Early Evening in Fort Sanders

When I started this blog, I fully expected to write about a very large area from Fourth and Gill, to Happy Holler through the Old City, across downtown proper to the river and over to UT and Fort Sanders. “Oh, but I was so much bolder then, I’m humbler than that now.” In the year since moving downtown, I realize how strongly I don’t want to drive when I’m home. Since I don’t own a bicycle, that leaves my feet. I enjoy walking, but I have limits. The occasional foray into UT or Fort Sanders requires that the weather be nice and the day be leisurely. I’ve never walked to Happy Holler and I’ve only walked to Fourth and Gill once. So, my neighborhood is large, but smaller than I planned.

World’s Fair Park, Knoxville, October 2010

Recently I did make one of those longer walks, across the Great Divide that is Henley Street. It’s faster to run across between cars, but it is more pleasant to walk the pedestrian bridge, crossing above the fray. I paused on the Clinch Avenue viaduct to take a photo of the World’s Fair Park. It really has grown up to be a nice place.

Shoe Art, off Laurel Avenue, Knoxville, October 2010

Further into Fort Sanders I found this view. Do you think students live somewhere in this vicinity? I’m not sure I’d like this much footwear dangling outside my home, but I have to admit it is kind of cool in a college-daze sort of way.

Sun Setting on Southern Section of the Knoxville Skyline – View from Laurel Avenue

There was also this pretty good view of the southern section of Knoxville’s Skyline from Laurel Avenue.

Amy Greene, Knoxville Writer’s Guild, Laurel Theater, Knoxville

The reason for the walk was to attend a reading by Amy Greene from her book Bloodroot at the October meeting of the Knoxville Writer’s Guild. Amy grew up in the Morristown area and her book is set in the Appalachians and follows a family through multiple generations using several narrators. The portions she read were captivating. There is no mistaking the influence of Lee Smith, but then, how could anyone read literary fiction set in Appalachia and not think of Lee Smith?

Amy Greene reading from Bloodroot, Knoxville Writer’s Guild

The reviews have been very kind to the book and Amy seems like a very promising writer. You might want to check out the book and you might want to check out the next Knoxville Writer’s Guild meeting if you like your entertainment of the literary persuasion. November 4, Michael Knight will read from his new novel The Typist: A Novel.

And we should have great walking weather for at least one more meeting!