A quiet studio for writing, visuals, and notes.
I tramp a perpetual journey, (come listen all!) My signs are a rain-proof coat, good shoes, and a staff cut from the woods, No friend of mine takes his ease in my chair, I have no chair, no church, no philosophy, I lead no man to a dinner-table, library, exchange, But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll, My left hand hooking you round the waist, My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and...
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It’s time to stake a claim in the new $1.776 billion slush fund for those targeted unfairly by the government. I will accept nothing less than $5 million for: the fact that every day I have to be living with the shame of being an American; that my subscription to media outlets I had formerly enjoyed now are brim full with the evil committed by a salacious regime only moderately acquainted with the Constitution or the nation’s history; that their...
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I sometimes grab a random quote from Tolstoy’s diaries to get inspiration for the day. Not because I’m about to write anything, just to touch ground as it were. Here’s the quote: Fell in love, or imagined that I had; was at a party and lost my head. Bought a horse I have no need of whatsoever. Rules. Don’t offer a price for a thing you don’t need. On arriving at a ball, ask someone to dance at once and...
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George Saunders’s novel Vigil centers on Jill “Doll” Blaine, a woman who died tragically in her early twenties during the 1970s and now serves as an ethereal death doula. Operating in a liminal, afterlife space reminiscent of Saunders’s Booker Prize-winning Lincoln in the Bardo , Jill’s spiritual assignment is to plummet to Earth and provide profound comfort to souls in their final, earthly hours. Having successfully ushered 343 souls into the next realm by absorbing their pain and easing their...
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Currently reading. The 13 stories are: Mother River Stone Village Smog City The Drummer Boy The Neighborhood The Young Man Who Loved to Think Deeply Something to Do with Poetry The Inside Story The Lion King At the Edge of the Marsh Night in Xishuangbanna The Goddess of Xishuangbanna Love in Xishuangbanna
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Museums and Women and other stories caught my eye recently because it’s a) on a bookshelf currently in view and b) I haven’t read any Updike for about 30 years. I think the last book of his was either his epistolary novel, S. , or Roger’s Version . However, the first time I encountered Updike was in a university course blandly called Arts and Literature, and the story “Museums and Women” was on the syllabus and handed out on photocopied...
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Larry Levis brings raw emotion to his poetry; “To a Wall of Flame in a Steel Mill, Syracuse, New York, 1969” goes from zero to sixty in 3 seconds. Weather and the elements seem to have an agency of their own. We’re buffeted from cold blasts on a farm to an smelting plant somewhere, with blasts from a furnace rendering iron into molten goo. I linger on the wall of flame he saw as he ponder’s his father’s hatred of...
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László Krasznahorkai’s Satantango is a bleak, labyrinthine masterpiece that captures the slow-motion collapse of a Hungarian collective farm. The novel is set in a desolate, rain-slicked landscape where the inhabitants are trapped in a state of perpetual decay, waiting for a miracle or a catastrophe. This sense of paralysis and the impending arrival of a “messiah” immediately evokes the shadow of Samuel Beckett. Much like Waiting for Godot , the villagers are suspended in an existential void, though Krasznahorkai twists...
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Raja Shehadeh’s Palestinian Walks is a series of reflective essays about moving through the landscapes of the West Bank and Gaza region, where walking becomes both a practical act and a way of thinking. Rather than writing conventional travel reportage, Shehadeh treats the route itself as a narrative device—using roads, paths, hills, fields, and ruins to explore how everyday geography is shaped by politics, memory, and loss. The book’s atmosphere is quiet and observant, with the ordinary details of terrain...
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Translated by Coleman Barks This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and...
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I would say time is divided into many rivers, but that’s probably from reading too much science fiction. Listen and learn. Time is divided into two rivers: one flows backward, devouring life already lived; the other moves forward with you exposing your life. For a single second they may be joined. Now. This is that moment, the drop of an instant that washes away the past. It is the present. It is in your hands. Racing, slipping, tumbling like a...
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In the humid, over-ripened air of a post-Obama Manhattan, where the sunlight hits the brownstones of Greenwich Village with a cloying, amber insistence, we find the “Gardens”—a private enclave of old-world quietude suddenly invaded by the operatic. Nero Golden, a man of heavy, sepia-toned secrets and a girth that suggests a kingdom lost or perhaps merely packed into high-end luggage, arrives with his three sons like refugees from a myth that has lost its footing. They have shed their Indian...
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A truly remarkable novel that begins with a tragic turn of events for the Steenwijk family, who live on a street of four houses on a quay in Haarlem (The Netherlands). Gunshots ring out, a man falls off a bike, someone drags the corpse from the front of one household to the front of the Steenwijk’s household, all as the Steenwijks look on in horror. The time is near the end of WWII, but the Gestapo are still very much...
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Matsuo Bashō’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Oku no Hosomichi) is a poetic travel narrative recounting his 1689 journey from Edo (modern Tokyo) into Japan’s remote northern interior. Written in a refined blend of prose and haiku known as haibun, the work records not only the physical stages of his journey but also a spiritual pilgrimage shaped by Zen Buddhism, literary memory, and a deep sensitivity to impermanence. Though the narrative is relatively brief, it distills vast emotional...
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It’s all spoilers below, so get the book and read it. I found it engaging, though I have a bit of trouble with the premise some back of the book blurb makes about ‘readers worldwide’ are coming to a new appreciation of this book. William Stoner feels stuck on a family farm, performing the same chores day-in-day-out. Perhaps his parents pick up on this and decide to send him to university to pursue a course in agriculture, which he gladly...
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The story unfolds in the Wiltshire countryside, where the protagonist rents a modest cottage on the grounds of a decaying manor estate owned by a reclusive landlord named Mr. Phillips. This setting becomes a microcosm for broader themes. The narrator, a thinly veiled version of Naipaul, recovering from illness and the exhaustion of his earlier travels, immerses himself in the rhythms of rural life. He observes the changing seasons, the estate’s crumbling grandeur, and the lives of its inhabitants: the...
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A friend’s daughter was assigned this book in class (high school) and she recommended it highly, so I figured, ok, I know she’s a bright young woman with a dad with good taste in friends, so I read the first free chapters and was hooked. First, it’s about the gaming industry, second it’s about young entrepreneurs, third it’s about friendship, fourth it has allegorical underpinnings from a certain Greek epic, fifth, it touches on many contemporary hot-button political issues regarding...
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Pynchon’s Shadow Ticket arrives like a cipher slipped under the door of contemporary America. The milieu of the novel is Milwaukee in the 1930s: Prohibition in the states, the Depression, and a tilt toward fascism gripping the world. Later, the action will move to Europe—specifically, Budapest. Hicks McTaggart is a former strike-buster who became a private eye in the employ of Unamalgamated Investigations. His boss is Boynt Crosstown. One day, a new case arrives, and Hicks is assigned to it:...
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The thematic core of the novel interrogates the limits of knowledge and memory. Through Metcalfe’s pursuit to uncover the missing poem, McEwan delves into complex discussions on historical context, interpretation, and speculation. The characters grapple with the realization that much of what they perceive as “known” is inherently colored by their experiences and biases. The question posed by the novel’s title—“What can we know?”—echoes throughout as Metcalfe attempts to reconstruct not only the events surrounding the poem but also the...
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The Swimmer is John Cheever’s best known story, and probably as anthologized as Fitzgerald’s The Diamond as Big as the Ritz or Updike’s A & P . Ned Merrill is at a party and suddenly envisions himself as a great man about to embark on a swim across the county by way of backyard pools in a tony suburban New York State community. He thinks of all of the family pools he’d have to navigate, and without any announcement, he,...
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A travel adventure to commemorate Marco Polo’s journey along the Silk Road, Scottish historian (Cambridge student at the time he took this journey), William Dalrymple, uses older historic narratives and maps to help guide him and fellow travelers from the Holy Land to Xanadu (Shan-tu, just north of Beijing). William’s companion traveler for the first half of his journey (until Lahore) is Laura. She is determined to stay on a tight schedule to ensure she meets her obligations and arrives...
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Antarctica is Claire Keegan’s first collection of short stories. I separate these very well-written stories into the following categories: dark, sad or scary. Many stories take place during the winter months or have some aspect of cold about them. Most stories deal with marginalized families or persons, mostly poor and rural. I read all of the stories twice.
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The seven stories and seven houses, as in Samanta Schweblin’s short story collection’s title, are likely linked, though on my first reading, I’m not inclined to make more than that surface connection. Schweblin, an Argentinian writer, has written the finest story I’ve yet read about someone experiencing dementia. Her method puts us in a position of some confusion with shifting inner thoughts of the protagonist, and repetitions of various memories, notes and labels on various items, so it takes a...
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Leonard made extensive use of research and a researcher named Gregg Sutter for many of his novels, and Cubra Libre seems to be one of the more exhaustively researched and well-penned (he never used a computer or word processor, and rarely a typewriter) books in his oeuvre. Leonard, who began as a writer of westerns, then turned to city crime books, is back in semi-familiar territory in this book with a cowboy protagonist (Tyler) running horses to Cuba. The plan...
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Elmore Leonard is a guilty pleasure of mine. I read far more of his works than I note on this blog, but the simple matter is: I should note them. In The Hunted we find Al Rosen living the good life in Israel, where the State Department relocated him in the witness protection program. Rosen wore a wire to snare two other baddies, but the grand jury didn’t indict them. Al knew those guys were going to come after him,...
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A young man of the Gikuyu tribe named Waiyaki is the focal point in Thiong’o’s novel. At an early age, Waiyaki was already considered to have special gifts. He once encountered two boys fighting and attempted to break up the squabble. Although he was the youngest of the three, he was able to put a stop to the violence. Ngugi reveals that the three boys, Waiyaki, Kamau and Kinuthia, are all destined to study at a local mission school nearby...
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This is a great book to own in its physical form, as numerous photos are interspersed throughout the essays on the natural beauty of Japan’s Kii Peninsula and its disappearing villages and life. A map plots Mod’s route along the eastern coastline, through once-thriving villages, many now reduced in many areas to a few kissas (akin to diners, though much smaller and offering a far sparser menu than their counterparts in, say, New Jersey), some ryokans here and there, and...
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So now, halfway through Speedboat, and past the Speedboat “chapter” (it’s a novel), I think it’s growing on me. I’m writing this review in two halves to see if I can make a guess about its structure. The main character, the narrator, is a journalist named Jen Fain, who was born sometime after WWII. Each section has a title that connects tangentially with the various smaller stories (sometimes just a sentence or two) contained in it. The writing is absorbing...
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An important theme of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets is how we interpret what is handed down through tradition. In his early essay, “Tradition and the Individual Talent” (1919), he touches on this dynamism of how tradition becomes redefined with every new giant talent using a metaphor drawn from science. Twenty-odd years later, a series of four larger poems (each a quartet) emerged somewhat wider in scope than “The Wasteland” and more sophisticated: Burnt Norton (1936) East Coker (1939) The Dry...
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2018 A guy on an elevator asked me, What happened to you? I didn’t know him. He was wearing a suit, I was in sweatpants and a t-shirt. My sweatpants covered my AFO brace (ankle-foot orthosis), which keeps my ankle straight while I walk. The AFO is a state-of-the-art, super-light exoskeleton made by a Norwegian company. The brace fits into my shoe, and a flexible support runs up my left shin, but not up to my knee, and is attached...
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M31 is the oddest book I’ve read in a while, and for that, I am grateful. At the outset, a family living in a transformed clapboard church in disrepair watches on eagerly as they view lights approaching from afar. Given the title of the book, we guess that this is perhaps a sighting of a UFO. However, it turns out to be a couple of like-minded people who have had the UFO experience of being ‘taken aboard a ship and...
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Christopher Hitchens reflects on his upbringing, the influences that shaped him, and the philosophical foundations of his worldview. The memoir serves as both a personal narrative and a broader commentary on culture, politics, and belief. One of the book’s strengths is Hitchens’ engaging writing style. His eloquence and command of language draw readers in, making complex ideas accessible. His vivid storytelling, combined with sharp wit and humor, keeps the narrative lively and compelling. We are treated to a rich tapestry...
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Quicksand is a silkily nuanced novel of erotic gamesmanship and obsession. Sonoko Kakiuchi, an Osaka lady of a good family, married to a dully respected lawyer, tells a story of temptation and betrayal. Sonoko is infatuated with the beautiful art student and femme fatale Mitsuko, a woman so seductive and heartless she can even turn Sonoko’s husband into her own accomplice. Filled with intrigue and treacherous romance, I was entranced by this, Tanizaki’s first novel. The writing is extremely engaging...
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Leo Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata is not only a profound exploration of marriage, jealousy, and the destructive power of unchecked desire but also a deeply personal work that reflects Tolstoy’s struggles and philosophical evolution. Framed as a conversation overheard on a train, the novella centers on the confession of Pozdnyshev, a man who recounts the tragic unraveling of his life and marriage. His story serves as a critique of societal norms, particularly those surrounding relationships, sexuality, and the institution of...
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The War Against Cliché by Martin Amis is a collection of essays that delve into the intricacies of literature, focusing on the importance of originality and the pitfalls of cliché. Amis critiques the tendency of contemporary writers to rely on worn-out phrases and familiar tropes, arguing that such reliance undermines the power and clarity of their work. He advocates for a commitment to fresh expression, emphasizing that true literary artistry demands innovation and a willingness to challenge conventional norms. In...
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I first heard of David Grann when he was a guest on Paul Giamatti’s and Stephen Asma’s podcast, Chinwag. At that time, Grann had just come out with a book of essays called The Devil and Sherlock Holmes, which I read and enjoyed in 2024. Grann is also the notable author of the book that Scorcese’s award-winning film Killers of the Flower Moon is based on. The Wager, which I’ve begun reading, and am in the grip of, is about...
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“Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk” is a poignant short story by Franz Kafka that centers on Josephine, a mouse celebrated for her singing talent. Within the community of the Mouse Folk, her performances are seen as a source of joy and unity, yet they also reveal deeper themes of identity, art, and existential struggle. The story is narrated by another mouse, who reflects on Josephine’s significance within their society. He admires her talent but also feels compelled to...
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The Guide follows the life of Raju, a charming and ambitious young man who starts as a tour guide in the fictional town of Malgudi (Narayan has written many stories set in Malgudi). Raju’s life takes a turn when he meets Rosie, a talented dancer married to the wealthy but neglectful archaeologist, whom Raju gives the name Marco after a well-known adventurer. Captivated by her passion and beauty, Raju becomes romantically involved with Rosie, leading to her decision to leave...
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Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan as translated by Jhumpa Lahiri. I’m going to take Lahiri’s advice in the book’s introduction and read one story per day for a month. So begins my reading in 2025. —♦——♦——♦— These short parables are somewhat like Aesop’s, though sometimes the lesson isn’t as clear, yet the predicaments people find themselves in are always unique. In “Engine Trouble,” a poor fellow spends a few annas on a lottery drawing at a carnival. He ends up...
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The pretentiousness of the contemporary art world is just one of the targets in Michel Houellebecq’s The Map and the Territory. The protagonist, Jed Martin, is a talented painter and photographer who rises to fame in the art world, which he is largely indifferent to. He initially gains recognition for his artistic yet simple photographs of everyday objects. One day, he looks at a Michelin map and finds beauty in it. At an early exhibition of his works, he includes...
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Milan Kundera’s The Festival of Insignificance centers around four main characters: Alain, a laid-back and somewhat indifferent man; his friend Ramon, a lively and passionate individual; the enigmatic and beautiful Clara; and the reflective and thoughtful character, the narrator, who reflects on the nature of their lives and relationships. Set against the backdrop of Paris, the characters navigate their day-to-day experiences, grappling with the superficiality and fleeting nature of modern life. Kundera introduces the notion of insignificance as a central...
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By Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano and published posthumously, Hunter of Stories offers glimpses into hidden histories, mythologies, and the untold crimes inflicted on indigenous peoples by European explorers and later by large nation-states seeking to exploit the natural resources and workers. Galeano’s idealism comes through even as he retells hard histories in one- or two-page-long chapters. As he notes in one of the stories, “Why not write the big story of the past by telling the little one?” Two samples,...
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The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano is a seminal work that examines the historical and socio-economic exploitation of Latin America. First published in 1971, it combines history, economics, and personal narrative to provide a critical perspective on the continent’s colonial and post-colonial experiences. Historical Context Galeano begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, marking the start of a relentless exploitation of Latin America’s resources. He details how...
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Hernan Diaz’s novel Trust intricately weaves multiple narratives to explore themes of wealth, power, and the nature of truth. A tale that revolves around a wealthy financier, Benjamin Rask, and his enigmatic wife, Helen. The novel is structured in four parts: two contrasting narratives about Benjamin and Helen, a fictional biography, and an account of their financial dealings. As the characters’ perspectives unfold, the reader encounters differing accounts of their lives and relationships, prompting questions about the reliability of storytelling...
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I can read a Portis novel, come to the end, turn back to page one, and start right over. Two reasons: he often has ambiguous endings, and his writing is magnetic. Also, there are characters I want to revisit before bidding them farewell. Ray Midge, a bean counter in Arkansas, is our leading man and narrator. One day, his wife leaves him for Guy Dupree, but what’s worse is that she takes his car. Seems that in this book, or...
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“Clay” is one of the short stories found in Joyce’s collection The Dubliners . In “Clay” Joyce captures multiple levels of class and religious stratification along with alcoholism and hidden cruelties enmeshed in the culture in a handful of pages with incredible economy. Our protagonist, Maria, a servant working at Dublin by Lamplight Laundry, The laundry work reminded me of Small Things Like These , but with Protestants running the business. We learn that prior to her job at the...
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Saying too much here would definitely introduce spoilers, so I’ll limit my comments to the following bullet points: A few more characters than in The Martian Protagonist is an 8th grade science teacher who had been thrown out of university academia for writing a paper going against The Goldilocks Principle (organic life requires water) The sun is dimming for some reason, threatening life with mass starvation and multiple species extinction Nations decide to work collaboratively on a solution, with an...
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This is Elena Ferrante’s first book in the Neapolitan Novels series. It follows the intense friendship between two girls, Elena Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo, growing up in a poor neighborhood in post-war Naples. The novel explores themes of identity, class, and the complexities of female friendship. As the girls navigate their lives, their paths diverge: Elena pursues education and a more conventional life, while Lila’s fierce intelligence and rebellious spirit lead her to reject societal norms. The story delves...
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Initial thoughts on just beginning to read this brief work: I’ve never read William H. Gass and somehow confused him with German writer and Nobel laureate Günter Grass. Perhaps this confusion emerged when I picked up Gass’s Tunnell at the library one day and it seemed to be about World War II. Regardless, I began reading this narrated piece by a lonely man stuck in small-town Indiana; he is filled with acerbic descriptions of a world fading away, but who...
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The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession is a collection of essays by David Grann, who known for writing Killers of the Flower Moon . They are all true tales (some solved, others less so), and the featured essay is my favorite, as I’ve been a fan of the great detective from a young age. Watched all the PBS episodes with my family and when they were only part way through, borrowed my father’s collection of...
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