Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Luke Cunningham Author ZZ Packer reads excerpts from her book "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" on Wednesday night in the Music building Concert Hall.

Media Credit: Luke Cunningham

Author and San Jose State professor ZZ Packer spoke to more than 100 people in SJSU's Music building Concert Hall on Wednesday night.

She began the evening with a reading from her first book, "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere," which was this year's SJSU campus book selection given to all incoming freshmen at orientation.

Packer is currently serving as SJSU's ninth Lurie Distinguished Professor, an honor from a program established by Connie and Robert Lurie. The College of Education is named after Connie Lurie, a 1964 SJSU graduate.

Kelly Harrison, co-director of the Center for Literary Arts, said giving special lectures is one of the responsibilities of Lurie professors, along with their teaching duties.

Harrison also announced to the audience that Packer was recently awarded the title of America's Best Young Novelist by Granta, a literary magazine published in the United Kingdom.

Packer said she was in awe of the SJSU community.

"It's great to be in a place where you can admire the students, and not just hob knob with faculty," she said.

Packer is currently teaching English 177, Twentieth Century Fiction, and English 241, a graduate fiction writing workshop.

"I think a lot of students are here because she's teaching here this semester," said Ana Trujillo, a senior English major. "I wish I was taking her class," she said.

Teri Carter, a graduate student in fine arts, is in Packer's fiction writing class.

"She's engaged, and she listens," Carter said, "and she has a big personality."

Attendees of the event included SJSU students, alumni and supporters of Packer's writing.

"What makes her a unique writer is compassion - she really brings it out," said Ryan Campbell, a 2005 graduate of SJSU.

"I was really moved," Campbell said about reading "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere."

Some students were required to attend Packer's reading for class.

"I have to go to two literary events, and I thought this one would be interesting," said Alex Stephenson, a junior English major. Stephenson added that he found Packer's book "captivating."

Packer held a Q-and-A format session and then read a brief excerpt from her current novel-in-progress, titled "The Thousands."

"It's very hard for me to read something that's not yet finished," Packer said before she began.

After the talk, Packer signed copies of "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere," which were sold at the door for $10.

Packer will be speaking at Mount Pleasant High School in San Jose on March 5. The event will be open to the public.

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