Page 64 - Sonoma County Gazette June 2017

Book Review: On Chesil Beach By Diane McCurdy
thru - Jun 27 ~ Screenplay Contest -
than 3 min. of poetry. Free - 6:15p - 8:30p Aqus Cafe, 189 H St., Petaluma, 707-778- 6060, Sandra Anfang, facebook.com/ RivertownPoetsAMuseingMondays
Jun 11 ~ Redwood Writers Present: Grant Faulkner on Flash Fiction- The Art of Brevity. Come prepared to write short pieces and explore the expansiveness of succinctness. $10, 2:30pFlamingo Hotel, Empire Room, 2777 Fourth St, Santa Rosa, redwoodwriters.org/
Jun 12 ~ Petaluma Women Who Write meet monthly for feedback and community, in an understanding and supportive forum where constructive criticism inspires and uplifts. Carole J. Coates – potteryhound@gmail.com Free / 2nd Monday’s / 6 - 7:30p, Aqus Cafe, 189 H St., Petaluma, Carole Coates, aqus.com/ event/women-who-write/2017-03-13/, potteryhound@gmail.com
Jun 24 ~ Poetry Reading - Gregory W Randall - A Cartography of Selves - a reading and refreshments will be served 7:00pSebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol, 707-829-4797, sebarts.org
SonomaCountyGazette.com for MORE DETAILS
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Send your Event info to: Vesta@Sonic.net
Probably not too many people have heard about this novel, but they will soon because whenever a book is transformed into a movie people become curious about the source and gradually that source material will creep
Redwood Writers - Write a screenplay for a full length film or TV pilot & submit to the Screenwriting Contest. Winner Announced at 8-13-17 Meeting Questions should be addressed to: contests@redwoodwriters.org.
Jun 3 ~ Call Down Angel - Music and Poems - a journey through the spiritual desert of contemporary America, Free, 2:00p - 4:00p, Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental, 707-328-3325, hoodoodog. blogspot.com/
Jun 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ Snoopy’s Writers - Meet with serious, good nature’d writers weekly, Mon. afternoons,1 - 4 pm, at the Warm Puppy Cafe. Blog -http://www. snoopyswriters.blogspot.com. 1- 4 PM, Warm Puppy Cafe, 1667 West Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, snoopyswriters.com/, ggdeb@sonic.net
Jun 5 ~ Petaluma Rivertown Poets A-Muse-ing designed to unite seasoned poets, amateurs, and poetry lovers in celebration of the spoken word. Open mic signups 5:45 p.m. Please no more
up the best-seller lists. On Chesil Beach
was written by Ian McEwan who is known mostly through his most successful work, Atonement. Atonement received great critical acclaim and was also made into a well respected lm that was nominated for an Oscar in 2008. The pivotal event in On Chesil Beach centers around a disastrous wedding night. There are ashbacks leading up to
it and events that happened after but this nocturnal post-nuptial bedding is the engine that drives the plot.
It is 1962, just as the sexual revolution is
brewing when Florence and Edward meet. They are immediately drawn to one another. She is from an upper class family with a mother who is a philosophy teacher while his mother is brain damaged from an accident. His father is
a tradesman. Her father is a corporate business man. However, the class distinction does not present a problem and both families approve of the match. Florence and Edward are both educated and talented. He is an avid student of history and she is an accomplished violinist.
LIBRARY EVENTS
For a complete listing of library events: sonomalibrary.org
Cloverdale: June 17 ~ The Traveling Gardener: Exploring the World One Gar- den at a time -Yvonne Horn, Travel writer & photographer 2-3p
Guerneville: June 21 ~ Grow a Better World Gardening for Kids 11-12:30p Healdsburg: June 8 ~ Building a Birdhouse 2p
Petaluma: June 6 ~ Bilingual Family Storytime / Hora de Cuentos 10:15a Rohnert Park: June 7-10 ~ Friends’ of the Library Book Sale
Central SR: June 10 ~ Sonoma County Public Library Fundraiser 8p Northwest SR: June 14 ~ Afternoon Book Discussion - Dead Wake 2:30p Rincon Valley: June 27 ~ The Bubble Lady - Bubbles and Music for Kids 2-3p Sebastopol: June 17 ~ Jubilee Klezmer - Israeli & Klezmer music concert 2-3p Sonoma Valley: June 21 ~ Dan Chan Magic Show - Comedy and Magic 11a Windsor: June 27 ~ Zumba for Kids - Forum Room 4p
Perhaps Edward should have known but he interpreted Florence’s aversion to anything physical as endearing modesty and he loves her so much he is willing to wait. They have a traditional church wedding. They arrive at the honeymoon suite at a Georgian hotel near the ocean. Their dinner is served. Neither is hungry. Both are nervous. Both are virgins. For Florence this does not seem too unusual but for Edward it does seem a little odd until one considers that he has spent the last several years at the height of his youthful passion lusting for the lovely Flo. The marital bed looms in the background.
The next scene is almost medically and anatomically correct. It is neither pornographic nor titillating. It is quite the opposite. It is uncomfortable almost grotesque and ultimately sad.
Florence’s reticence, actual revulsion is not the product of post-Victorian mores or good girl coyness or even of religious conviction . It is beyond. It is a pathological dread and loathing of sex. She honestly loves Edward but cannot give him what he has a right to expect.
McEwan’s style gives the reader little dialogue. Mostly there is a psychological, inner monologue of ruminations shifting from one character to another. It is amazing how the author is able to delve into the female mystique.
The lm is now in pre-production with Carey Mulligan set to star. Miss Mulligan is a perfect casting choice as she exudes both attractiveness and innocence. It will be interesting to see how the director handles the wedding night scene.
iRead ~ The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District & LandPaths welcome you to a FREE exciting, outdoor, literary adventure geared towards young children of ages 2-6 and their families/caregivers. We will enjoy the beautiful Duckworth Ranch, (including the animals!), take a short hike, play nature games, and engage in read alouds of well-known nature-based books related to the land we are exploring. Pre-registration is required. landpaths.org - 707-544-7284, info@ LandPaths.org
May 31 ~ i-Read in the Forest: Healdsburg Ridge 10-1p
June 7 ~ i-Read on the Farm: Duckworth Ranch 10-1p
June 14 ~ i-Read in the Garden: Hallberg Butterfly Garden 10-1p June 21 ~ i-Read by the Creek: Rancho Mark West 10-1p
June 28 ~ i-Read by the Forest: Healdsburg Ridge 707-544-7284, 10-1p
64 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 6/17
ARY cont’d on page 65
LITER