Summer Lightning & Roberta Silman
in conversation with Matt Tannenbaum
June 9, 2023
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
This sweeping multi-generational novel explores the meaning of Alexander Herzen's observation that art and the summer lightning of individual happiness are "the only real goods we have."
Meet local author Roberta Silman in conversation with The Bookstore's Matt Tannenbaum to discuss the inspiration behind her most recent book Summer Lightning.
"Silman is a much-published writer, sure in her craft and very insightful ... This appealing family tale offers astute characterizations and a panoramic view of the 20th century … This is, in fact, an old-fashioned novel ... and the Kaplows are the kind of people the audience will remember long after the last chapter. Readers certainly don’t lack for stories of chaos and calamity, so the current, much abraded world needs this type of tale more than ever.
--Kirkus Reviews
The Mount is a Massachusetts Cultural Council UP designated organization welcoming participants of all disabilities. Please contact The Mount at 413-551-5100 or by email, info@edithwharton.org, to discuss accommodations needed to participate fully in this event.
Free
- Seating is limited; pre-registration is recommended.
- This event is on the Terrace Café.
- Beverages are available for purchase an hour before the start of the program.
- Books are available for purchase from the Bookstore in Lenox & The Mount Bookstore.
Roberta Silman, an author of five traditionally published works of fiction, is a prolific writer of short stories and criticism. Her works have appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Hadassah, Redbook, The Virginia Quarterly Review, The American Scholar, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. She is a recipient of both Guggenheim and NEA Fellowships and has received numerous writing awards. Silman’s previously published book, Secrets and Shadows, was named by Kirkus as one of the ‘Best Indie Books of 2018’ and was hailed by critics as fierce and beautiful and a powerful and deftly plotted novel.
We all know Matt, but have you seen Hello, Bookstore? It is a new documentary celebrating a small bookstore in Lenox, MA. In the shadow of the pandemic, a small town rallies to protect a beloved local bookstore in its hour of need. A landmark in Lenox, Massachusetts, The Bookstore is a magical, beatnik gem thanks to its owner, Matt Tannenbaum, whose passion for stories runs deep. Presiding at The Bookstore for over forty years, Matt is a true bard of the Berkshires and his shop is the kind of place to get lost in. This intimate portrait of The Bookstore and the family at its heart offers a journey through good times, hard times and the stories hidden on the shelves.