Reading Between the Lines: Sports & Literature

Coverage of the 2020 Seminar: "Reading Between the Lines"

John Hersey Memorial Address: Geoff Dyer
Presenters: Megan Abbot, Amy Bass, Buzz Bissinger, Daniel James Brown, Analise Chen, Billy Collins, Geoff Dyer, Paul Goldberger, Gish Jen, Jane Leavy, David Maraniss, Ben McGrath, Michael Mewshaw, Emily Nemens, Joyce Carol Oates, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Arnold Rampersad, Leanne Shapton, Lionel Shriver, Louisa Thomas, Kate Tuttle, Kevin Young
Writers’ Workshop Faculty: Christopher Castellani, Billy Collins, Fernanda Eberstadt, Lynne Griffin, Lauren Groff, Claire Messud, Gregory Pardlo, Francine Prose, Krystal Sital, Luis Alberto Urrea

Louisa Thomas. Photo by Nick Doll

Geoff Dyer, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Louisa Thomas, and Michael Mewshaw:
“Game. Set. Match. Write.” Photo by Nick Doll

Lionel Shriver: “The Cult of Exercise.” Photo by Nick Doll

Billy Collins: “Sports Poems: An Oxymoron?” Photo by Nick Doll

Kevin Young, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and Núria Royo Planas. Photo by Nick Doll

Writers, poets, and Seminar guests at the opening reception at Audubon House and Gardens. Photo by Nick Doll

Billy Collins and Geoff Dyer. Photo by Nick Doll

Geoff Dyer signs books after his keynote address: “Introductory Report from the Head Groundsman.” Photo by Nick Doll

Book signing with Geoff Dyer. Photo by Nick Doll

Executive Director Arlo Haskell has a laugh during Geoff Dyer's talk. Photo by Nick Doll

Geoff Dyer delivers the keynote address: “Introductory Report from the Head Groundsman.” Photo by Nick Doll

Left to right: Núria Royo Planas, author Rowan Ricardo Phillips and Kerry Shelby. Photo by Nick Doll

Audience members enjoy Geoff Dyer's talk. Photo by Nick Doll

Arlo Haskell, executive director of the Key West Literary Seminar. Photo by Nick Doll

Diane Shelby welcomes guests to the 38th Annual Key West Literary Seminar. Photo by Nick Doll

The San Carlos Institute, site of the Key West Literary Seminar. Photo by Nick Doll

KWLS staff members Lindsay Malboeuf and Shane Benowitz. Photo by Nick Doll

Ben Pegg and Michael Blades, program chair for “Reading Between the Lines.” Photo by Nick Doll

Books and Books @ The Studios of Key West at their pop-up shop in the San Carlos’ José Martí room. Photo by Nick Doll

Michael Blades, program chair for “Reading Between the Lines,” greets Seminar attendees. Photo by Nick Doll

Attendees browse the pop-up book store at the San Carlos Institute. Photo by Nick Doll

Leanne Shapton. Photo by Nick Doll

A sneak peek of our stage in progress for the 38th annual Key West Literary Seminar "Reading Between the Lines: Sports and Literature." Set designer is Cayman Smith-Martin. Photo by Nick Doll

KWLS 2020 Programs. Photo by Nick Doll

Geoff Dyer. Photo by Nick Doll

Rowan Ricardo Phillips. Photo by Nick Doll

Set design by Cayman Smith-Martin. Photo by Nick Doll

Joyce Carol Oates: “Mike Tyson: The Afterlife of the Champion and Further Notes on Boxing as Myth and Theater.” Photo by Nick Doll

Joyce Carol Oates signs books for fans. Photo by Nick Doll

Photo by Nick Doll

Arnold Rampersad and Kevin Young: “In Conversation: Biography and the Black Athlete.” Photo by Nick Doll

Daniel James Brown signing books. Photo by Nick Doll

David Maraniss, Amy Bass, and Daniel James Brown: “The Olympic Games and Political Action.” Photo by Nick Doll

Daniel James Brown. Photo by Nick Doll

Megan Abbott greeting fans. Photo by Nick Doll

Fans meet Megan Abbott. Photo by Nick Doll

Reception at the Harry S. Truman Truman Little White House. Photo by Nick Doll

Teacher & Librarian scholarship recipients pose with author Meg Cabot. Photo by Nick Doll

Reception at the Harry S. Truman Truman Little White House. Photo by Nick Doll

Executive Director Arlo Haskell & fam dressed up for the event! Photo by Nick Doll

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Day Four in Pictures

Featuring: Megan Abbott, Amy Bass, Gish Jen, Jane Leavy, Joyce Carol Oates, Lionel Shriver, Louisa Thomas, and the Emerging Writer Award Winners Chase Burke, Chloe Firetto-Toomey, and Andrea Rinard


Longing and Belonging: Teams, Clothes, and Desire

By Sarah Thomas Leanne Shapton and Buzz Bissinger joined in a conversation that broke all preconceived notions for a panel at a literary seminar. In “Longing and Belonging: Teams, Clothes, and Desire,” Shapton questioned Bissinger about sexuality, intimacy, desire, gender identity, and sports uniforms. “I love Buzz’s writing when he ...Read More

The Case for Banning Parents

By Shannon Korta Saturday afternoon’s literary panel tackled the topic of parents’ increasing over-involvement in their children’s sports lives for the discussion “The Case for Banning Parents.” Author Buzz Bissinger, best known for his New York Times bestseller Friday Night Lights, was joined by Ben McGrath, a staff writer for ...Read More

In Conversation: Biography and the Black Athlete

By Yesenia Flores Diaz To kick off day three of the 38th Annual KWLS Reading Between the Lines: Sports and Literature, Kevin Young and Arnold Rampersad discussed the history of black sportsmanship in a thought-provoking session entitled: “In Conversation: Biography and the Black Athlete.” According to Young, childhood hero Arthur ...Read More

Sports Poems: An Oxymoron?

By Chloe Firetto-Toomey Sports and poetry? The words present an inherent conflict; the mind verses the body’s endurance. “Poets are not good at sports,” says Collins, stirring a murmur of laughter from the audience at the Key West Literary Seminar on Friday. Mohamed Ali wrote poems! Who knew? Poets, often ...Read More

Game. Set. Match. Write.

By Mark Hedden Much of the early conversation during the “Game. Set. Match. Write.” panel was about what most consider the two biggest guide stars in modern tennis writing – David Foster Wallace’s wide-ranging work, much of which is collected in “String Theory,” and John McPhee’s book about a single ...Read More

Day Three in Pictures

Featuring: Arnold Rampersad, Kevin Young, Gish Jen, Emily Nemens, Michael Mewshaw, Joyce Carol Oates, Megan Abbott, Buzz Bissinger, Ben McGrath, Amy Bass, Daniel James Brown, and David Maraniss.


Amy Bass at Key West High School

By Kate Peters It is hard to imagine a more inspiring story to bring before high school students than the one Amy Bass tells in One Goal.   Armed with a borrowed soccer ball, Bass asked the crowd of approximately 200 high school students from Marathon and Key West, if ...Read More

Day Two in Pictures

Featuring: Lionel Shriver, Jane Leavy, David Maraniss, Arnold Rampersand, Billy Collins, Anelise Chen, Ben McGrath, Leanne shapton, Geoff Dyer, Michael Mewshaw, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and Louisa Thomas.


Lionel Shriver on The Cult of Exercise

By Katie Cerqua Lionel Shriver opened the first day of the Key West Literary Seminar with an analysis of western culture’s obsession and near religious devotion to exercise, creating a healthy juxtaposition to the sports-fueled topics of the day to come. Shriver conversed on a variety of issues related to ...Read More

The Art of Losing

By Nancy Klingener One of the satisfactions of sports is that there’s a decision at the end. Someone wins and someone loses. (Yes, even sports like soccer where individual games can end in a tie eventually pick a winner of a title or a tournament.) The winner gets the glory, ...Read More

Geoff Dyer takes on the role of ‘Head Groundsman’

By Shayne Benowitz The 38th annual Key West Literary Seminar kicked off Thursday evening with the John Hersey Memorial Address delivered by Geoff Dyer in a talk entitled “Introductory Report from the Head Groundsman.” He began with a zoomed out image of the planet, asking the audience to imagine a ...Read More

Day One in Pictures

Photos from opening day registration and Geoff Dyer’s keynote address: “Introductory Report from the Head Groundsman.”


Reading Between the Lines: Sports & Literature

The 38th Key West Literary Seminar is Underway!

The 38th Annual Key West Literary Seminar, “Reading Between the Lines: Sports and Literature,” is set to begin in just a few minutes at the San Carlos Institute with the John Hersey Memorial Address by Geoff Dyer.


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