Review and Photos by Emily Matthiessen
David Guterson spoke and shared poems from his new book, “Turn Around Time, A Walking Poem of the Pacific Northwest” in Maier Hall with an enthusiastic audience on Oct. 3.
Fabulous, highly detailed drawings by Justin Gibbens, used to illustrate the book, were displayed outside of the Hall and shared by Guterson on a large screen set up on the stage.
Guterson is perhaps best known for his award-winning book, “Snow Falling on Cedars” and in homeschooling communities for “Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense.”
He is a versatile writer who continues to explore new forms. In a Q&A session Guterson said “I grew up loving poetry… and I love reading it to this day; I just never wrote it….
“And then one day I said to myself, ‘There’s no reason not to. I mean, I don’t have to identify myself as a fiction writer and that’s the end.’ Nice to be doing something new. Nice to find out just how far you can go with a new endeavor. I don’t know how good I’ll get at it, but I don’t feel like I’ve plateaued. I look forward to writing more poetry. I find it amenable to certain subjects, like celebration of the natural world.”
Guterson spoke modestly but his poems captivated the audience. He spoke profoundly of life, the creative process and the earth our home. If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, I highly advise taking it.
