The Barbara McConnell Weekend at Asilomar Presented By Great Books San Francisco 

Dear Great Books Supporter,

We are only six weeks away, but still taking reservations for our first in-person event in almost two years. A lot of work has gone into making it inviting, safe and interesting at the lowest cost in years. Whether you have already signed up, or still considering, we ask that you take a moment and check out the accommodations that will be in place for the weekend to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.  For more information on Asilomar's Safety Protocols, please click the link below.

 

 One of the major events of the year for the Great Books Council of San Francisco is the Spring weekend at the Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey, California, named in honor of beloved Great Books leader Barbara McConnell. During the weekend there are discussions of poetry, a work of nonfiction, a work of theatre and a work of fiction. We are all excited about being able to return to this uniquely beautiful retreat and immerse ourselves in a weekend of provocative readings, engaging discussions and in-person camaraderie!

This year we will again be discussing outstanding works and selections of poetry literally spanning centuries of writing but exploring enduring issues. Please check out the special pricing and discounts available for the first time!

 SELECTIONS

 We'll kick off the Asilomar weekend with an evening of intense and challenging poetry discussions featuring works by Anne Sexton, Jean Valentine, Emily Dickinson and Dylan Thomas.

These poems will be provided as a PDF document attachment with your registration confirmation in order that you can easily print them.

On Saturday morning we’ll continue with our non-fiction discussion with Azar Nafisi’s, Reading Lolita in Tehran – a stirring memoir of both surviving  changes and the struggle to survive. It has been called “resonant and deeply affecting . . . an eloquent brief on the transformative powers of fiction–on the refuge from ideology that art can offer to those living under tyranny, and art’s affirmative and subversive faith in the voice of the individual.”

Before dinner, starting at 4:30pm, we will be having a catered Meet & Greet where long-time bookies can welcome new attendees, share experiences, their local groups, and best reads while enjoying local brews and bottlings.

In the evening, we’ll continue with our fiction discussion. Mark Twain’s  Letters for the Earth,  as we examine archangel Satan’s letters to Michael and Gabriel on the curious proceedings of earthly life and the nature of man's religions. Twain's writings in here find him at perhaps his most quizzical and questioning state ever.

Wrapping up on Sunday morning, our play this year is Lysistrata by Aristophanes. Deemed unacceptably subversive by Greeks in 411 BC and more recently banned in the U.S. until the 1930’s… Athenian heroine Lysistrata and a group of women from various city-states throughout Greece first agree to withhold sex from their warring partners until peace is declared, and then take over the Acropolis, halting access to much-needed money to fund the war.

REGISTRATION STEPS

Asilomar Conference Grounds is now handling all reservations for rooms and meals.  Your payment to them will include both.  You will need to complete both steps to be fully registered for the conference.

First complete your lodging reservation by clicking the link below using these instructions. 

If you are staying in a room with someone you are registering with, you will need to select the Single Room option and it will allow you to add a person by increasing the Guests per Room to 2 and later filing in the guest information for both.

If you wish to room with someone who is registering separately, select the Double Occupancy option and when you are asked to fill in your guest information, please add your roommate's name into the Requests box.  You will need to both be registered within five days of each other.

If you are asking for a roommate to be assigned to you, please contact Sheri at kindsvater@aol.com.  Asilomar is not assigning roommates so I will have to put you on a list to match you up if others come in. 

CLICK HERE FOR ASILOMAR LODGING RESERVATIONS

https://book.passkey.com/e/50261240

Next you will need to finish your registration by RETURNING to this page and registering for the conference itself.  This fee is collected by Great Books San Francisco to cover conference costs. 

 

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

 

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eitoc98cafbe61b2&oseq=&c=&ch=