We attended a party last night at the lovely home of Jim and Kate Lehrer in honor of the publication of Susan Shreve's latest novel, A Student of Living Things. Booklist describes the novel as " a poetic and resonant story of grief, family bonds, risk, and love.." and we cannot wait to read it.
Getting out last night and away from our desk, we were able to catch up with old friends and familiar faces including the dapper Alan Cheuse, who we advised to read Television (the latest LBC selection), Steve Goodwin, author of Dream Golf: the making of Bandon Dunes, which early buzz says is THE Father's Day gift this year, Clarence and Lisa Page, Kyoko Mori (who gave us some tips on Japan, as Mr. Happy Booker and our eldest son will be visiting there this summer), and Barbara Meade, the grande dame of Politics & Prose.
We were also most happy to catch up with one of our favorite people, Mary Kay Zuravleff, and her charming mother Millie, who was in town for a visit. For years we traveled in the same circles as Mary Kay, shared friends and even taught at the same places, yet our paths never crossed. It took Ron Hogan, a New York-based book blogger, to insist that we finally meet her—"I can't believe YOU don't know Mary Kay." As it turns out Ron was right and Mary Kay has been a friend ever since. (For those in the Memphis area, you can catch MZK read Sunday night at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens and see for yourself why we're so wild about her.)
At evening's end, we went home with a few more books tucked under our arm, and thought of something Richard McCann recently said about D.C. as a city of writers: "This city spread out over miles and miles suddenly coalesces into what feels like community."
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