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Super Tuesdays at The Bookworm in Edwards

Daily Staff Report
Vail CO, Colorado
Special to the Daily/Sigrid Estrada
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EDWARDS ” There is no off-season at The Bookworm.

Beginning Tuesday, The Bookworm will launch a five-week, star-studded celebration of books known as “Super Tuesdays.” Each event in the series will occur on ensuing Tuesdays with the store hosting three events.

The series begins with a live webcast with Philip Roth on Tuesday at The Bookworm. The reclusive Roth will make his first public appearance since 2002 when he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. This will be his first speaking engagement in more than a decade.



Roth is promoting the release of “Indignation,” his 29th novel. In his traditional stark narrative, Roth tells the story of a young man discovering the world upon enrolling in college, miles from his domineering father.

In addition to the National Medal of Arts, Roth won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel “American Pastoral.” He is also a two-time winner of the PEN/Faulkner Prize for his novels “The Human Stain” and “Everyman.”

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“To have an author of Philip Roth’s caliber visit us via webcast is an honor,” said Nicole Magistro, co-owner of The Bookworm. “We’re proud to be just one of two stores in the state to host this event.”

John Elder Robison visits the store for the Sept. 23 installment of “Super Tuesdays.”

Robison is The New York Times bestselling memoirist of “Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s.”

Robison’s memoir details his childhood with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism that affects social interaction, interpersonal communication and cognitive development.

Robison was generally classified as weird and dumb by classmates and family alike as a diagnosis for Asperger’s did not yet exist. His affliction led him to uncanny skills with electronics, which led Robison to work as a guitar technician for KISS. He is also the eldest brother of bestselling memoirist Augusten Burroughs.

“John Elder Robison’s memoir is a lot of things,” Magistro said. “It’s sad, it’s funny, and, overall, I think, very informative to a condition not a lot of people are familiar with.”

“Super Tuesdays” then hits the big screen for the Sept. 30 segment. The Bookworm will screen “State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America,” as produced by Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore. This is the third film in the store’s Out of the Book series, which has previously featured author Ian McEwan and historian/journalist David Halberstam.

“State by State” features 50 writers tackling their home states in essays and memoirs. Authors featured in the book include Dave Eggers, Ann Patchett, Anthony Bourdain and Jhumpa Lahiri. Bourdain headlines those writers featured in the film.

“The Out of the Book films always offer a fresh perspective on authors, their writings and inspirations,” said Stephen Bedford, marketing director at The Bookworm. “This is the first film to really focus on a group of writers, personalities and styles, rather than an individual work. The book is very different, and kind of all over the map style wise.”

As the “Super Tuesdays” program rolls into October, the big names come out.

Prolific young adult author Avi will visit the Vail Mountain School on Oct. 7 to promote his latest novel “Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold rush of 1859: A Story of the Old West.”

The novel is about a young boy searching for his lost uncle during the gold rush of 1859 in the Pike’s Peak area.

“I think this event is the one that can truly appeal to everybody,” Magistro said. “The book is all about Colorado history, a lot of which happened right in this area. Even though the book is set around Pike’s Peak, the story is pretty universal to Colorado during this time period.

“And the fact that it’s Avi telling the story gets me that much more excited. He’s an author I think a lot of people have grown up with and recognize.”

Avi, a Denver resident, has written more than 60 novels and twice won the prestigious Newbery Medal.

The “Super Tuesdays” program concludes Oct. 14 with a return visit from Philippa Gregory, which will be hosted at Vail Christian High School’s new performing arts center.

Gregory is the international bestselling author of several historical fiction titles, most notably “The Other Boleyn Girl,” and “The Constant Princess.” Her latest novel, “The Other Queen,” will be released Sept. 16.

Combining fact with fiction in feudal Britain, Gregory’s novels have sold millions of copies worldwide. “The Other Boleyn Girl” is The Bookworm’s all-time bestselling book with more than 1,200 copies sold since its release in 2002.

“I don’t think Philippa [Gregpry] needs any introduction around here,” Magistro said. “She’s very gracious to visit us, and we’re excited to host her in Vail Christian’s new facility, where we can accommodate a lot of people.”

For more information on the Super Tuesday program, you can visit The Bookworm’s Web site at http://www.bookwormofedwards.com or call the store at 970-926-READ.

– Philip Roth live webcast, Tuesday

Tickets are $20, and include wine and appetizers

– John Elder Robison, Sept. 23

Tickets are $20, and include wine and appetizers

– State by State, an Out of the Book film, Sept. 30

Tickets are $20, and include wine and appetizers

– Avi, Oct. 7

Tickets are $10

Free, reserved seating available for students who purchase an Avi title before the event

Hosted at Vail Mountain School

– Philippa Gregory, Oct. 14

Tickets are $20, $10 with a VCHS ID

This event is hosted at Vail Christian High School

All events begin at 6 p.m. Call 970-926-READ for more information.


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