NER Out Loud: The Podcast

New episode features stories by Geminder and Gorbunova

April 18, 2019

Masha Makutonina reading “Biomass,” by Alla Gorbunova

We’re delighted to bring you Episode 4 of the NER Out Loud podcast, which features two stories by NER authors read by students at Middlebury College.

Megan Job hosts this episode, with stories by Emily Geminder and Alla Gorbunova, read by Emily Ma and Masha Makutonina.

Emily Geminder’s story, “Phnom Penh 2012,” told from the collective “we” of young women reporters for the Cambodia Daily, is a haunting portrayal of the dangers and enticements of living for a short time in a new culture. Presented here in the captivating voice of actor Emily Ma.

Alla Gorbunova’s “Biomass,” translated from the Russian by Elina Alter, is a fable-like story of a marriage gone bad, from Gorbunova’s recent collection Ings & Oughts. Ukrainian vocal talent and Oratory Now coach Masha Makutonina offers her convincing rendition.

Listen on our website or download from iTunes.

NER Out Loud: Episode 3

Heather Christle and Janet Towle

February 1, 2019

Listen in, as three Midd student actors read recent work from NER, animating stories and poems through vocal performances.

Hosted by Megan Job, episode three focuses on two new works that use form and language to illustrate the contemporary condition—interruption, cross-pollination, frustration, and maybe even a little rage.

• “In Order of Appearance” by Heather Christle (NER 39.2), read by Melanie Rivera.

• Excerpts from “Modal Window” by Janet Towle (NER 39.2), read by Becca Berlind and Sam Tompkins Martin.

Visit our page for more about the podcast, or click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

NER Out Loud brings the page to the stage

Friday, October 26, 7:30 pm

October 15, 2018

NER Out Loud is back for its fifth run! Join us Friday, October 26th, 7:30 pm, in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Dance Theatre for an evening of readings from New England Review. In partnership with the Mahaney Center and Oratory Now, NER Out Loud presents selections from the magazine, read by a talented team of Middlebury students. Sign language interpretation will be included.

And leave room for dessert—students will cap off the evening with a reading of their own work in the Mahaney Center lobby, while you enjoy Middlebury’s finest Indoor S’mores!

This year’s program:

• Melanie Rivera ’19 reading “In Order of Appearance,” a poem by Heather Christle
• Gillinda James ’21 reading “Dead Weight,” a story by Raven Leilani
• Masha Makutonina ’21 reading the story “Biomass” by Alla Gorbunova, translated from Russian by Elina Alter
• Pele Voncujovi ’19 reading the poem “Don’t tell them we’re going or they’ll want to come too” by Nathan Trantraal, translated from Afrikaans by André Trantraal
• Sam Martin ’19 and Rebecca Berlind ’21 reading “Modal Window,” a story by Janet Towle

Editors and contributors to the student literary magazines will also be on hand at the post-show reception to discuss their publications and read from their recent work. Read more about NER Out Loud.

Rosaleen Bertolino

Listen to “The Doll Family” Out Loud

May 9, 2018

“Barbie lay on the floor, too tall to stand up, too big to fit on any of the furniture. She scared the dollhouse family, who ripped off her head and stewed it for dinner.”

Listen below as Nia Robinson reads Rosaleen Bertolino’s “The Doll Family.” The reading took place on November 10, 2017, as part of the annual NER Out Loud event at Middlebury College. “Doll Family” was originally published in NER Vol. 38, No. 3 (2017) and is available to read online here.

ABOUT THE READER

Nia Robinson ’19 is a junior Sociology major from Chicago. Over the past almost two and a half years, she has served as co-president of the Black Student Union, an opinions editorial board member, AFC student intern and fellow, member of Poor Form Poetry, volunteer at Mary Hogan Elementary School, and loyal viewer of Vermont’s sunsets. When she isn’t speaking, you can usually find her at Crossroads, writing poems or just trying to figure it out. This will be her second time performing in NER Out Loud.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosaleen Bertolino was born and raised in the Bay Area, where she worked as an office manager for her husband’s electrical business, and she now lives in Mexico. She is co-author of the book The Wandering Mother, and her stories have appeared in the Capra Review, Gravel, Euphony, West Marin Review, and many others. Among her awards are a Marin Arts Council individual artist grant and honorable mention for the James D. Phelan Award.

New England Review