Thursday, January 13, 2011

new books

reading
i just finished these two books. walking nature home by susan j tweit and together alone by susan wittig albert. i could hardly put them down. i raced through susan albert's first, then, still like i'm careening downhill through a glorious winter woods on the tele skis i swooshed through susan tweit's. both memoirs. both about a particular woman, her partner, and her relationship to the land. and about so very much more. these are worth reading. 


i am always reading. i read while i do many mundane tasks, cooking, as a passenger, eating. today, i found myself apologizing to my assistant when the students were out between classes about my hesitant reading, my mistakes. he said no, it didn't matter about those things, i read with expression and understanding and that far outweighed my errors, it helped bring it alive. i was deeply moved, for if i can capture his imagination, i might be able to my students'. thank you, gary. i needed to hear that. in class we're reading patricia mccormick's book, purple heart. the kids are on the edges of their seats. i knew they were with me when they got really mad when i told them it was a work of fiction. and then they forgave patricia and me for that betrayal when i told them there's a saying: all the stories are true. we discussed what that is trying to say about story, about truth, about human nature.

12 comments:

  1. These look good.... wonder if you've read, "Wild Comfort"... can't remember the author! Great writing about land and creatures and personal philosophy.

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  2. I will have to track down the first titles as both sound like they may be speaking my language... land and self and identity are where my head and heart is at...

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  3. please make a vid of one of your readings and post it for us. please??

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  4. There was a moment with my older son. I was reading a story to him - a myth I believe - and he asked me if it were true. In that moment, he was teetering between that wonderful childlike understanding of truth, and a more adult, dry, scientific understanding of truth.

    There is such soul-deep truth to be found in stories - whether written or painted or stitched or sung - that is so important to hold on to, and so easy to loose touch with.

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  5. v-i have it on my radar for sometime soon, i have another susan albert and gretel ehrlich first.
    ronnie-both women have excellent online presences as well. there is a you tube video of them speaking and reading together.
    neki-not possible in every sense
    lynn-stories hold us together

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  6. Velma, Thank you for the lovely words on my memoir, Walking Nature Home. It's a special treat to be there with Susan Albert and her fine memoir, Together, Alone. Blessings!

    BTW, the author of Wild Comfort is Kathleen Dean Moore. She's a wonderful writer, and a deep soul. (I reviewed Wild Comfort on my blog last spring, followed by an interview with Kathy a few days later. Here's the review: http://susanjtweit.typepad.com/walkingnaturehome/2010/05/wild-comfort-indeed.html

    Blessings!

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  7. then i must read another, oh that will be such a pleasure! i don't always read reviews and remember the author's name, now i will.

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  8. I'll add these to my wish list.... Still savoring Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, have Dawn Light by Diane Ackerman to read next.

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  9. oh this is just the best... i love good book recommendations! i just read widow's tale by julia glass. now i miss the characters. i wanted it to last longer... i think your kids would like it too.

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  10. thanks. i love a good read.

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  11. will have to try and get hold of this book, looks so good.

    xt

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