READ ALL ABOUT IT
Since 2012, I’ve been writing about books. And the act of reading. And the importance of story and narrative. But, mostly, the underlying theme of all I write is how taking a moment to stop and digest some longform text — instead of scrolling, instead of watching a video, instead of multitasking — can be one of the most grounding things we can do for ourselves. Here’s the one-stop online home for all this writing.
You can read more about me and my work by moseying over here. Want to peruse periodic “essay drops” — excerpts from my work-in-progress essay collection about Homesickness? Here ya go.
A Long Petal of the Sea
Once again, another wonderful book club meeting with alumnae from my high school. This time, we ranged from the Classes of 1948 to 2004. (I think I got that right.)
The Wolf Border and The Electric Michelangelo
Two totally different novels by the same author. One about wolves, one about tattoos. (Duh, of course I’m simplifying.) Highly recommend both, but for some reason Wolves > Tattoos for me?
In This House of Brede
Is a novel about a group of nuns in an enclosed monastery in England a bit dated? Well, yes…but I think that’s the point. Or maybe it’s not. I think the point is that Everything Old is New Again ™️. In This House of Brede, Rumer Godden’s 1969 book that was made into a film in 1975, explores life in the Western world around the time of Vatican II.
Goncourt Scandal and Drama
SCANDAL & DRAMA!
In case you didn’t know, French literary culture is Serious Business. Très sérieux.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
I shared in my stories the other week that I’m trying to read more non-fiction, and that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot was where I was starting. (Now, cue the 7 fiction books that I’ve got lined up. I guess you can say that my intentions are good; execution is poor.)
Netflix (Bandwagon) Book Club
Once again, in case you haven’t noticed, books are #Trending. Books are cool!
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Main Branch.
The Cost of Living
I struggled with this one. I recently read about Deborah Levy’s new book Real Estate: A Living Autobiography, not realizing that it is a third installment in a series. But I learned all this after I decided to check out the second in the series — The Cost of Living. (I’ve got Real Estate on hold!)
The Most Carol Shields Day Ever?
Dublin Book Festival shared a fun blog post earlier this week as a lead-up to one of their events with an Irish musician who just published a book. (No, not that one — geez.) It was just a quick, whimsical read about five songs that were inspired by books, and of course one of them was Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush. I hadn’t heard that song in a while, so pulled it up on Spotify, and then spent the next 10 minutes Googling Kate Bush. And then I learned that there is a “holiday” called The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, wherein people around the world reenact Bush’s video. WHAT! (Check out this Guardian pic of this day in 2018 in Sydney.)
I Couldn’t Love You More
I reserved this book at the library and it came in right away…but now it is due basically yesterday because someone else has put in on hold. I love thinking about the zipzapzing of books being shelved and shuttled from one branch to another. Who had this book before me? Did they like it? Is it someone similar to me…or is it, like, an 85-year-old man? And in the case of a *kind of* obscure book — meaning it’s not the latest hot new release that’s being made into a movie — I really, really wish I knew who was checking it out it too.
Brontë Manuscripts
The artifacts are old…but this type of story may be old as well.
The Ninth Hour
I am often described as “so nice.” This is not meant as a weird humblebrag; I think it’s usually said when people don’t know me well. Or are surprised that someone isn’t a jerk? I suppose you could exchange “nice” for “polite” or even “sensitive.” Both are true to an extent…
We Miss the Din: Jennifer De Leon at MetroWest Readers Fest
Got to pretend to be a talk show host last night with Jennifer De Leon. This was the culminating event of MetroWest Readers Fest and it was great.
Jack Murphy Memorial Stephen King Fest
I really love this idea: A woman posted in our town’s Facebook “Book Group” (mostly swaps/recommendations) about something called the Jack Murphy Memorial Stephen King Fest.
Behold, the Book Blob
Nothing new here: The publishing industry likes the “blob.”
Florida
Stories that explore “home” in the most visceral sense. (People living in your crawlspace … a young woman who lives in a station wagon … a tent city… a French farmhouse…) ✅
First Edition of Frankenstein
I had to read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in 7th grade English with Mrs. Zarter. (I think…anyone familiar care to confirm?) Great reminder that I’d like to read it again.
Burnt Sugar
How do you feel about book blurbs?
Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir
Earlier in the summer, my parents recommended the documentary Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir (currently on Netflix). It is excellent.
The Middlesteins
I finished up The White Lotus on HBO about a week ago. That’s about the same time I started The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg, so let’s hear it for Americans’ ability to find themselves in despondent situations despite incredible resources and relative wealth. That’s one of our “modern ails,” right?
