The Pulitzer Prize winning biography of abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning has been sitting on my shelf far too long. I need some accountability so I’m forming a Twitter book club. Here’s what I know so far.
The @abstanfield Twitter book club reading of de Kooning: An American Master begins Monday, June 8.
We’ll use this hashtag in our postings so we can find each others' comments on Twitter: #dekooning
This 600+ page book is a tome and has some dense reading. If we did 100 pages a week, it would take 6 weeks. But let’s start with that and see how it goes.
Grab a copy of the book from your library or favorite independent bookstore and join us! If you want to commit, please leave a comment along with your @Twitter handle.
Follow Alyson on Twitter
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I read the book several years ago, and it was great, particularly the early years. I still would like to follow your book club comments.
I’m down! Twitter ID: @ArtVisions
sounds good- may even get me to activate my twitter account.
I’m in..I’m traveling later that month so I better get the whole twitter from my cell phone thing working by then!
Twitter id: @tsitra
I’d like to join the de Kooning Twitter book club. I’m @barbaracowlin.
Sounds fun. I’m in. My name is Kjersten, on twitter I’m @paperockscissor
I’m a twit @caseyklahn.
A great thing about reading these big bios is they do a tour de force of other artists in his circle, too.
I’m in. @patspaintings
I have to go see if Indigo has a copy…If yes, I’m in…@GroveCanada ,if anyone is on the fence, I have read The Girl with a Gallery, The Only True Genius in the Family, Seven Days in the Art World & am currently on The 12 million dollar stuffed shark, all because of ArtBizBlog, & all really good reads…
Sounds good…I’m in! Karen @lifeneedsart
Im SO in. My main inspiration to “become” an artist is my 2nd Cousin, Brad Bannister. He studied de Kooning’s work and was influenced by him. I’m ready to pay homage!
http://Twitter.com/ZacharyBrown
What a great idea for a twitter art reading group. I will get and start on this this weekend. Thanks so much for thinking of it AND for organizing it. (Powell’s here I come!)
Patrice @neotigress
Jim: That would be terrific! Do you have a Twitter handle to share with us?
Katharine: Yes, a very good reason to activate that account! And probably a nifty way to learn to use it.
Charlotte: I hope you’re more adept at Twitter on your cell than I am. I use Twitterific on my iPhone. Not sure if there is a better app.
Casey: That’s for sure! You can’t write a decent (Pulitzer Prize winning) bio without bringing in the other cast of characters.
Sari: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I sure hope you can find a copy. It also won a national critics award so I’m hoping it’s pretty easy for people to find at their libraries.
Zachary: That’s a great story re your connection to deK.
Patrice: Boy, you’re going to be ahead of us.
Can’t wait to get this book off my shelf and into my hands!
Cool Beans- the biggest book club ever!
Twitter id= @lizamyers
i am planning to participate barring any unforeseen crises….
i look forward to reading and discussing this book.
http://twitter.com/ninakuriloff
twitter id = ninakuriloff
i’m in! not sure how it will work on twitter, but i’m willing to figure it out
i look forward to it – and this will help me understand twitter better
@vickiemartinart
Hello Alyson,
I have never been in a book club. I read this book this past year and I would like to follow the discussion or comments. I’m new to twitter, just hoping it is not too difficult for me to navigate. @WilliamRMoore
I’m off today to look for a copy – I’ll try Better World Books if the library can’t get it for me.
Love the irony of a book club discussion in 140 characters.
@geminiriver
The reviews on Amazon make this sound like an intriguing book. I’m in @brendamarks .
This idea of a book club via twitter sounds intriguing. I.m in! @texaspaints
Yep, sounds good, and the accountability part is great. I think maybe I’ll start a book club here in San Francisco as well. Which will get me off my lazy a** and get all those books read! twitter me at @tesia
I’m up for my first book club experience too!
Just got the book requested from the library…with no waiting list, should have it midweek. @LizCrain is my Twitter handle and maybe it will give me a reason to like it.
This is probably the one thing that could get me to join twitter. My other addiction besides art is books! I’m @artistruthie
I got the only copy at Indigo today…I’m in…
Just found the book at the library. Looking forward to it! @anniesalness.
oops, forgot my twitter account
@kcolorado
I’m going to look for the book today. This sounds like fun! @PattySgrecci
I do have an interest in this artist. I would l like to follow/participate on Twitter. BTW, I read two volumes of Proust in a group, it does make a difference.
@MarieKazalia
@mscantling is in
My book arrived today and I’m already hooked. It’s good! I’m definitely in! @ThePainterBee
I’d love to join in. I’ll be making a trip to the library, online it *says* it’s on the shelf. I’m @cara19
I just reserved a copy from my library – can’t wait to get started.
Would still like more info on the mechanics of this, but count me in! @theresarojas
I would like to joint the De Kooning book club.
Judith
@BindngLogic
great idea… I’m in. @studiotwenty
Do they have cliff notes????
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