Stolen Figs – Mark Rotella
Hoodwinked – David Hernandez (I’ve actually read this but I need to read it again and again.
Ordinary Love & Good Will – Jane Smiley (I love her)
The Courts of Love – Ellen Gilchrist (I love her)
Half Broke Horses – Jeannette Walls (I loved The Glass Castle. I must read this soon)
Juliet, Naked – Nick Hornby (I love him)
National Anthem – Kevin Prufer (I love him too)
The Language of Baklava – Diana Abu-Jaber (Crescent is one of my favorite books in the world)
Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri (Interpreter of Maladies was so fabulous I bought two copies because I knew I would want to give one as a gift)
The View From Castle Rock – Alice Munro (All the Alice’s – Munro, McDermott, Hoffman are so great. I probably won’t get to this until it’s already out in paperback)
The Museum Guard – Howard Norman (I love him. He is a wonderful writer and was at a workshop one year when I was there. He is very kind).
Oh I am so depressed. I hope you have more time to read, and write, than I do.
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2 Responses to “Things I Wish I Could Do In Summer”
Howard Norman was a frequent visitor at a bookstore I worked at in DC. I hear he’s very good (and you’re right, he’s very kind). I’d start with that one.
A few years ago I was at the Tomales Bay Writers conference. I workshopped with Heather McHugh – lord have mercy she is a blog post all on her own. She was wonderful.
Howard was one of the faculty.
One afternoon Heather was reading with Pete Fromm. I sat in the front row of course. Pete read a story that he has since turned into a novel, that was so beautiful, and so personally emotional for me that I sat in the front row crying – with no kleenex – probably wiping my nose on my sleeve I have no idea. Howard was sitting diagonally from me.
When Pete finished, Howard leaned over and quietly said to me “that’s what good writing will do”. Not get a grip, you pig-dog, not for God’s sake, you blubbering fool, just “that’s what good writing will do”.
I discovered his writing with “The Bird Artist”, which I loved. I think you’re right Sam. I’ll start with his book.