Entries in Songs in the Key of My Life (9)
Songs Strikes a Chord
Occasionally i get an email from someone sharing their responses to Songs in the Key of My Life. These messages usually arrive on the heels of a book event or other author appearance. Now, long after I've stopped checking my Amazon sales ranking and pondering the next great way to get Songs into the hands of more people, I find that while I'm not thinking about Songs, others are--and are discovering it for the first time.
On Friday I received an email from a friend at church that began:
"...so one day I'm like a need a book to read on the train--your book caught my eye...
I was completely caught off-guard by this message. This time last year I was spending so much time thinking and worrying about what people were going to think about the book, that I never really got a chance to enjoy some of the positive feedback I was getting. I often felt more relieved that people were enjoying the book, than honored to have produced something that friends, family, colleagues, and complete strangers were appreciating.
WOW!"
I would not have blogged about the note I received last Friday, were it not for this:
But, having a startling dream and waking at 5:30 am, I find it hard to drift back into any kind of slumber so I pick up the book.
Just as with my friend, this reader drifted to Songs on a whim. Reading Brother Johnston Michaels' post, I was reminded of the numerous times that I rolled over and picked up a book and ended up doing before sunrise what I had been unable to do in weeks. Books, like songs, and as I am discovering more each day, like portraits, come into our lives when we least expect them.
Folks, I have just completed the first chapter and with sincere exclamation I must say " it moved me!"
And again, I was not searching for the latest reviews of Songs, or alerted by Google to this blog post...Indeed if there is anyone or anything to thank for this last one it's Shola Lynch for directing Chisholm '72. My post drew a comment from the Peppermints Arts Collective and as I followed their trail, I realized that we had already been in conversation.
To all the readers out there I send my best and my love
Ferentz
in Songs in the Key of My Life
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Book Signing w/Felicia Pride/ June 4th @ The Bronx Museum
Please Join The Bronx Museum of the Arts For …
A Book Signing With Felicia Pride
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
5:30 – 7:30pm
The Bronx Museum of the Arts proudly presents its monthly First Wednesdays book signings featuring author Felicia Pride. Ms. Pride will be signing copies of her new book The Message 100 Life Lessons from Hip Hop’s Greatest Songs, which has been called “Chicken Soup for the Hip-Hop Soul.” It uses the best of hip-hop culture to empower the hip-hop generation and reveal what we can learn from the music.
Joining Ms. Pride is Ferentz LaFargue, author of Songs in the Key of My Life, a memoir infused with
popular songs that shaped his life.
Ms. Pride and Mr. Lafargue are creators and developers of “Here Comes the Remix,” a new literacy initiative using music as a tool to engage and empower youth. At the book signing they will present a sample workshop of “Here Comes the Remix.”
1040 Grand Concourse @165th Street / 718.681.6000 / www.bronxmuseum.org
Ferentz
in Songs in the Key of My Life
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If you're in Brooklyn
i'm reading this
Monday April 28, 2008
@
7:30pm
@
Park Slope Barnes and Noble
267 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-832-9066
Hope to see you there...
Ferentz
in Songs in the Key of My Life
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Ferentz @ The Brecht Forum
Wednesday, April 167:30 pm
BOOK PARTY / FORUM
Songs in the Key of My Life
Ferentz Lafargue
Ferentz Lafargue discusses his new memoir, Songs in the Key of My Life. Inspired by the seminal Stevie Wonder novel, this novel explores connections between memorable songs and memorable moments in Lafargue's life. Moderated by blogger and music critic Jalylah Burrell, this event will also include a book signing, and brief listening party featuring many of the songs from Songs in the Key of My Life.
Ferentz Lafargue is an assistant professor of literature at Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts. He holds a PhD in American and African American Studies from Yale University. Born in Haiti, Ferentz moved to Jamaica, Queens in 1981 at the age of five, joining his parents who had immigrated to the United States in 1976. His essays have appeared in the collections Starting With I (Persea Books, 1997) and Strong Teens, Strong Neighborhoods (2007), the inaugural issue of Bronx Biannual (Akashic Books 2006), and at 215mag.com. Ferentz currently shares his thoughts on contemporary events and politics at The Huffington Post.
Suggested donation: $6/$10/$15
Ferentz
in Listening Parties, Books, Songs in the Key of My Life
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