Wednesday, Nov 5, 2014
‘The Glass Castle’ author will lecture and sign books at Rider on Nov. 12
by Adam Grybowski
New York Times-bestselling author Jeannette Walls will appear at Rider University at 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Bart Luedeke Center for a lecture and book signing. The appearance is a signature event of Rider’s Shared Read program, which has encouraged students, faculty and staff to read Walls’ memoir, The Glass Castle, as a community.
This semester, freshmen, along with the rest of the campus, were invited to participate in the Shared Read, which aims to introduce students to Rider’s learner-centered mission and to allow for the community as a whole to engage in discussions and happenings related to a specific book.
In the memoir, which spent years on bestseller lists and sold more than four million copies, Walls tells about her childhood, growing up in poor and degraded conditions as the daughter of two eccentric parents. Facing hunger, abuse and neglect, Walls and her siblings were forced to survive by fending for themselves in the absence of normal parental regard for their well being. A movie based on the book is currently in development, with Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence set to star as the young Jeannette.
Walls’ visit is a highlight of a semester-long calendar of activities revolving around The Glass Castle, which continues this month.
On Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in Sweigart Auditorium, Dr. John Bochanski will discuss his experience discovering a star during the "choose your own star" event. Bochanski, an assistant professor of physics in Rider’s Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, recently helped discover the most distant star in the Milky Way. The star is more than five quintillion miles away — about 900,000 light years. Other local astronomers will be on hand during the event. This particular event is connected to a scene in the book where the Walls’ father “gives” her a star for Christmas in lieu of more traditional presents.
The Glass Castle delves into the social issues of homelessness, alcoholism, racism and poverty. Addressing those topics, several events during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week on Nov. 17, 18 and 19 will give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to give back to the community. To learn more about these events, please contact contact Associate Dean Ira Mayo at ext. 5195 or [email protected].
As part of the Shared Read program, the University has been distributing copies of the book free of charge. (The books were purchased through the support of the Rider Alumni Foundation, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.) It has also hosted book clubs with faculty and staff members. The next book club, led by Christine Mehlhorn, the associate director of the Office of First and Second Year Programs, takes place in Conover C Lounge on Nov. 18.
Having survived growing up under two bright if aloof-in-the-extreme parents, Walls left home, moved to New York City and eventually graduated from Barnard College. For many years, she worked as a journalist in the city before becoming an author. In addition to The Glass Castle, she’s also written two novels, Half Broke Horses and The Silver Star, and Dish, an exploration of gossip. Walls now lives in rural Virginia with her husband, the writer John Taylor.
For more information on upcoming Shared Read events, please contact Associate Dean Ira Mayo at ext. 5195 or [email protected].
