[About a month ago Vaughn and I had the chance to attend and present at the 57th Northeast Modern Language Association Convention, held this year in Pittsburgh. So as I’ve done with almost every NeMLA conference for the last decade-plus (I wasn’t able to attend last year’s), I wanted to recap some of the stand-out moments here, leading up to a special weekend post on why this organization matters more than ever in 2026!]
One of the many awesome things that Vaughn did at the NeMLA Convention was to organize and run a new initiative, a tribute to recent books from NeMLA authors (including her own Selling Out Santa, natch). Here are three of the many interesting books that were included in that great event:
- Laurence Roth, Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore (2025): Laurence is a long-time colleague and friend from the NeMLA Board, and as a result I’ve had the chance to hear about this fascinating book project for many years. I’m so glad that it’s out, not only because Laurence is phenomenal dude, but also because its blend of analysis and personal narrative, of the history of independent bookstores with Jewish American stories with Laurence’s family heritage, is a model for the kinds of scholarship I’m consistently aiming to produce these days.
- Patrick Thomas Henry, Practice for Becoming a Ghost (2024): I originally met Patrick through Laurence, as Patrick was an undergrad at Susquehanna University many years back. He’s gone on to multiple graduate degrees and is now teaching at the University of North Dakota and publishing scholarly books as well, but I love that the creative writing work he did with Laurence has continued to be part of his life and career as well. I can’t wait to read this book of speculative short stories!
- Iclal Vanwesenbeeck’s 2024 translation of Seviyye Talip: Laurence and Patrick I knew already, and was delighted to learn of these recent publications of theirs. But an event like the Book Forum also offers a vital opportunity to learn about both work and scholars to whom we’re not yet connected, and a case in point is Ici Vanwesenbeeck and her translation of Turkish author and politician Halide Edib Adivar’s 1910 bestselling novel Seviyye Talip. The chance to support work and scholars like Ici makes the Book Forum such an important initiative, and I’m so proud of Vaughn for making the first one so successful!
Last recap tomorrow,
Ben
PS. If you were at the conference, feel free to share your thoughts too!
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