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—— The Banner
Features
March 6,1997
Literature professor publishes new novel in U. K.
By Melinda Pierson
staff Writer
Peggy Parris, associate professor of
literature at UN CA, has recently pub
lished a fictionalized autobiography
of Victorian British poet, Charlotte
Mew.
The novel, “His Arms Are Full of
Broken Things,” chronicles Mew’s
life and work, including her intimate
friendship with writer Thomas Hardy.
“I thought it was sad that so few
people knew who she was,” said Parris
in an interview.
Parris was introduced to Mew in
college and spent a number of years
informally collecting information
about her before she turned to more
directed research for the book.
Parris chose to write what is called a
fictionalized autobiography of Mew
in order to allow the character to
speak using her own voice.
In order to achieve this effect in
her writing, Parris had to learn the
culture and the language of the Vic-
“The English are
strange about
their writers.
Books can be fa
mous, but not the
author.”
UNCA literature
professor Peggy
Parris.
torian era.
“I had to completely immerse
myself in 19th century English lan
guage and culture,” said Parris.
“It took a lot of ventriloquism,” said
Parris.
The reviews done in England have
been what Parris describes as “simply
wonderful.”
The good reviews led to an interview
with the BBC Radio 4 program, “Ka
leidoscope Arts,” which was recorded
in Asheville at the studios of WCQS.
Parris doubts the interview will propel
her into fame, however.
“The English are strange about their
writers. Books can be femous, but not
the author,” said Parris.
Parris said her publisher. Viking,
chose to publish the book in England
only, although there is a possibility of
the book being published stateside.
This decision is completely up to Vi
king, according to Parris.
“Publishing is a business. English
PHOTO BY DEL DELORM
Peggy Parris
publishers are much more willing to
take a risk on a literary work,” said
Parris.
Parris wrote the fictional autobiog
raphy by filling in the gaps of Mew’s
personal life by means of a close read
ing of Mew’s letters, poetry, fiction,
and nonfiction prose.
“This was in the nature of a whole
liberal arts education,” said Parris of
her extensive preparation for the book.
The fictional autobiography of Mew
is Parris’ second novel.
“When you are finished writing,
nothing quite like it has ever existed
before. It’s a real thing. Having done
it is very rewarding,” said Parris.
Although Parris took nearly three
years to complete the book, she says
the writingwouldnothavegone faster
without teaching.
She wrote mainly on weekends and
in the summer, although she took a
sabbatical to complete the work in the
spring of 1995.
“Novels are hard work. They are ail
consuming. They take years,” said
Parris.
By Lara Barnett
Staff Writer
In celebration of Women’s History
Month at UNCA, Ramsey Library is
featuring “The Women of
MeriwetherCounty, Georgia,” apho-
togtaphy exhibit by Priscilla Turner.
“The Women of Meriwether
County, Georgia” are photos that
portray the different aspects ofwomen
in a rural community.
The women in these photos share
much more than just their home of
Meriwether Count). Most everyone
in this small county, just 70 miles
from Adanta, shares names, history,
love, humility, and the romance of
Meriwether.
Turner is nationally known for her
photography. She has received the
Jean Purdue Young Award, National
X Award, and the Georgian Artist
Award. Some ofher photos have been
feamred in magazine.
Turner spent an extended length of
time in Meriwether County, Georgia
documenting these women because
they are a part of a small town farm
ing community, because it is large
county, and because of its proximity
to Atlanta.
She happened upon Meriwether
County when she went to a potter’s
studio and became enamored with its
PHOTO BY BONNER BUTLER
Professor Suzanne Tourtillott looks at the Turner exhibit.
“down-homeness.” She immediately
began to investigate family histories
and taking photos of them.
Some of these women were well-
educated and wealthy, and some
women of the county were illiterate
and poor.
The women are of all ages and
beam with the pride they have for
their community.
Turner portrays these women with
the definite meaning of women up
front and visible.
One set of portraits is of Ludie and
Jessie Myrle Keith. “The sisters live in
the house their father, David Keith,
built in 1870. The house is exacdy as
it was when he built it. There are not
modern conveniences. They still use
the wood stove he put in the kitchen.
Both are college educated and taught
school for 30 years,” Turner said.
Beanstreets: the ultimate coffee experience
By Kristi Howard
staff Writer
For those searching for a comfort
able, coffee shop atmosphere, fea
turing good food, live music, and
psychicadvisors, all in asmoke-free
setting, Beanstreets Coffeehouse,
on the corner of College Street and
Broadway in downtown Asheville,
is the place to go.
Beanstreets offersavarietyoftreats
for the coffee lover, as well as hot
beverages to warm the bones and
cool ones to quench the thirst.
For those who can’t live without
their caffeine, Beanstreets has plain
coffee, hot or iced, as well as espresso,
cappuccino, cafe latte, and their
own concoction, the primoccino, a
delightfiil mixture of espresso, hot
chocolate, steamed milk, and
whipped cream.
For non-coffee drinkers,
Beanstreets offers a variety of hot
and herbal teas, Snapple, fruit juice,
bottled water, soda, and the Italian
Fizz, ambctureofltalian flavoring.
PHOTO BY BONNER BUTLER
A patron enjoys the quiet environs of Beanstreets.
soda, and whipped cream.
Those with a sweet tooth can pick
from a variety of pastry desserts,
which changes daily, or they can go
the healthy route by choosing granola
with fruit and yogurt, or a cup of
fresh fruit.
The adventurous might opt in
stead for the sundae wafBe, a Belgian
waffle served with bananas, choco
late, nuts, and whipped cream.
For lunch or dinner, Beanstreets’
sandwich menu runs fi:om the simple
egg, tuna, or chicken salad, to the
unusual, such as the grilled mozza
rella, garlic, and roast pepper sand
wich, or the tuna melt on raisin bread.
Beanstreets offers both non-vegetar-
ian and vegetarian selections, such as
grilled tofu with sprouts, tomato,
and mustard.
All sandwiches come on a variety of
breads, and can be served with the
soup du jour.
Beanstreets offers bagels, croissants,
French bread and brie, and a variety
of salads.
For live entertainment, Beanstreets
features the music of featuring local
and regional bands on most weekend
nights. Thursday nights from 9-
11:30 are “open mic” nights.
Searching for spiritual guidance?
On Thursday nights, Beanstreets
houses psychic advisors who do
Tarot, rune, and palm readings
for a suggested five dollar dona
tion.
The ambiance of Beanstreets is
cozy, eclectic, and relaxed. Origi
nal artwork lines the walls, paint
ings and sculptures in bright col
ors sharing space with stuffed
animals, out of place bathroom
hardware, and pictures of Albert
Einstein and Bob Marley.
While enjoying food and drink,
it is possible to relax on the variety
of comfortable couches and chairs
scattered about the brighdy-col-
ored, white Christmas light-illu
minated coffee house and con
verse about the relevant subjects
of the day.
Chess and checkers tables are
also provided, in addtion to the
literature on the shelves of the
Beanstreets library.
The delicious variety of food
and beverage is easy •on the poor
student pocket book. The aver
age price for coffee is under two
dollars, the average sandwich less
than four.
Beanstreets is a lovely place for
quiet contemplation, spirited con
versation, a smorgasbord ofsweet
eats, and, of course, some of the
best coffee in town.
Mew published a number of essays,
poems, and short stories before her
death in 1928. Mew was a modern
woman in a Victorian time, accord-
“English publish
ers are much more
willing to take a
risk on a literary
work.”
Peggy Parris
ing to Parris.
“Mew was a fascinatingly complex
person, a loner like Emily Dickinson,
very Victorian, yet surprisingly mod
ern,” said Parris in the synopsis of the
book.
Exhibit for Women's History Month begins
Turner used to photograph nudes
and take artistic photographs until
she reached a turning point in her life.
She decided that she needed to make
her mark.
She photographed these women of
Meriwether County and financed the
majority of it on her own, primarily
living off of the sales of her photo
artwork.
Turner is a one-woman operation.
She develops her pictures in her
kitchen.
“It makes a wonderfiil darkroom.
The only problem is my dishwasher
andstovearein myliving room,” said
T urner.
Someofthe photos of “The Women
ofMeriwether County, Georgia” have
accompanying poetry.
Turner said she never intended for
her private poetry to be used in the
exhibition, but they just fit well with
the pictures.
“I don’t even know why I wrote the
poetry. I just did,” said Turner.
After 11 years and over 250 photo
graphs, Turner is writing a book to
connect the heritage of the people of
Meriwether County, Georgia.
She plans to publish it in Novem
ber. The book is a fictional history of
the community.
“The Women ofMeriwether County,
Georgia” will be on exhibit in Ramsey
Library March 3-31.
PHOTO BY DEL DELORM
Nat Sternbergh contemplates the etymology of the
word yo-yo.
The last challenge
of a socially
conscious society?
Depression striles millions- indiscriminately. Depression is simply a suppression
of brain activity that makes life unbearable. And even though depression is
readily treatable, only 1 in 5 ever seeks treatment. Why do so many just drag
themselves along or eventually seek relief through suicide? First, there's the lack
of awareness of depression- as an illness and as the threat that it is to each and
every one of us. Second, there’s the unwarranted negative stigma attached to it.
You know, the ‘mental’ thing. It’s time to collectively face depression. To know it’s
an illness, not a weakness. And it’s a u nn.i'r Jt 'T C: r\
.u UNTRcATtD
challenge thats long overdue. It s ^ ^ ^
taken too many of us already. JDJE- f^jf% iE 53 /
#1 Cause of Suicide
Public Service message from SAWE (Suicide AwarenessWoices of Education) http://www.save.org
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