Monthly Archives: December 2008

frosting

Posted on December 30, 2008 by

My story, “Frosting,” appears in Contrary’s Winter issue.  Here’s a little piece of it: “It was overcast and warm.  Also, sticky.  And still.  Too still.  I sniffed and inhaled the smell of rain.  That was easy.  But there was something … Continue reading →

Posted in my writing, stories | Tagged | 2 Comments

full circle

Posted on December 29, 2008 by

In July, I read Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk, a writer I’d never read before.  Upon finishing the novel, I immediately wanted to reread it.  Instead, I began a journey that has lasted four months:  reading each of Rachel Cusk’s books in the order she … Continue reading →

Posted in family, favorite books, first sentences, journeys, Rachel Cusk, shapes, truth | Tagged | 3 Comments

the art of reading

Posted on December 27, 2008 by

“Bea says that the art of reading is slowly dying, that it’s an intimate ritual, that a book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us, that when we read, we do it with all … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, why I write, writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

Christmas magic 2008

Posted on December 24, 2008 by

If you can find twenty minutes, you can listen to Dylan Thomas’ story ”A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” read by the author–courtesy of Salon.com.  The written story is also available online. Thomas grounds the story of this long-ago Christmas in real details–snow and fire … Continue reading →

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maybe Christmas…

Posted on December 23, 2008 by

  “It came without ribbons!  It came without tags!  It came without packages, boxes or bags!” “And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!” “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t … Continue reading →

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send in the elves

Posted on December 19, 2008 by

My desk this morning, instead of being covered with books and manuscript pages, is covered with Christmas lists.  I wanted to make a post.  But it was hard to draw my mind away from the unanswered questions and undone errands on my list–with … Continue reading →

Posted in memoir, the day, writing day | Tagged | 2 Comments

under her hand

Posted on December 16, 2008 by

Willa Cather‘s The Song of the Lark Breaking it down, as they say.  Taking a closer look. Some of the similes:  Ray thinking about Thea:  “She was like wedding cake, a thing to dream on.” Thea thinking about an older couple … Continue reading →

Posted in craft of writing | Tagged | 2 Comments

breathing in art

Posted on December 15, 2008 by

Reading Willa Cather‘s The Song of the Lark is like breathing in art, instead of air.  It’s in the words chosen by the author, in Thea’s artistic pursuit of her voice (a lark, of course, known for its beautiful songs), and in … Continue reading →

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reading in slow motion

Posted on December 14, 2008 by

I felt like I was reading in slow motion, floating along on the words of Willa Cather.  The Song of the Lark is rich.  The words paint pictures and hold you.  Impossible to skip any.  It’s one of the best books … Continue reading →

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more than this

Posted on December 11, 2008 by

This morning, as I found myself wishing for an ordinary day without any of the extra tasks brought on by the holidays, I came across this passage from D. H. Lawrence’s Women in Love: “Ursula often wondered what else she … Continue reading →

Posted in Dani Shapiro, life, Virginia Woolf, why I write | Tagged | 5 Comments