“…I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” ― E.B. White Yesterday, before the mists rolled in, I rose and took my walk early. These moments nourished me for for the rest of the day and into today, as I sit … Read More
Sunday Sentence: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“It brought to him a disorienting strangeness, because his mind had not changed at the same pace as his life, and he felt a hollow space between himself and the person he was supposed to be.” – From Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I love reading them, so now I’ve joined the #SundaySentence party started by David Abrams over at the … Read More
A Reader Reminds Me Why I’m Doing This
“May I just say thank you for caring about a really big issue. My son has his own story to tell about his re-entry and his attempt at suicide…we still have him. For this I am eternally grateful. And now I have a book to share with other single moms who are looking at re-entry.” –A Veteran’s Mother Dear Friends, … Read More
Sunday Sentence: The Literary Dog
“The deaths of others carry us off bit by bit, until there will be nothing left; and this, too, will be, in a way, a mercy.” John Updike from his short story, “Deaths of Distant Friends” found in The Literary Dog. I love reading them, so now I’m joining the #SundaySentence party started by David Abrams over at the Quivering … Read More
Sunday Sentence: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
“He was the sort of fellow that kids laughed at and dogs wanted to bite.”-Carson McCullers, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter There are other, more poignant moments in this beautiful book but for some reason I this sentence grabbed me during a recent re-read. I know that sort of man. I know those kids. I felt a prickle of … Read More
Coming home for me, books for you
As you read this, I will be back in the springtime embrace of my old homes. All of them. I’m bringing Casualties to the places and people who launched me as a writer and fed my writing , my dreams, and the story itself — sometimes in surprising ways. I’ll be writing about that when it all has a chance … Read More
Sunday Sentence: Walden by Henry David Thoreau
“The hawk sat on a limb three feet above my head and did not stir as I walked under – that was the first sign.” – From Bill McKibben’s introduction to Walden by Henry David Thoreau This edition of Walden is a particular joy because of the spare, on-target interpretation of Bill McKibben. I bought this book as a companion … Read More
Sunday Sentence: Get in Trouble by Kelly Link
“What you deserve and what you can stand aren’t necessarily the same thing.” – Kelly Link, Get in Trouble The stories in this collection prove the power of simple sentences. When arranged in the right and sometimes unexpected ways, they offer a world that may look skewed on the outside but very familiar in the inside, where most of us … Read More
Sunday Sentence: Youngblood by Matt Gallagher
“I took in a deep breath of wet cigarette and watched the green camo nets ripple slowly with the wind, marking time.” – Matt Gallagher, Youngblood There are small stories in every sentence in this novel, just one of the reasons I slowed down as I neared the end. I didn’t want to finish so soon. I love reading them, … Read More
Sunday Sentence: Wanderlust, A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit
“Exploring the world is one of the best ways of exploring the mind, and walking travels both terrains.” – Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust, A History of Walking Because I love walking. And Solnit’s book. I love reading them, so now I’m joining the #SundaySentence party started by David Abrams over at the Quivering Pen and on Twitter. It’s not a … Read More