Fall 2010 Events

"Seeing Values in Mysterious Places"

"A Mysterious Evening with Thomas H. Cook"

Thursday, September 16, 6:30pm, Fromm Hall, Berman Room

One of the most internationally respected writers of crime fiction, Thomas H. Cook will discuss Master of the Delta, his most recent novels and approach to crime writing that has earned him some of the most coveted nominations and awards in the field.  The UK reviewer Ali Karim, in a September 11, 2009 interview with Cook said of Master of the Delta, [it is] “…required reading for anyone wishing to explore the heights of what crime fiction and mystery genre has to offer.” Marilyn Stasio of the New York Times writes, “Cook is one of the most literary of psychological suspense writers… The British Guardian describes Cook as “…a crime writers’ crime writer.”

Cook has been a nominee for the Macavity Award, the Dashiell Hammett Prize and his novel, The Chatham School Affair won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel of 1996 His novels have been translated into 15 languages.

"National Identity Construction in 20th Century Japan"

Thursday, September 30, 6:30pm, Cowell Hall 106

Professor Shin will discuss the history of national self-image construction in modern Japan. Contrary to popular image of Japan as an ethno-racially homogeneous nation, Japan has never been free of ethno-racial diversity or conflict along such categorical differences. In the first half of the 20th Century, intellectuals and policy makers in Japan promoted its national self-image as a Pan-Asian Empire. However, underneath the façade of such an egalitarian pan-Asian self-image, policy makers in Japan kept a very intricate hierarchical ethno-racial order. This presentation will focus on how Japanese policy makers kept this order and maintained its superiority within their Empire, using the family registration system (Koseki) which still continues to serve as a foundation of Japanese identity today. In developing her presentation, Professor Shin will discuss these points in relationship to the novel, All She Was Worth by Miyuke Miyabe. 

"SJ Rozan and Michael Connelly in Conversation"

Two of crime fictions most celebrated writers, S.J Rozan and Michael Connelly will discuss their novels, the growing popularity of crime fiction as a vehicle for social commentary and trends in crime writing. Rozan has won the prestigious Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero and Macavity awards for Best Novel and an Edgar for best Short Story. Her edited short story collection, Bronx Noir received the NAIBA, “Notable Book of the Year” award. Her most recent novel is The Shanghai Moon and a collection of short stories edited with Jonathan Santlofer entitled, The Dark Side of the Street. Rozan is a former architect.

 Michael Connelly is one of the most internationally acclaimed writers in the field of crime fiction. A former crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, he is best known for the best selling series of crime novels featuring LAPD  Detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch. Connelly has written twenty one novels and edited a number of collections. His novels have been translated into 35 languages. He has won every major award in this country for crime fiction as well as garnering awards in France, Italy, Japan and Spain. In 2003-04 he was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization. He has appeared in the TV program Castle. He was also one of the creators, writers and consulting producers of Level 9 a TV show about a task force fighting cyber crime that ran on UPN in the fall of 2000. His novel, The Reversal is due to be published in October.

"A Symposium on the Stieg Larsson Millennium Trilogy: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest"

Thursday, November 4, 6:30pm, McLaren 252 

A panel, featuring Maureen Corrigan of National Public Radio and a book critic for The Washington Post, will be discussing the best selling trilogy by Stieg Larsson. This series of novels has literally become an international phenomenon. It has been at the top of best sellers lists for months and has broken records for international sales.

Due in large part to the mystique of one of its leading character, Lisabeth Salander, the Larsson trilogy has captivated the attention of the reading public around the world and viewers of the first two Swedish released film versions. The trilogy has produced further intrigue with Larsson’s death before the books were published and the controversy surrounding the disposition of his estate and an unpublished manuscript.
 
This panel takes a multi-dimensional/multi-disciplinary perspective on the novels with particular attention paid to the character of Lisabeth Salander. Also important in this discussion will be a look at the political representations reflected in the author’s life and in the novels. Further discussion examines why the books have remained atop the best sellers lists and have international appeal.