Writer Hilary Zaid (pictured above) read from her book Paper is White in the Doty Tower Room on Thursday Sept. 27. Zaid touches upon lesbianism and Judaism in the novel (courtesy of Mo saito).
Religion, legacy, the past—these are just some of the themes in Hilary Zaid’s intricately created book, Paper is White.
For the year’s first reading of the Geneseo Literary Forum, Zaid presented an excerpt from Paper is White for a receptive audience of students and professors on Thursday Sept. 27 in the Doty Tower Room.
Set in 1990s San Francisco, Paper is White begins when a Holocaust historian named Ellen Margolis and her girlfriend Francine decide to get married. As the story continues, Ellen’s historical research begins to challenge her preconceived notions of the world. Ellen eventually faces multiple obstacles, from marrying who she loves to handling her own history.
“Paper is White is a novel about silence and it’s the figure on the page in which nothing is written,” Zaid said to the audience before she began her reading.
The excerpt Zaid read from the first chapter provided an excellent introduction into what can be expected from the book. She read her announcement to childhood friend Fiona that she and Francine will be getting married.
The reading was rich with imagery and set up some troubling conflicts for the female protagonist. Ellen must figure out how to marry her girlfriend in the late 1990s and has already kept secrets from her.
Zaid came upon the idea for Paper is White in 1997, but only started writing it in 2005. Even though gay marriage became legal in 2015, Zaid explained to the crowd that in 2005 she could already see the potential for the legalization of gay marriage.
“It was certainly clear to me as a lesbian writer that history was shifting,” Zaid said. “It made sense that I was on a moving target.”
The novel also focuses on Jewish identity as Ellen dives into her personal past and Jewish heritage in researching the Holocaust and her family. This emphasis on history shaped the book into her first published novel.
“I don’t think of myself as a historical fiction writer, but this did seem like a historical fiction piece,” Zaid said.
Zaid stayed after the reading to answer questions from the audience and to sign books. She also taught a writer’s workshop before the reading in Seneca Hall.
Zaid attended Harvard University and Radcliffe College. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and is a freelance editor. Zaid is also a 2017 Tennessee Williams Scholar Religion, legacy, the past—these are just some of the themes in Hilary Zaid’s intricately created book, Paper is White.
For the year’s first reading of the Geneseo Literary Forum, Zaid presented an excerpt from Paper is White for a receptive audience of students and professors on Thursday Sept. 27 in the Doty Tower Room.
Set in 1990s San Francisco, Paper is White begins when a Holocaust historian named Ellen Margolis and her girlfriend Francine decide to get married. As the story continues, Ellen’s historical research begins to challenge her preconceived notions of the world. Ellen eventually faces multiple obstacles, from marrying who she loves to handling her own history.
“Paper is White is a novel about silence and it’s the figure on the page in which nothing is written,” Zaid said to the audience before she began her reading.
The excerpt Zaid read from the first chapter provided an excellent introduction into what can be expected from the book. She read her announcement to childhood friend Fiona that she and Francine will be getting married.
The reading was rich with imagery and set up some troubling conflicts for the female protagonist. Ellen must figure out how to marry her girlfriend in the late 1990s and has already kept secrets from her.
Zaid came upon the idea for Paper is White in 1997, but only started writing it in 2005. Even though gay marriage became legal in 2015, Zaid explained to the crowd that in 2005 she could already see the potential for the legalization of gay marriage.
“It was certainly clear to me as a lesbian writer that history was shifting,” Zaid said. “It made sense that I was on a moving target.”
The novel also focuses on Jewish identity as Ellen dives into her personal past and Jewish heritage in researching the Holocaust and her family. This emphasis on history shaped the book into her first published novel.
“I don’t think of myself as a historical fiction writer, but this did seem like a historical fiction piece,” Zaid said.
Zaid stayed after the reading to answer questions from the audience and to sign books. She also taught a writer’s workshop before the reading in Seneca Hall.
Zaid attended Harvard University and Radcliffe College. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and is a freelance editor. Zaid is also a 2017 Tennessee Williams Scholar