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.

Absolution
Thoughts on Books Amy Wilson Sheldon Thoughts on Books Amy Wilson Sheldon

Absolution

“It’s all about value assigned.” This was the key line, for me, in Alice McDermott’s latest, Absolution. Interestingly, I had been sort of turning over this idea of “value” that we assign to things even before reading that line. Said another way: “What’s the point?”

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Steps to Nowhere
Musings on People & Places Amy Wilson Sheldon Musings on People & Places Amy Wilson Sheldon

Steps to Nowhere

These Steps to Nowhere, spotted on a walk, reminded me of a childhood friend because there was part of her street where a sidewalk just…ended. And she once told me that EXACT SPOT was the inspiration for Where the Sidewalk Ends, and I was like “Shel Silverstein has never been to your street,” and then we got in a spat. Which isn’t that unusual for kids, you know? (That said, I may have been a bit of an instigator because another time I told this friend that Santa wasn’t real after an assembly featuring a jump roping “team” as we were all outside trying to do our own tricks with those beaded ropes. She was so upset, and I probably did deserve one of those things whipped my way…)

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