Book Notes

PEN World Voices Literary Festival

International PEN is a worldwide association of writers founded in 1926 to promote freedom of expression and friendship among writers. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the PEN World Voices Literary Festival, which took place in New York CIty hosted by the PEN American Center and Festival Chair Salman Rushdie. Readings and panel discussions occurred throughout the week, and it was exciting to witness the action.

In one of his talks, Rushdie reflected how contentious the first gathering was in 1986. He recalled a sense back then that writers were at the center of the national argument and public debate. As he remembered it, a whole generation of authors very consciously looked for their public voices and felt they had a role to play in starting a conversation between America and the rest of the world. They acknowledged that the political realities might not have to be the realities, and they actively engaged with each other and society at large to participate in the debate. He wondered why that no longer seemed to be the case, why imaginative literary and artistic culture often seems to censor itself, and wondered what might be done. He admonished that there continue to be parts of the world where artists, writers, and filmmakers are restricted in their expression; and we in America often forget both the privilege that we have in this freedom, and the responsibility that this entails. He observed that authors and politicians are often at odds because they have visions for improving the world, but these aspirations for molding society come into collision.

There were many other highlights, but to me, one of the most fascinating was listening to Little, Brown editor Michael Pietsch converse with Rick Moody and Sandro Veronesi about THE PALE KING, by David Foster Wallace (Little, Brown, $27.99), his political and moral goals as he stretched the possibilities of the novel as a genre, and the humanity that he conveys upon even the faceless drones in the hated Internal Revenue Service.

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- Andrew Getman

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HELP US GET A CAPITAL BIKESHARE STATION!

Capital Bikeshare is a project of the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) that allows users to rent bikes from stations across Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. Bikes may be rented for any length of time and returned to any station. Many of our staff members and patrons use Capital Bikeshare; unfortunately, the closest bike depot is located at the Van Ness/UDC Metro.

The corner of Nebraska and Connecticut is a finalist for DDOT’s planned expansion of 25 new Bikeshare stations. We would love to offer this additional form of transportation to our staff, friends, and patrons who are looking for a convenient and reliable way to travel to and from our store and the neighborhood. You can read more about the Capital Bikeshare expansion here.

DDOT is interested in resident feedback about proposed stations. Please send an email to ddot.bikeshare@dc.gov to say that you support a Bikeshare station at Nebraska and Connecticut!

To make it especially easy, you can use or adapt this prepared text!

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed Capital Bikeshare station at the intersection of Connecticut and Nebraska avenues NW. The CaBi program is an important way of increasing the reach, resilience and sustainability of the region’s transportation system. The 5000 block of Connecticut Ave NW is a vivid example of location that would benefit immediately from a new station and in turn benefit existing CaBi users by connecting them with literary, culinary and cultural offerings.

The 5000 block of Connecticut Ave NW hosts Politics & Prose Bookstore; Modern Times Coffeehouse; Marvelous Market; Jake’s American Grill; Buck’s Fishing and Camping; Comet Pizza & Ping Pong; and more. Limited transit access and inadequate parking, however, thwart access to these local businesses.  On-street and commercial free parking regularly overflow, channeling cars into surrounding residential streets.  Many customers, residents and employees would like to commute or shop using Bikeshare, but the nearest station is nearly a mile away at the Van Ness-UDC metro stop. The proposed station at Connecticut and Nebraska is part of a solution to these problems of access and capacity, and part of a better, greener DC. Please make it a reality.