Tag: new fiction

springfield newspaper features ‘louie’

The Springfield Republican, the newspaper for which I used to work — in its Westfield bureau covering the hill towns as well as Southwick, Massachusetts, and in its Springfield office while covering West Springfield — graced me with a story about Louie on the Rocks which explored the political polarization which stressed and already-fragile father-daughter relationship that was on the edge of complete rupture.

It also gave a shout-out to the March 6, 7 p.m. book event I have slated in western Massachusetts, in South Hadley’s Odyssey Bookshop with one of my beloved former newsroom colleagues: Suzanne Strempek Shea, who’ll be in conversation with me at the event.

If you’re interested in attending the March 6 Odyssey Bookshop event, please RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meredith-obrien-in-person-tickets-1254916221199?aff=oddtdtcreator

bay path university ‘louie’ book talk

I had a wonderful time speaking via Zoom with Bay Path University’s Kate Whouley and fellow writer/faculty member Anna Mantzaris about recent novels and about writing in general for a Friends of the Hatch Library event.

Included among the attendees were MFA in creative nonfiction students of mine from Bay Path, as well as a dear friend from my Massachusetts hometown, and even a relative from the Philly area.

It was a meaty conversation and no, I didn’t spend most of the time looking like I was casting a Harry Potteresque spell that the still image above might suggest. A review of the video, however, shows me how much I use my hands when I talk.

Here’s the link to the chat.

week of ‘louie’: events in boston & western mass.

Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m.: At Porter Square Books, 50 Liberty Drive, Boston, MA

In conversation with author Melanie Brooks

RSVP: https://www.portersquarebooks.com/rsvp-attend-our-event-meredith-obrien

Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m.: At Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College Street, South Hadley, MA

In conversation with author Suzanne Strempek Shea

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meredith-obrien-in-person-tickets-1254916221199?aff=oddtdtcreator

washington independent review of books:

The Washington Independent Review of Books gave kudos to Louie on the Rocks in a recent review saying, “With sharp, clear prose and a grounded tone, [O’Brien] captures a fascinating snapshot of American dysfunction in the Trump era.”

The review concludes this way:

“For readers of all political stripes, much of Louie on the Rocks will likely feel familiar. Lulu groans at the cruel memes and insults her father posts on Facebook, a platform that thrives on discord and hatefulness. Louie doesn’t see a problem. It’s easy to imagine this book one day — when MAGA inevitably recedes — being categorized as a simple, occasionally over-the-top satire. Future readers, laughing at the absurdity it portrays, may not understand just how true to life it is.”