Category Archives: Book review
Why memoir writers need to read fiction
For the longest time–decades–I’ve been reading nonfiction. Autobiographies and memoirs, biographies and oral histories, you can imagine. It wasn’t just my obsessive interest in the craft of writing about life–it was some kind of Yankee holdover from my ancestors, some … Continue reading
“Autobiography is like chocolate for the brain.”
I’ve just finished reading Dr. Gene Cohen’s The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain. Talk about sweet food for thought! In Dr. Cohen’s book, published in 2005, he teaches us much about the rich possibilities for the life of … Continue reading
Book Review: Finding Home in “Pulphead”
The essay is a satisfying literary form. Especially when the essayist takes on subjects you’re familiar with, but not deeply schooled in. Like (for me, anyway) Axl Rose. Which is why I started reading the essay, even though I lack … Continue reading
“On to Z”–the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE)
Making headlines this week–the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) is complete. What began 50 years and 5 volumes ago with “Adam’s housecat” finished this week with “Zydeco.” Frederic G. Cassidy, the founder, was known for signing his letters, “on … Continue reading
Book Review: Shalom Auslander’s “Foreskin’s Lament”
I just closed the cover on Foreskin’s Lament: a Memoir by Shalom Auslander. This is one of those books that fully realizes memoir’s potential to illuminate the stage, to borrow Jill Ker Conway’s phrase. Auslander’s memoir explores his childhood “raised … Continue reading
Writing memoir: Garden or Jungle?
Christina Haag, author of Come to the Edge about her childhood friendship and five-year love affair with John F. Kennedy Jr., was profiled on her writing process in January 14th’s Wall Street Journal. She said, “The real question for me as … Continue reading
Book review: Moonwalking with Einstein
I recently attended a presentation on how we can improve our memories. It turned out to be a bit of a mismatch to my interests–I want to know how we can improve our recall of LONG-PAST memories, while the presenter … Continue reading
David Brooks: “The Life Reports”
Have you been following op-ed columnist David Brooks’ columns on “The Life Reports”? In an October 2011 New York Times column, he asked readers over 70 to send him Life Reports evaluating their lives–brief essays on “how they had done and … Continue reading
Book Review: “All Over but the Shoutin'”
Is there any feeling quite as pleasant as being a few pages into a book and realizing you’ve got a great one in your hands? The tactile message from your right hand reminding you there are lots of pages ahead … Continue reading
All Saints Day–Let’s Talk Obituaries
“In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven,” Wikipedia informs us. “The festival has assumed the role of general commemoration of the dead.” What a good day to ponder writing obituaries! … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 