Category Archives: reading lists

reading 11.19.11

Posted on November 19, 2011 by

Although I note here what I intend to read and why I chose it, at the moment, here’s what I’m actually reading: 1 - The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. I bought this hardback book … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, reading, reading lists | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

summer reading

Posted on July 21, 2011 by

Summer Contrary is online with new fiction, essays, and poetry, as well as reviews of these books : Poetry: Northerners by Seth Abramson Essays: Otherwise Known as the Human Condition by Geoff Dyer and A Journey with Two Maps by Eaven Boland … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Contrary, essays, my writing, novels, poetry, reading lists, reviews, stories | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

jane’s passions

Posted on August 27, 2010 by

Jane Addams was a political activist who worked toward, and spoke out, for social justice, including women’s suffrage. I had heard of her but had no idea… In  Jane Addams: Spirit in Action by Louise W. Knight, I discovered that Jane … Continue reading →

Posted in reading lists, reviews | Tagged | 6 Comments

You Are Not Here

Posted on August 9, 2010 by

David Jauss is my adviser this semester at Vermont College. During the residency, each student creates a reading list, which the adviser must approve. The books on the list may change as writing issues come up, but it’s a place … Continue reading →

Posted in mfa, poetry, reading lists | Tagged | 12 Comments

not that I’m counting

Posted on February 25, 2010 by

One of my friends refers to me as “the scribe” because I like to write stuff down. And one of the things I write down is how many books I read a year. As my tower of unread books grows … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, reading, reading lists | Tagged | 15 Comments

to be read

Posted on October 18, 2009 by

The books that sit on Lynn Neary’s “shelf of constant reproach” are “the books I know I should have read…but haven’t.” She borrowed this term from Luis Clemons, who chooses which authors to interview for NPR’s Tell Me More, and … Continue reading →

Posted in accumulation, books, reading, reading lists | Tagged | 25 Comments

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

summer reading II: story collections

Posted on June 2, 2009 by

With the intention of reading a story a night, a reader asked yesterday about story collections. I love that idea. No brand new collections to suggest, I’m afraid, but here are three great oldies: Women & Fiction, edited by Susan … Continue reading →

Posted in Annie Dillard, Carson McCullers, first sentences, reading lists, stories, Virginia Woolf | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

summer reading

Posted on June 1, 2009 by

June 1st, although not officially summer, is in my mind, which makes it time for summer reading! My recommendations: The Earth Hums in B Flat (novel) by Mari Strachan. This is out now. I just read it….See my review forthcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Rachel Cusk, reading lists | Tagged | 4 Comments

I want something good to read

Posted on May 14, 2009 by

How many times have you thought this or said this? When I say it, I actually don’t mean good; I mean that will take my breath away. That will make me want to read it again. So I say this, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, favorite books, reading, reading lists, writing group | 22 Comments