Sara Gruen was here on Thursday November 4, 2010 as a special event of the Writers Festival. I was so excited when it was announced and then when the day finally arrived. I LOVED her book Water for Elephants and I enjoyed her new book, Ape House.
The event itself only lasted about 45 minutes, which was a bit disappointing to me. However, it was very interesting and informative. Ms. Gruen started out by telling us how she got the idea for Ape House and the research it entailed. Then she did a short reading and then answered audience questions.
She requested a visit to the Great Ape Trust in Iowa, where some Bonobo are kept. She had to jump through hoops to be finally get permission including loads of reading, a visit to the linguistics department, and numourous immunizations.
Just like in the book, once she receives permission from the staff, she had to gain permission from the bonobos themselves. She researched what they liked and loaded up back packs with their favoites including a Mr. Potato Head and M&M’s. They invited her in immediately.
Sara has visited them numerous times since then. One time one of the bonobos invited her to tea and insisted on making the tea herself. Three years after her first visit, one of the bonobos asked Sara for a new Mr. Potato Head the next time she was coming. This just proved to Sara what a great memory they have. As a gift, Sara enrolled the bonobos in the Fruit of the Month Club and they receive a box of seasonal fruit every month.
Unlike the book, the bonobos communicate using lexicons, rather than American Sign Language. Sara used sign language because it worked into the plot better.
I asked Sara how she came up with the idea for the reality show in Ape House. She said that she wanted to capture the underbelly of the culture of society that will do anything to get in front of a camera.
After the event Sara stayed to sign books and allowed me to get a photo taken of us together.
This concludes my coverage of the 23rd Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival. It has been a great time and I look forward to next year. I want to give a special thanks to Judith Walker of the media department. She made it possible for me to attend and cover all of the events!