This week's guest blog comes from the Aspen Words staff.
WHAT TO READ THIS WINTER
At the 23rd annual Winter Word series, Aspen Words will welcome authors who have reached the top of the best-seller list, been celebrated with the highest literary accolades and had books adapted into Hollywood hits. Here are their latest titles to add your reading list.
THREE WOMEN by Lisa Taddeo
An illuminating tour of female desire in 2019 as told via the stories of three simultaneously remarkable and ordinary women. Alternating between each woman’s individual narrative, the book explores the ways in which power, heartbreak and infatuation inform erotic longing. See Lisa Taddeo speak in Aspen on Jan. 7
Lisa Taddeo is the No.1 New York Times best-selling author of the nonfiction book “Three Women,” which was published in summer 2019. She is currently developing the book into an hour-long episodic drama for Showtime, as well as a half-hour project, “Beautiful Babies,” at Netflix.
THE TRADITION by Jericho Brown
A finalist for the 2019 National Book Award, this gorgeous poetry collection interrogates a culture that has normalized violence, at both an individual and a societal level. See Jericho Brown & Ada Limon in conversation on Jan. 28
Jericho Brown’s first book, “Please,” won the American Book Award. His second book, “The New Testament,” won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was named one of the best of the year by Library Journal, Coldfront and the Academy of American Poets. He is an associate professor and the director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University in Atlanta.
THE CARRYING by Ada Limón
Winner of the National Book Critic’s Circle Award, this shimmering collection of poems grapples with life and death, birth and decay, and how to live fully in a difficult world.
Ada Limón is the author of five books of poetry, including “The Carrying,” which was named one of the top five poetry books of the year by The Washington Post in 2018. She serves on the faculty of Queens University of Charlotte Low Residency M.F.A program and the online and summer programs for the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center.
RUNNING WITH SHERMAN by Christopher McDougall
From a life of neglect to a life of purpose and joy, Sherman the donkey and the colorful human community who come together to heal this unlikely hero will stay with you long after you turn the last page of this book. See Christopher McDougall speak in Aspen on Feb. 18
Christopher McDougall covered wars in Rwanda and Angola as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press before writing his best-selling book “Born to Run.” His fascination with the limits of human potential led him to his next book, “Natural Born Heroes,” and the Outside magazine web series, “Art of the Hero.” His weekly column about animal-human partnerships for The New York Times inspired his newest book, “Running with Sherman.”
SINCE WE FELL by Dennis Lehane
A twisty psychological thriller about a journalist who suffers an on-air mental breakdown and becomes involved with a man who isn’t what he seems to be. See Dennis Lehane speak in Aspen on March 10
Dennis Lehane has published 13 novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and become international best-sellers; five of his novels – “Live by Night,” “Mystic River,” “Gone, Baby, Gone,” “The Drop” and “Shutter Island” – have been adapted into Hollywood hits. He was a staff writer on the acclaimed HBO series “The Wire,” and a writer-producer on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” Netflix’s “Bloodline,” DirecTV’s “Mr. Mercedes” and HBO’s upcoming series “The Outsider.”
DOPESICK by Beth Macy
Macy juxtaposes an investigation of the endemic issues in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in America with real stories of people impacted by the opioid epidemic, painting a humanized portrait of the drug crisis that has hurt communities across the country. See Beth Macy speak in Aspen on March 31.
Journalist Beth Macy is the author of three New York Times best-selling nonfiction books: “Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local–and Helped Save an American Town”; “Truevine: Two Brothers, A Kidnapping, and a Mother’s Quest”; and “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America”. All three books are in development for film/television.
Aspen Words was founded in 1976 as a literary center based in Aspen, CO. A program of the Aspen Institute, its mission is to encourage writers, inspire readers and connect people through the power of stories. For more information, visit www.aspenwords.org.
All events take place at Paepcke Auditorium on the Aspen Institute campus from 6-7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Explore Booksellers will have books for sale. Tickets + passes available at the Wheeler Box Office (970-920-5770)
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. For 70 years, the Institute has driven change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities at home and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has offices in Aspen, Colorado and New York City, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
