North Carolina Literature into Film
sharing a meal with a female companion. Thus, the anniversary evening turns contentious, and in the end, Alma’s fascination with celebrity causes her a great deal of embarrassment. She is so ashamed afterward that she cannot even bear to look at the photographs she had taken or tell her friends about her once in a lifetime chance encounter with fame. Cliff finds the whole incident humorous (at Alma’s expense), and thus ends up contributing to her disappointment and anger and the negative memory she will always have of this fortieth wedding anniversary.
In stories like these throughout the collection, Wilson explores the ways in which Hollywood and its famous figures have become a part of mainstream culture. Her tales compel readers to think about the emphasis on celebrity in American society and reflect on the ways in which aspirations for beauty, wealth, and fame can be, in some cases, harmless fun and, in other cases, destructively driven by unhealthy obsession. Wilson thus shows how heightened awareness of celebrities, particularly regarding their popularity and wealth, influences the lifestyles and opinions of everyday people.
N C L R ONLINE
“Dining with Robert Redford” & Other Stories will elicit a smile and nod of understanding from readers. The strength of Wilson’s style lies in her ability to create a sense of authenticity and to stay true to the trademark spirit of a small-town lifestyle, balancing both the merits and drawbacks of a provincial life. Tamra Wilson has created believable characters and placed them in familiar situations, and her tone is conversational and inviting – never patronizing. Her stories – laced with common colloquialisms – capture not only the essence of life in the Old North State, but also universal elements of American culture. n
Charles Frazier
East Carolina University, J.Y. Joyner Library, and the North Carolina Literary Review
FEATURed ARTISTS
present the
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Elisabeth Benfey James Dodson Lois Duncan Dante James Randall Kenan Eleanora E. Tate Timothy Tyson Daniel Wallace HONORING
9th annual
Eastern North Carolina
Literary Homecoming Litflix: Adapting North Carolina Literature into Film September 21–22, 2012
James Applewhite with TRIBUTES by
Jeffrey Franklin Sally Rosen Kindred and MUSIC by
Luke Whisnant
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Celebrate the state’s writers and their works. Events are free (except for Saturday’s author luncheon) and open to the public. Registration required for workshop sessions. For community event and program information and to register online, visit our website, join us on Facebook, or call 252-328-6514. Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.