I have tried (and clearly failed) to create an "epic" series of posts about the recent Julavits reading at Skylight Books. I've tried to come at it from many angles - the waiting, the wondering, the bizarre fans that arrive and conduct bizarre little rituals prior to the reading. The overheard conversations that are often far more interesting than the reading itself. The non-verbal, visual cues that could only be provided by a man on the ground, a woman in the trenches. You know, the usual. Yet, in order to make the event worthy of such detail, I would have to write...fiction. Pure fiction. Hardly an option when a "report back from the trenches" must be, if nothing else, truthful.
There is no other way to say this (and trust me, I've tried): the Julavits reading was so businesslike (read: opposite of epic) and conducted with such perfunctory going-through-the-motions-ness that I am still baffled by it a month later. To wit:
- There were very few people in the audience, both when I arrived 45 minutes early and also when Julavits arrived exactly, precisely, 45 minutes later. These people sat silently in their chairs, staring ahead until the reading began. One woman (one! in 45 minutes of waiting!) was visiting the bookstore with her young daughter and asked (aloud!) who was giving a reading and if the author in question had written anything that she might recognize. When one of the silent sitters turned around and pointed to the many copies of The Uses of Enchantment propped along the wall as a backdrop to the podium, the woman shook her head. No recognition. When prompted further by mention of Julavits' previous works (The Effect of Living Backwards, The Mineral Palace), there was still no recognition. Woman with young daughter shrugged her shoulders. "I've never heard of her." She then packed up her stroller and left.
- Julavits entered the store in deep conversation with a man about the virtues of writing programs and how Ben (one can presume it was her husband, Ben Marcus she was referring to) had just re-structured the "entire program" (one can presume this is at Columbia, where Ben Marcus is now head of the MFA Program.) She urged him to encourage his daughter to go to a writing program if that's what she really wanted and she stressed the value of writing programs. She continued this conversation as she walked up to the podium.
- It should be noted that when she strode in, mid-conversation, approx. 20 of the 50 or so seats were filled. A few people stood in the back. Not a brilliant turnout for Ms. Believer. I expected groupies. Instead, most of those seated seemed to happen upon this event by accident. They were killing time in Skylight before their dinner reservations and asked the cashier up front what the chairs were for. Intrigued enough by the description of Julavits and her work, they stayed on to hear her speak. All good things, new readers, new audience to find your work and all that. I get it. But, still. I expected groupies. Not foodies looking for a distraction. Was this an isolated incident due to poor promotion? Or was interest simply not high?
- Julavits has that frazzled/beautiful/intelligentsia vibe that several young female writers possess. Can I say that without inciting Pessl wars? I only mean that she was haphazardly, but artily dressed in a way that shouted "I'm brilliant and obviously quite busy creating brilliant work, but if I can look this good with my hair in disarray and my shirt slightly askew, imagine how fetching I'd be if I actually cared about my appearance." In short, she looked good but busy. Hurried. Multi-tasking. I suppose that is to be expected when one is a novelist, editor of The Believer, mother of a young child, wife to Ben Marcus and friendly with Dave Eggers, Vendela Vida and the lot of them. You can see how her plate might be a bit full.
- She was introduced with little fanfare. Even Skylight Books staff, it seems, couldn't really drum up enough excitement to deliver an intro full of over-compliments and over-promises. Just the standard introduction. Again, I ask, why? Even if Uses doesn't work for you on all levels (and it didn't for me), I posit that she is an excellent writer. Excellent. Why no excitement? No passion? From the staff or anyone else in the room? Because no one in the audience was familiar with her work? Knew who she was? Or is the Julavits groupie a more reserved, silent admirer? Hmmmm.
- With the lack of hoopla that came before it, I expected more business as usual when Julavits stood up to read. I expected a preamble, the reading of a brief excerpt and kaput. A few questions & see you later. Instead, Julavits upped that ante and took "business" mode to a whole new level...
