By RACHEL BOLTON
Managing Editor
—
The College of Saint Rose visiting writer series, Frequency North, had the first reading of its tenth season on Oct. 9. Author Chloe Caldwell read from her essay collection, Legs Get Lead Astray, and her recent novella, Women.
Professor Daniel Nester of the English department introduced Caldwell and Frequency North, giving a brief history of the program.
Besides receiving its funding from the college, Frequency North also gets money from the Poets and Writer’s Organization through their Readings and Workshops program.
Caldwell read two essays from Legs Get Lead Astray. The first was titled “That Was Called Love.” The essay was about relationships, both familial and romantic, and what makes a place a home.
The second essay was more humorous, called “My Mother Wanted to Be Betty Boop,” about Caldwell’s relationship with her mother and what their household was like growing up, along with Caldwell’s view of herself as she aged.
Caldwell’s mother, Michele Quigley, attended the reading and said that she was touched that her daughter chose to read that essay.
Audience members got to hear various passages from Caldwell’s novella, Women, which is about the relationship and break up between two women, and is told over the course of twenty years. The novella is humorous and real, with several interesting characters.
The Chronicle spoke to Chloe Caldwell after the reading about her work on both the essay collection and her novella.
Caldwell said that she worked on Women for about a year, and was inspired by “a real life relationship, and trying to find a book like it, but not finding it.”
As for Legs Get Lead Astray, Caldwell said that her favorite essays in the collection were “Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable” and “Yes to Carrots,” because she worked the hardest on those two.
About the event itself, the Chronicle spoke to both students and faculty. Freshman Kaitlyn Burch said, “I thought it was a good environment.”
Burch also said that she plans to attend the next Frequency North with author Kiese Laymon as she is currently reading his book for a class.
The Chronicle asked Professor Daniel Nester why Chloe Caldwell was asked to read at Frequency North. “I know her. I think she is a dynamite writer,” Nester said. Caldwell visited one of Professor Nester’s classes earlier that day to read and comment on student work.
On what he thinks people can get out of her work, he said, “Younger and female students can relate to the stuff she writes about.”
Chloe Caldwell’s reading at Frequncy North filled the Standish rooms, making chairs hard to come by for attendees who came in a bit late.
After the reading was concluded, attendees could buy copies of Women and Legs Get Led Astray and have them signed by the author. The Saint Rose English Club also tabled and sold origami bookmarks as part of the event.
The next Frequency North will feature writer Kiese Laymon and will be on Oct. 23.
