Sisters and writers Elizabeth Gilbert and Catherine Gilbert Murdock will give the annual Reynolds Lecture at Davidson College on Monday, Oct. 26. The lecture is one of a series of literary events ahead in and around Davidson in the coming months, including writer Dorothy Allison’s visit to Charlotte Writers Club North Nov. 10.

Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” (2006), which was No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list for more than a year. Her book “The Last American Man” (2002), a nonfiction account of North Carolina woodsman Eustace Conway, was nominated for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.


Catherine Gilbert Murdock, is an award-winning writer of young-adult fiction. Her debut novel “Dairy Queen” tells the story of a girl who runs her father’s struggling dairy farm and tries out for the high school football team. Dairy Queen’s sequel “The Off Season” has also received rave reviews, and a third and final book in the series will be released this fall.  

“An Evening With Elizabeth Gilbert and Catherine Gilbert Murdock” begins at 8 p.m. in Davidson’s Duke Family Performance Hall. It’s free, but tickets are required. More info on the college website ^[1].

Irish poet Ann Leahy (left) gave a reading Thursday, Oct. 15, at Charlotte Writers Club North at Sanctuary of Davidson gallery on Main Street. At a reception beforehand at the Davidson home of Allison Elrod, she talked with Leslie Rindoks of Davidson (centr), an English professor at Catawba College, and writer Janice Fuller. (Cristina Shaul photo)

LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – “Everything You Wanted to Know about Blacks & Jews,” an open discussion about cultural differences with Rabbi Barbara Thiede and the Rev. Brenda Tapia. Part of this year’s DavidsonReads series, focusing on “The Color of Water” by James McBride describes. Come learn what you might not know about your neighbors and what would they like you to know. Free. More about DavidsonReads and upcoming programs in our Sept. 3 season preview, “Are you reading yet? DavidsonReads sets schedule.” ^[2]

FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 6 p.m., McColl Family Theatre, Imaginon, 300 E. 7th St., Charlotte – :A Novello Evening with Clyde Edgerton.” One of North Carolina’s favorite authors, Mr. Edgerton and his band, the Rank Strangers, will present an evening of readings, stories, songs, food and fun. He’s author of “The Bible Salesman,” “Raney,” “Lunch at the Piccadilly” and other bestsellers. Tickets: $35, available by phone at 704-973-2828 or at the Imaginon box office, 300 E 7th St.

MONDAY, OCT. 26, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – “An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert and Catherine Gilbert Murdock” is the college’s annual Reynolds Lecture. The two are authors and sisters. Free, but tickets required, and may be picked up in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alvarez College Union ticket office, or at the door beginning an hour before the event if any tickets remain. For more information call 704-894-2254. More info on the college website ^[1].

TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building, Lilly Family Gallery – Lecture by writer Laura Frexias. Born in Barcelona in 1958, she has been described as one of the most important voices in contemporary Spanish writing. She explores intimate relationships through the lens of her experiences as a woman growing up under the dictatorship of Franco. Free.



TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Author and journalist Thomas Friedman lectures on “Hot, Flat and Crowded: An Update.” He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times and author of “The World is Flat.” Free, but tickets required. Details in our Oct. 13 news item. ^[3]

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4, 10 a.m., The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane – Book discussion with author Tony Abbott, a retired full professor from Davidson College and author of critical studies, novels, and poetry. He will be returning to DavidsonReads to lead the second book discussion of “The Color of Water.” More about DavidsonReads and upcoming programs in our Sept. 3 season preview, “Are you reading yet? DavidsonReads sets schedule.” ^[2]

TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 7 p.m., Sanctuary of Davidson gallery, 108 S. Main St. – Charlotte Writers Club North presents Dorothy Allison, best-selling author of “Cavedweller” and “Bastard out of Carolina” and currently McGee Professor of Writing at Davidson College. Free. www.charlottewritersclub.org ^[4]

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, DEC. 3-4, 6-8 p.m., Main Street Book, 126 S. Main St. – Writers from Charlotte Writers’ Club North will be signing copies of their books during Christmas in Davidson. Free. www.charlottewritersclub.org ^[4]

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Annual Conarroe Lecture, by Margaret Atwood, the Booker Prize-winning author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Blind Assassin.” The lecture will be free, but tickets will be required. Details to come.