Jewish Literature Series

St. Louis, MO . . . The St. Louis Public Library is proud to present a five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature—Identity and Imagination.” The series examines Jewish literature and culture through scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. Led by Webster University professor Warren Rosenblum, the Library’s series will explore the theme, Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel, and will take place at 7 p.m. on select evenings from May through July at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Avenue. All programs are FREE and open to the public.

The Library’s discussions will include:

May 10 – A Contract With God by Will Eisner. Set among 1930s Bronx tenements, four stories capture the brutal yet tender world of working-class Jews. The first “graphic novel.”

May 24 – Maus I and Maus II by Art Speigelman. The story of Speigelman’s parents—Jews reaching maturity in Europe on the verge of Nazism and their survival in a concentration camp. A 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner.

June 14 – Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories by Ben Katchor. A photographer documents a rapidly vanishing urban netherworld.

July 5 – The Quitter by Harvey Pekar. The author discusses the ways in his life that he quit before he could fail. The story ends with a hopeful message that it is possible to find one’s way. Explores the navy, mid-century race relations, and jazz.

July 26 – The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar. A rabbi engages his talking pet—who wants to become Jewish and have a bar mitzvah—in a debate, including topics such as spelling, parental love, and the very nature of Jewish identity.

The St. Louis Public Library is one of over 250 libraries nationwide receiving grants to host the series developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association. Local support is provided by Star Clipper Comics and the Jewish Community Center.

For details or to register, contact Katie LaBarbera at 314-539-0350 or klabarbera@slpl.org.

5/07/2007