Get off The Couch: Writers coming for Celebration of Southern Literature festival

Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
photo Lisa Denton and Barry Courter

LISA DENTON: Barry, one of my favorite humorists is coming to town this week. No, I don't mean Tom Green.

Roy Blount Jr. is taking part in the Celebration of Southern Literature, along with a multitude of guests who are the very definition of literati. The conference runs Thursday through Sunday with book readings and panel discussions and autograph signings.

Blount has written dozens of books, and I tune in the NPR quiz show "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me" on Saturdays on WUTC-FM always hoping he's one of the panelists that week. Love his humor. Love his voice.

Tom Green, if you're wondering, will be in a single show tonight at The Comedy Catch. He always comes to mind for something he doesn't have anymore.

BARRY COURTER: We don't joke about things like that. By we, I mean guys.

LISA: Maybe I meant his ex-wife, Drew Barrymore.

BARRY: Right.

LISA: Yep, that's the one the surgeon lopped off. Serious talk, though. He raised awareness of testicular cancer which has a high cure rate if caught early, so kudos to him for that.

BARRY: I'm pretty excited about the literature celebration. Local cinephile Chris Dortch will be moderating a panel discussion called "Books to Film: Their Role in the Southern Experience" with authors Charles Frazier, Allan Gurganus and Ron Rash, whose book "Serena" was recently made into a movie.

That's just one of the events designed to remind people that you don't have to smoke a pipe and wear a tweed jacket with elbow patches to attend. I'm going to do just that, but you don't have to. The conference is for anyone who likes to read, and it's a good time.

LISA: I always like it when I look across the cubicle wall and see you doing your book-jacket pose: hand on chin, wry smile, eyes on ... well, I'm never quite sure what your eyes are focused on. It's always something off in the distance.

BARRY: Lunch.

LISA: I should have guessed. You should really check out the website of fantasy novelist Jim C. Hines, who demonstrates the cover poses of the women on his princess novels. He looks pretty silly. If I ever publish a book, I'll go the Madonna route and strike a pose with a cone bra and Vogue-style hand gestures. You know, to look natural.

BARRY: There is a lot of other stuff this week, too. Hannibal Buress brings his Comedy Camisado Tour to Track 29 on Tuesday. The Chattanooga Lookouts, now a Minnesota Twins affiliate, open their season on Wednesday at AT&T Field. Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell is at Track 29 on Thursday, and he has a new CD coming out soon. Hinder is at Rhythm & Brews the same night.

And anyone who is into collecting money will want to head to the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center for the Georgia Association coin show this weekend. I've never figured out the collecting part.

LISA: Me neither. The spending part I'm good with. Collecting, not so much.

Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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