“Life is weather. Life is meals. 
Lunches on a blue checked cloth on which salt has spilled.
The smell of tobacco. Brie, yellow apples, wood-handled knives.”
James Salter, in one of my all-time favorite books, Light Years.
I met James Salter in Portland in July of 2004, and I asked him why he didn’t write another book on marriage. Referring to Light Years, he said, “Doesn’t this say it all?”
It is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it three times. What he says he says brilliantly and poetically. But I believe there’s more to say.
“It’s hard to tell somebody what you mean to say. And that’s an idea that I’m obsessed with. It’s why I write. It’s why everybody writes.”
--Jonathan Safran Foer
I’ve just finished Light Years myself — for the first time. Absolutely stunning, but so is much of his work. Salter can gut you with a simple sentence. He makes me lean back in my chair and leak out small, sad sounds and then he stabs me. It’ll hurt. Not many writer’s can do that.
Brad Green, I owe you an apology. I can’t believe I never replied to your wonderful comment. So sorry. Light Years is stunning, isn’t it? I’ve read some of his other works, but nothing gets me quite like this one.
I’ve never read anything by Salter, but I’m going to get Light Years right away. It sounds amazing.
Suzanne-I don’t know how I missed your comment either. Sorry to you as well. Hope you’ve had the chance to read Light Years by now!
I have so many books I want to read now.
I know–it’s unbelievable, isn’t it, how many great books are out there. I need to make more time to read.
Picking this up at the school library today!
Come back to let us know how you like it!
Amazing. Thanks for pointing here from Christi’s blog. Now Light Years is not only on my book-buying list, it’s at the top of the reading stack.
Cathryn, Light Years is so worthy of the top of the reading stack. Enjoy!