a few teenage drug dealers. His attempts to save his marriage are comical, yet touching. In hopes of working his way back up in the world, he looks for ways to earn money to avoid foreclosure on his home - even if it means compromising a few central moral fibers.
Walter is known for his career as an investigative journalist. His work on "The Financial Lives of the Poets," as well as his other works, reflects much of his expertise in the area.
Bringing his hysterical view on life and the human condition, Walter's readings are known to end up as sights for audience members falling over in the aisles from laughter.
A few tears may be shed in this reading, but one thing is for sure: Patrons are in for a treat by merely sitting in on the experience of this multi-talented writer.
Jess Walter's reading will begin Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Valley Library second floor rotunda.
Craig Bidiman
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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