Library to hold Jewish book discussions
Published Oct. 17, 2006
The Columbia Public Library will present a free five-part discussion on Jewish literature on five Mondays through December. The series is called "Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature, Identity and Imagination."
"Since our book discussion series begins the night before Halloween, and our scholar does work on related themes, we have chosen the theme 'Demons, Golems, and Dybbuks, Monsters of the Jewish Imagination,'" the library's Web site states.
MU theater professor David Crespy will lead the discussions. Crespy has written "theatrical pieces involving furniture haunted by departed Jewish relatives," according to the MU library Web site.
The discussions will take place on Oct. 30, Nov. 13, Dec. 4, Dec. 18 and Jan. 8. The discussion books, respectively, are "Satan in Goray: A Novel" by Isaac Bashevis Singer, "The Dybbuk and Other Writings" by S. Ansky, "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, "The Puttermesser Papers" by Cynthia Ozick and "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes" by Tony Kushner.
The participants do not have to buy the books; they will be available at the library. The discussions will be held in the Friends Room of the Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway. Participants are asked to attend every session.
To sign up, visit mulibraries.missouri.edu/jewishlit and click on the online registration form link.
The Web site invites participants from "a variety of knowledge levels and backgrounds, Jewish and non-Jewish, to participate in the events."
The book discussions are a nationwide event sponsored by the American Library Association and Nextbook, a Jewish literature organization, which chose the books.
