Monthly Archives: February 2009

feeding the buzzards

Posted on February 26, 2009 by

It doesn’t bother me not to finish a book.  I have so many I want to read, not to mention reread. And if I don’t like a book, I want it out of the house.  The faster, the better.  Toss–feed the buzzards.  One exception:  If … Continue reading →

Posted in books, movies, reading | Tagged | 6 Comments

first the facts

Posted on February 24, 2009 by

Here is the first sentence from Richard Russo‘s novel, Empire Falls, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002: “The Empire Grill was long and low-slung, with windows that ran its entire length, and since the building next door, a … Continue reading →

Posted in awards and prizes, first sentences | Tagged , | 1 Comment

a shape to view

Posted on February 22, 2009 by

In 1985 Russell Banks wrote “Sarah Cole:  A Type of Love Story.”  It was first published in The Missouri Review, then in The Best American Short Stories 1985, then in The Angel on the Roof.  You can also listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in craft of writing, first sentences, form, shapes, stories, structure | Tagged | Leave a comment

February morning

Posted on February 18, 2009 by

Don’t allow the lucid moment to dissolve Let the radiant thought last in stillness though the page is almost filled and the flame flickers –Adam Zagajewski from Without End This is one of my favorite poems, the title of which … Continue reading →

Posted in catching moments, Columbus GA, poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

russian dolls

Posted on February 14, 2009 by

I am fascinated, and continue to find other writers who are fascinated, with the Russian doll aspect of life. With trying to get our minds around the fact that we are the same person who climbed out of a crib in the dark, who sat … Continue reading →

Posted in continuous life, Rachel Cusk | Tagged , | 4 Comments

a bent cover

Posted on February 10, 2009 by

Don’t you hate when this happens to one of your books? I ordered May Sarton‘s Plant Dreaming Deep online.  I was excited as I was pulling the book out of the padded envelope…only to find it had made its entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Annie Dillard, memoir, schedules | Tagged | 4 Comments

row houses

Posted on February 6, 2009 by

When Georgia Heard was asked what one image she thought represented her life, she answered “layers,” clarifying “as in the Grand Canyon.”  I would have to say houses, as in rows of identical ones. Georgia Heard wrote in Writing Toward … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbus GA, essays, obsession, Pam Houston, recurring images, shapes, truth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

word journey

Posted on February 3, 2009 by

Do you ever have that thing where for some reason you notice a word and then it’s everywhere?  In each of the books you’re reading.  Somebody says it on TV.  It’s on the first page of The New York Times.  The person … Continue reading →

Posted in craft of writing, journeys, words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment