2008 Woodie Awards
Event underestimated
By: Marissa Kekke
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Campus Life
Many California State University, Stanislaus students missed hearing Christopher Coake read from several of his literary works in the Library's West Reading Room on Friday April 4.
Coake, a 36-year-old from Reno, Nev., is author of "We're in Trouble," and one of the "Best Young American Novelists" of 2007, according to GRANTA's 2007, a magazine devoted to new writing.
A relaxed atmosphere and small crowd allowed for an intimacy between author and listener, but may have been disappointing to the reading's organizers. A large number of chairs were set up for attendees, but most remained empty throughout the reading.
"I chose to have Mr. Coake come to campus for the reading because, as a young American writer whose stories deal largely with love and tragedy as experienced by young adults, his work seems naturally fitted to our student community," Jesse Wolfe, coordinator of the reading, said.
"I was disappointed that so many people missed out on hearing such a great author," said Ryan Hofman, who attended the reading.
Wolfe brought Coake to Stanislaus for three reasons:
"The all-campus reading, a reading at the Village, and a visit to my masters-level course in 20th-century American literature," said Wolfe.
After a short introduction on Coake's behalf, Coake immediately invited students to move closer since the crowd was small and he did not have a microphone.
"I'm very lucky to have a collection of short-stories published," Coake said.
"His humble attitude added to his likeability," Hofman said.
Coake spent little time introducing his works, but did stress that most of his pieces are "generally dark in tone," and anyone who has read an excerpt from "We're in Trouble" would have to agree.
The first work that Coake read was a story titled "We've Come to This," which is one of the stories in his collection of short-stories titled "We're in Trouble." The story is about a couple that must make life changing decisions in the face of cancer and death.
Coake, a 36-year-old from Reno, Nev., is author of "We're in Trouble," and one of the "Best Young American Novelists" of 2007, according to GRANTA's 2007, a magazine devoted to new writing.
A relaxed atmosphere and small crowd allowed for an intimacy between author and listener, but may have been disappointing to the reading's organizers. A large number of chairs were set up for attendees, but most remained empty throughout the reading.
"I chose to have Mr. Coake come to campus for the reading because, as a young American writer whose stories deal largely with love and tragedy as experienced by young adults, his work seems naturally fitted to our student community," Jesse Wolfe, coordinator of the reading, said.
"I was disappointed that so many people missed out on hearing such a great author," said Ryan Hofman, who attended the reading.
Wolfe brought Coake to Stanislaus for three reasons:
"The all-campus reading, a reading at the Village, and a visit to my masters-level course in 20th-century American literature," said Wolfe.
After a short introduction on Coake's behalf, Coake immediately invited students to move closer since the crowd was small and he did not have a microphone.
"I'm very lucky to have a collection of short-stories published," Coake said.
"His humble attitude added to his likeability," Hofman said.
Coake spent little time introducing his works, but did stress that most of his pieces are "generally dark in tone," and anyone who has read an excerpt from "We're in Trouble" would have to agree.
The first work that Coake read was a story titled "We've Come to This," which is one of the stories in his collection of short-stories titled "We're in Trouble." The story is about a couple that must make life changing decisions in the face of cancer and death.
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