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discussion about what bad government looks like and how we avoid it,” Shames said. “We’re facing worrying trends in much of the industrialized world that undermine good government, so I think it’s important to know and talk about what good government looks like.” “Survive and Resist” is based on a class Shames teaches at Rutgers using dystopian fiction to understand good government, which was the political science department’s most popular class this past semester. “Students make sense of their world through art all the time,” Shames said. “They love art, especially music, but also movies and TV and books. They’re making sense of the world around them. The chance to do that in a venue that they wouldn’t think about, which is the political science classroom, I think is really exciting.” Shames describes her book as a “fun, whitty, jokey romp through the end of the world,” and while she admits it’s “a little weird” talking about the world falling apart in a humorous way, there is good news. “I see dystopian fiction to be optimistic, actually. It shows what is terrible. Don’t go down that road. It’s useful for us to know what bad government looks like,” Shames said. “It’s great to talk about it with the universal human question – what kind of government do we want?” At 3 p.m., another panel – “Writing about Hip-Hop: What Critics and Journalists Owe the Culture” – will feature duo Mickey Hess, author of “Guest in the House of Hip-Hop: How Rap Music Taught a Kid from Kentucky What a White Ally Should Be,” and journalist and hip-hop artist David Shanks, who performs as Traum Diggs. This is the first time Haddon Township resident Hess will take part in the festival. “Local book festivals are always a lot of fun. You get to see how many people right around you are involved – as readers, as writers – in whatever aspect,” Hess said. “I love to get up there and read from my work, talk about my work and see other writers do the same thing. It’s a good way to connect with readers and draw people in who may not be aware of your work or are interested.” “Guest in the House of Hip-Hop” is not Hess’ first foray into the genre – the Rider University professor has taught classes on hip-hop and written several other books on the subject. His new book touches on his childhood, when he first started listening to hip-hop at 8 or 9 years old and considered the issues the music raises – issues FALL 2019
“dismissed outright or even mocked” where Hess grew up in rural Kentucky. It examines America’s history of cultural appropriation, how white rappers should remember they are guests within a black-invented culture. “If you grow up a fan of something, you kind of think of it as yours,” Hess said. “As a white fan, with hip-hop, you have to really stop and consider this isn’t really mine at all and it’s not really meant for me.” Having seen panels on hiphop and race relations
filled with w h i t e people, Hess said he has been trying to urge panel organizers to understand this panel works best with different voices. He is looking forward to sharing the Collingswood stage with Shanks. “The focus should be race and hip-hop and someone who was really born into it, like Shanks,” Hess said. “It’s definitely got my perspective, but it brings a real balance to it.”
POETRY TENT Almost as old as the book festival itself is its acclaimed Poetry Tent, the brainchild of Collingswood resident Walt Howat and a couple of teenagers 15 years ago. “When the Poetry Tent started off, I realized it would have this whole day – six hours. What do you fill it with?” Howat said. “We decided, let’s make it unusual. Let’s do things that really fascinate people.” This year, the schedule will switch to something new about every 45 minutes. The winners of the 10th annual Youth Poetry Competition will kick off the day with live readings at 10 a.m. PHOTOS BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE
TOP: Collingswood resident Nancy Reddy will be reading her poetry at the Collingswood Book Festival on Oct. 5. Reddy will read from her book, ‘Acadiana,’ at 11:15 a.m. in the Poetry Tent. ABOVE: Sharon Hackett, a longtime book festival volunteer, took on the role of chair for the 2019 event.
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LEARN MORE
For the full schedule of Collingswood Book Festival events, please visit www. collingswoodbookfestival.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
There is extra book festival fun leading up to the day of the event.
Writing Home:
Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Collingswood Library. In this generative poetry workshop led by Leah Falk of Rutgers Writers House and Stephanie Cawley of Murphy Writing/Stockton University, participants will read and write poems that explore the places we call home, whether past or present, permanent or temporary, personal or collective.
Town Book Discussion:
Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Collingswood Library. Participate in a discussion of “The Anatomy of a Miracle” by Jonathan Miles. This year’s selection is a profound novel about a paralyzed young man’s unexplainable recovery – a stunning exploration of faith, science, mystery and the meaning of life. Miles will speak at the Book Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. in Tent 1.
Booze & Haiku at Another Damn Open Mic Night:
Monday, Sept. 30, 8 to 10 p.m., Keg & Kitchen, 90 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township. Have a brew and share haiku! It’s easy. Bring your thoughts, facilitators will help you haiku. Open Mic hosted by Dave Kelly and John Falco. Sponsored by Friends of the Collingswood Book Festival.
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