How many writers come up without help? None, I’d venture to guess. Most writers can point to someone who made the difference for them—whether it was as a long-term teacher, a workshop leader, or perhaps, as a role-model of great prose. (Jenna Blum, brilliant writer and teacher, played all those roles for me.) Elizabeth … Read more
“Wondering how many powerful and heartbreaking novels would not have been written if there were no dysfunctional families.” Kris The above was the Facebook ‘status’ of a dear friend (in real life and Facebook.) An artist of many genres, she’s one of the very best and constant readers I know. I do believe Kris could … Read more
What’s the word for impotent worry activated by reading the morning paper? When your mind swirls with horror at people’s pain and you think of how you can effect, perhaps, if you work very hard, a fingernail’s length of change. Perhaps the word should be horror-fever. Symptoms: choking on overseas flood worry, aching with news … Read more
In the continuous stream of NPR that is my life, I learned that Jerri Nielson died of breast cancer. Dr. Nielson wrote a book I’ve read more than once, and that has now become the final solidification of my vow not to lend out well-loved books. (Note: since writing this post, I have bought another … Read more
Whatever his politics, and I am certain we’d disagree far more than agree, I bless Senator Scott Brown for revealing the sexual and physical abuse he suffered as a child. What could be a more compelling argument for being truthful about abuse suffered than the fact that so many of us hide the pain others … Read more