Pamela Gien Discusses 'Syringa Tree' Novel at B&N, 10/30

By: Oct. 12, 2006
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Pamela Gien, whose first novel The Syringa Tree was recently published by Random House, will appear at Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Monday, October 30 for a reading, discussion and book signing. The 7 p.m. event will take place at the B&N upper west side location, 2289 Broadway (at 82nd St.)

"Beautifully deepened and vastly expanded in scope, this new novel is based on the epic story of Pamela Gien's phenomenally successful play, which opened Off-Broadway to unanimous critical acclaim, winning the prestigious OBIE Award for Best Play of 2001," state press materials.

"The Syringa Tree is the story of an abiding love between two families, one black, one white, and the two children who are born into their shared household in the early 1960's in South Africa. Seen first though the eyes of a six-year-old child as she tries to make sense of the chaos and magic of her world, the novel follows their destinies through four generations, from early apartheid to the present day free South Africa. Set in the heart of Africa, and in America, the profound universal themes of this story have had a powerful and emotional resonance with audiences around the world."

Gien won both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for portraying all 24 characters in The Syringa Tree.  She also received a nomination for the John Gassner Playwriting Award. Since then, The Syringa Tree has received many productions all over the world. Gien herself has performed the play at the Royal National Theatre in London, in Seattle, Toronto, Los Angeles, Boston, Vancouver, and she fulfilled her longtime dream of taking The Syringa Tree to South Africa in an acclaimed, sold-out production in Cape Town in 2005. Her performance has also been filmed for television on the Trio Network.

"In this new novel, Pamela Gien gives a personal voice to the joys, atrocities and hopes of her homeland."

The Barnes & Noble event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.bn.com or call 212-362-8835.




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