Ben Fountain’s Long Victory Lap

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Any novel that inspires a 70-year-old woman to write her first Amazon book review might be worth noting, especially when the book in question is a satirical war novel that takes place at a football game. But Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk has been receiving praise from more than just the enthusiastic online elderly: It was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award and received the 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. The New York Times called it an “inspired, blistering war novel” that comments on “class, privilege, power, politics, sex, commerce and the life-or-death dynamics of battle.” The Observer took note as well, with contributing writer Steve G. Kellman reviewing the novel earlier this year—a review reprinted at the National Book Critics Circle blog

The author behind this impressive debut will be visiting St. Edward’s University as part of the The Marcia Kinsey Visiting Writers Series on Monday, Oct. 21.

The Marcia Kinsey Visiting Writers Series welcomes writers to the St. Edward’s University campus to share their work with Austin’s community. Past visiting writers include Marie Howe, Observer contributor Mary Helen Specht, Owen Egerton and Doug Dorst. All events are free to the public. The 2013 schedule is available on the Visiting Writer’s website.

Fountain’s reading will take place at 7:30 in the John Brooks Williams South Building’s Carter Auditorium on the St. Edward’s campus. Copies of the novel will be available for sale and refreshments will be served.