New York, New York
I had a wonderful trip to New York. The book-related reasons to go were to sign copies at the Columbia Alumni Book Fair and to give a speech…
Monday Morning Inspiration #3
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. — Dalai Lama Please share…
Wislawa Szymborska
Just discovered the work of Wislawa Szymborska through a poem reprinted in an old edition of New Internationalist from last year. It…
Monday Morning Inspiration #2
Good prose is like a windowpane. — George Orwell, “Why I Write” To find out what this is all about and how…
“Mr Palomar” by Italo Calvino
Mr. Palomar sets out to examine every possible aspect of his life and the world around him, trying to name everything and…
Present-tense novels
I was experimenting with writing my next novel in the present tense. For a while it went well. The present tense felt more immediate, a little fresher, and…
Monday Morning Inspiration
I often find myself reading something beautiful over the weekend, only to forget it as I get all caught up in the…
London Catholic Worker no. 25
Uncle Sam does not believe In the unemployed dole, But Uncle Sam does believe in the money lenders dole.
“An Elegy for Easterly” by Petina Gappah
This debut short-story collection by Zimbabwean writer Petina Gappah is a wonderful read. The tone of each one is perfect: the language…