Durham
N.C. Festival of the Book
Duke University–The revamped N.C. Festival of the Book runs at various Durham locations through today, offering a rich pageant of discussions from a deep pool of gifted Southern authors plus musicians like Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn (see page 51), Language Arts and Nnenna Freelon. It ends with a line-up of talent at 5:30 today, including Duke historian Reynolds Price in conversation with Southern chef of excellence Bill Smith, and columnist, essayist and critic Hal Crowther talking politics and music with Otis Redding/Elvis biographer and critic Peter Guralnick. Other standouts for the day include a discussion between Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones (pictured) at 1:30 about mentoring young writers, as well as an analysis of the creative process by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kaye Gibbons at 4. That segment will most likely include mention of why the South is so lousy in fostering creativity. Visit www.ncbook.org.
The Rough South of Larry Brown
Duke University–Bring your ashtray and your whiskey tumbler to this screening of the sui generis The Rough South of Larry Brown. Director Gary Hawkins will discuss his film and treat us to recent interview footage of Brown’s widow, as well. The film shows for free at 5:30 p.m in the Bryan Center’s Griffith Theater. This is part of the N.C. Festival of the Book. –David Fellerath
