Truckin' With Nonfiction

(Picture from leegutkind.com)

By Marissa Nedved

ENGL. 336.001

FROSTBURG – On Thursday night, nonfiction author Lee Gutkind visited Frostburg to read from his memoir Truckin’ With Sam. Gutkind opened the floor to questions from the audience after the reading. The event took place at 7:30 in at the FSU Foundation building at 20 E Main Street.

Vanity Fair has dubbed Gutkind has the “godfather of creative nonfiction.” Creative nonfiction, according to Gutkind’s own website, “heightens the whole concept and idea of essay writing.” The genre allows artistic techniques traditionally used by fiction writers, such as dialogue and detailed descriptions, to be utilized in factual accounts. Gutkind believes in immersing himself in his subject. For his writing, he has followed scientists working with robotics, young people with mental illnesses and surgeons performing organ transplants.

“It is really cold,” Gutkind told his Frostburg audience Thursday night. “I don’t like it. So far, I’ve hung out in your coffee shop. I’ve drank four espressos and two coffees, so if I seem a little crazy, that’s why.” He then explained the backstory of Truckin’ With Sam. Sam is his son, who is currently attending Carnegie Mellon University. The term “truckin’” actually comes from a Grateful Dead song, but the meaning is a bit different for the Gutkinds. To them, “truckin’” means “getting out of life’s way and doing what is unexpected.” For several years, every summer break, Gutkind and his son have set out on adventures exploring the world. Their travels include trips to almost every continent, including Europe, Asia and Australia.

Gutkind chose to read samples of his work that demonstrated his desires to mold his son into a strong and independent man while at the same time, hoping to hold him close. The first excerpt Gutkind read described a bike accident Sam had in Africa and his subsequent hospital trip. The doctors told Sam he should return to the states and receive surgical treatment for his leg. Sam insisted he would not, because that would ruin their plans to climb the infamous Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The most moving excerpt was of the Gutkinds journey up the African mountain. It took six days and five nights. Lee and Sam wore every bit of clothing they had packed. His son limped the entire way up, due to his bicycle accident a week prior. Gutkind considered this adventure Sam’s transition into adulthood and expressed his pride in him. By the time they reached the top of the mountain, they were far too exhausted and cold to feel the excitement and they still had to make the trek down. This was when Gutkind turned to his son and said, “Limping, gasping or even crawling, we’ll get there.”

During the question and answer session, Gutkind emphasized the power of nonfiction and writing in general. He encouraged his young audience to find their passion and put it into words. “Books are power,” he said. “Books will always be power, whether they are paper or electronic.”

For more information, visit Lee Gutkind’s website at http://www.leegutkind.com.