Reading Groups

In Short: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “The Pied Piper of Tucson” with Art Taylor

$35

1 Session

In stock

Monday, 7:00 pm EDT - 8:30 pm EDT February 23, 2026

Online via Zoom

Joyce Carol Oates’s 1966 story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” chronicles a tense and ultimately terrifying encounter between 15-year-old Connie and the mysterious, menacing Arnold Friend. The tale—Oates’s most widely anthologized—was sparked in part by a real-life crime spree, documented in Don Moser’s Life magazine article “The Pied Piper of Tucson,” published earlier the same year. A model of mid-century true crime writing inspires a masterpiece of literary suspense—and reading the two in tandem invites perspectives on creative nonfiction versus fiction, on influences and intertextuality, and on teen culture both then and now.

What to read in advance: Please read “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates and “The Pied Piper of Tucson” by Don Moser. Both stories will be emailed to participants upon registration.

What to expect from this reading group: The session will begin with a discussion of Moser’s “The Pied Piper of Tucson,” including an examination of photographs from the original Life magazine story—exploring how images enhance and interact with text. A comparison and contrast of elements in Moser’s article and Oates’s short story will segue into a deeper analysis of the story’s character, plot, theme, and use of allegory. We’ll also explore intertextuality in other directions, including the influence and incorporation of popular songs, Germanic folklore and artwork, the Old Testament, and more.

Please note: All virtual classes are recorded. Please click here for information about our recording policy.

Led by

Art Taylor

Art Taylor

Art Taylor is the Edgar Award-winning author of two short-story collections: The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions and The Boy Detective and the Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense. He is a professor of English and Creative Writing at George Mason University, where he teaches courses in “Writing Suspense” and “Crossing Genres.”

About this series

Reading Groups

Whether you’re looking to catch up on great novels or you’re interested in exploring a new writer or literary period, our reading groups offer high-level literary discussion led by experts in the field.

Groups+Workshops

More Groups+Workshops

Groups+Workshops