Oregon Book Awards
3 appearances
-
Edition 8 (1994) Winner
-
Edition 22 (2008) Winner
-
Edition 37 (2023) Winner
Lauren Kessler
ローレン・ケスラー
Lauren Kessler
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Immersion journalist, Professor, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1990-
- Affiliations
- University of Washington, Forum of Journalism and Media (Vienna)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | — | — | B.S.J. | — | United States |
| University of Oregon | — | — | M.S. | — | United States |
| University of Washington | — | — | Ph.D. | — | United States |
Northwestern University
Degree:
B.S.J.
Country:
United States
University of Oregon
Degree:
M.S.
Country:
United States
University of Washington
Degree:
Ph.D.
Country:
United States
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Oregon Book Award | Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home | — | Oregon Book Awards (Literary Arts) | winner |
| — | Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award | Dancing with Rose (paperback retitled: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's) | — | Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association | winner |
| — | Oregon Book Award | Stubborn Twig | — | Oregon Book Awards (Literary Arts) | winner |
| — | University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame | — | — | University of Washington | inducted |
| — | University of Oregon Hall of Achievement | — | — | University of Oregon | inducted |
Oregon Book Award
2023
Work:
Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home
Organization:
Oregon Book Awards (Literary Arts)
Result:
winner
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award
Work:
Dancing with Rose (paperback retitled: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's)
Organization:
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
Result:
winner
Oregon Book Award
Work:
Stubborn Twig
Organization:
Oregon Book Awards (Literary Arts)
Result:
winner
University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame
Organization:
University of Washington
Result:
inducted
University of Oregon Hall of Achievement
Organization:
University of Oregon
Result:
inducted
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home
2022 Non-fiction (narrative)Narrative nonfiction following several formerly incarcerated people over two years, examining reentry, community, and the long journey to rebuild lives after prison.
reentry after incarcerationsocial justicecriminal justice system
A Grip of Time: When prison is your life
2019 Non-fictionA reportage-style work delving into lives consumed by long-term imprisonment.
long-term sentencesprison culturepersonal rebuilding
Raising the Barre: Big Dreams, False Starts and My Midlife Quest to Dance The Nutcracker
2015 Non-fiction (memoir)A memoir about taking up ballet in midlife, pursuing a dream to dance in The Nutcracker, and the challenges and self-discoveries along the way.
midlife reinventionbody and selfpersonal challenge
Counterclockwise: My Year of Hypnosis, Hormones and Other Adventures in the World of Anti-Aging
2013 Non-fictionA yearlong personal experiment with anti-aging techniques—hypnosis, hormones, and more—used to examine societal expectations about aging and individual choices.
aging and healthcultural expectationsself-experimentation
My Teenage Werewolf: A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through the Thicket of Adolescence
2011 Non-fiction (essays / parenting)Explores parenting and the mother-daughter relationship through the challenges of adolescence.
mother-daughter relationshipadolescenceparenting
Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy Who Ushered in the McCarthy Era
2009 Biography / Non-fictionA biography of Elizabeth Bentley, a spy whose actions helped usher in the McCarthy era.
Cold War historyespionageAmerican political history
The Happy Bottom Riding Club
BiographyA biography of aviator Florence 'Pancho' Barnes; an LA Times bestseller.
aviation historywomen's adventurebiography
Stubborn Twig
Non-fiction / Family historyTraces generations of an immigrant family to explore immigrant experience and community change; selected for the statewide 'Oregon Reads' program.
immigrant historyfamily historycommunity change
Bibliography
- Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home
- A Grip of Time: When prison is your life
- Raising the Barre: Big Dreams, False Starts and My Midlife Quest to Dance The Nutcracker
- Counterclockwise: My Year of Hypnosis, Hormones and Other Adventures in the World of Anti-Aging
- My Teenage Werewolf: A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through the Thicket of Adolescence
- Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy Who Ushered in the McCarthy Era
- The Happy Bottom Riding Club
- Dancing with Rose / Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's
- Stubborn Twig
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- narrative nonfictionimmersion journalism-style reportingreportage blended with personal essay
- Recurring Motifs
- personal rebuildingfamily and generationsturning points in women's liveselder care and dementia
Legacy
Lauren Kessler is recognized as a narrative nonfiction writer and educator who explores social issues and personal stories. Her work has received regional literary awards and critical recognition, and she is known for teaching storytelling and mentoring emerging writers.
Academic Societies
- University of Oregon Hall of Achievement (honor)
- University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame (honor)
In Popular Culture
- David Letterman chose The Happy Bottom Riding Club as the first book for 'Dave's Book Club'; Kessler appeared on his show twice.
Trivia
- Appeared twice on David Letterman's show.
- Inducted into the University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame and the University of Oregon Hall of Achievement.
- Writes a weekly essay series 'Lauren Chronicles' on her author website.