Monthly Archives: June 2009

how do you record?

Posted on June 29, 2009 by

In 1999, I started keeping a list of the books I read on an old computer program called Sidekick, which was amazing because you could create cardfiles and name the categories exactly what you wanted to. As the years went … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, reading, reading lists | Tagged | 32 Comments

the story behind the post

Posted on June 27, 2009 by

Tuesday night around 8:00 I got in my car to drive to the soccer field for registration. Most of the day, I had been sitting in front of my computer. My brain felt like it was off-duty. It was starting … Continue reading →

Posted in catching moments, Columbus GA, stories | Tagged | 8 Comments

are we losing our senses

Posted on June 24, 2009 by

In January, I went to lunch with a friend. She asked what my “coolest” Christmas gift was. “My son gave me two Wilco CDs,” I said. “Which ones?” she asked. “I don’t know. I just put them on my ipod.” … Continue reading →

Posted in books, catching moments, details, perspective, shapes | Tagged | 39 Comments

I’ve found a book

Posted on June 23, 2009 by

At the beginning of The Northern Clemency, a novel by English writer Philip Hensher, Francis is nine. His father announces that he’s found a house. “‘I’ve found a book,’ Francis wanted to say to complete everyone’s happiness.” Late in the … Continue reading →

Posted in character, family, reviews | Tagged | 4 Comments

not writing books but writing in books

Posted on June 21, 2009 by

We’ve been having a discussion about writing in books. If you’re interested, check out the comments to Some People Buy Shoes (a prequel). I buy books. One thing leading to another, I mentioned that I had a slight problem with … Continue reading →

Posted in books, journals, reading | Tagged | 27 Comments

apropos

Posted on June 19, 2009 by

Some of you may have noticed that on the Reading List page, I’ve been adding how I chose the book or books I’m currently reading. Well, the story of how I chose Abigail Thomas’ Thinking About Memoir seemed too long … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, craft of writing, memoir, reading | Tagged | 7 Comments

some people buy shoes (a prequel)

Posted on June 18, 2009 by

I buy books. I used to feel guilty that I didn’t use the library, but no longer. I look at it this way. By buying a book I’m supporting a writer. If I buy from an independent bookstore, I’m supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, Sirenland | Tagged , , | 29 Comments

how do you shelve?

Posted on June 15, 2009 by

Some people shelve their books by color. I wish I were that creative. Instead my books sit on the shelves in boring alphabetical order–by author’s last name. When I first organized them years ago, I tried not to squish them … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books | Tagged | 40 Comments

the vagrants

Posted on June 12, 2009 by

At the beginning of The Vagrants, the first novel by Yiyun Li, one at a time, each of the main characters comes into contact with one of the notices being posted all over the Chinese town of Muddy Waters announcing … Continue reading →

Posted in first novels, character, reviews | Tagged | 4 Comments

reading under the sky

Posted on June 10, 2009 by

Yesterday, June 9th, I sat and read under this little piece of sky–one of those skies that appeared still, the clouds unmoving. It looks like a sky that might be over you at the beach or in a meadow where … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbus GA, place, reading, the day | Tagged | 14 Comments