Tell me a DC story
War by Candlelight is the title of a college buddy's debut collection of fiction. They are wondrous tales of his birth city, Lima, Peru and a few of New York. His work, as well as that of fellow Peruvian author Eduardo Gonzalez Viana, was featured as part of the panel discussion "Peruvian Writers in the United States: Writing While Living in the Bridge of Cultures." A fascinating talk. Even more fascinating is Peruvian humor, always just shy of, "Oh no he didn't say that..."
Anyway, how does such an event become today's post? Well, amidst thought provoking dialogue (moderated by Marie Arana of the Washington Post) on the question of identity among Latin American writers, I started thinking about Chocolate City's life in the written word...Who writes about DC? Not the Capitol Hill DC, or K Street DC (of course, folks who understand "La Cuidad Chocolat" Know that Already). But the DC that Washingtonians Know and inhabit.
Two authors come to mind. The immensely talented Edward P. Jones, and the up and coming author Kenji Jasper (shout out to Banneker--we're so on the move).
Edward Jones just came to my bookshelf by way of the "is this annual?" Library of Congress Book Fair on the Mall. After I heard that a brother won the Pulitzer, I started tracking Mr. Distinguished Jones. "What's this dude about?" More than I ever fathomed, or am ready to absorb.
Not quite finished The Known World, I picked up Lost in the City. This is the first answer to "Who writes about DC?" Right now, Jones is my authority. His writing is rich. The scenes are intriguing and thought provoking. The characters remind me of Who Black People Are. Jones also masters the craft of writing stories where not much happens by way of plot, but the end of the story is a crushing blow to your reading pleasure.
However, there are limitations. Jones's writing is of my parent's generation. The landscape is the 50s-60s, obviously not this chick's era. His writing explains the present through compassionate and evocative examinations of the past.
This is where Kenji Jasper's writing pick's up. Dark and Seeking Salamanca are stories of people we know doing things we've done. We can relate.
2005, the city has changed drastically. Who will write the stories?
Anyway, how does such an event become today's post? Well, amidst thought provoking dialogue (moderated by Marie Arana of the Washington Post) on the question of identity among Latin American writers, I started thinking about Chocolate City's life in the written word...Who writes about DC? Not the Capitol Hill DC, or K Street DC (of course, folks who understand "La Cuidad Chocolat" Know that Already). But the DC that Washingtonians Know and inhabit.
Two authors come to mind. The immensely talented Edward P. Jones, and the up and coming author Kenji Jasper (shout out to Banneker--we're so on the move).
Edward Jones just came to my bookshelf by way of the "is this annual?" Library of Congress Book Fair on the Mall. After I heard that a brother won the Pulitzer, I started tracking Mr. Distinguished Jones. "What's this dude about?" More than I ever fathomed, or am ready to absorb.
Not quite finished The Known World, I picked up Lost in the City. This is the first answer to "Who writes about DC?" Right now, Jones is my authority. His writing is rich. The scenes are intriguing and thought provoking. The characters remind me of Who Black People Are. Jones also masters the craft of writing stories where not much happens by way of plot, but the end of the story is a crushing blow to your reading pleasure.
However, there are limitations. Jones's writing is of my parent's generation. The landscape is the 50s-60s, obviously not this chick's era. His writing explains the present through compassionate and evocative examinations of the past.
This is where Kenji Jasper's writing pick's up. Dark and Seeking Salamanca are stories of people we know doing things we've done. We can relate.
2005, the city has changed drastically. Who will write the stories?
posted by Rhonda Henderson at 1:58 AM
1 Comments:
Thanks for the shoutout! Check out the new joint, some DC family history, The House on Childress Street, when it's published tomorrow. Thanks so much for the love.
-Kenji
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