Thomas Beller’s Reading a Success!

To say the evening began with a bit of excitement would be an understatement! Despite a few necessary furniture rearrangements, our dear Lesley staving off illness, and the appearance of a celebrity, the reading was quite phenomenal, and our beautiful room at the Columns Hotel was packed! Thomas Beller read an essay entitled “Ipod on the Tracks,” and we learned it is a matter of pride not to ask a man in a wheelchair for help, however un-handicapped that man may be. This was followed by the more risque short story, “The Baggage Carousel,” which had many comedic moments but also an undeniable feeling of tragedy. His reading was very engaging; Beller’s tone during dialogue really emphasized the tension between the characters, and the audience was hanging on every word. We’re so glad he was able to read!

After the brief intermission, we enoyed three very different styles of poetry from Loyola senior Nate Thacker, Tulane junior Betsy Porritt (1718 Staff), and UNO senior Bobby Ledoux. What a great night! Hope to see you at the next reading!