New and Selected Poems --by Mary Oliver

Nonfiction / Poetry

255 pages

5 Stars

I received this book as a gift, and what a treasured gift it is. Ms. Oliver talks about all subjects in her book—life, death, nature--how they are all part of the web of life. I love her poem, White Owl Flies Into and Out of the Field. How the beautiful owl drops down out of the freezing sky to find and grab dinner scurrying under the snow. Her words, "maybe death / isn't darkness, after all / but so much light / wrapping itself around us— / as soft as feathers—" brought me to a stop. Yes, that is Death.

I tend to read fast, and know I read this book too fast, too quickly, but I did force myself to take breaks, and often, she forced my breaks with poetry like the above. I had to stop. To think on it.

In looking through the book, I have notes scribbled here and there (a sure sign I love the book, by the way). Oliver's poetry is accessible to, I think, anyone who cares to pick it up and give it a try. One does not need to be a poet, or a reader of poetry, to read her book and fall in love.

Moon Crossing Bridge --by Tess Gallagher

Nonfiction / poetry

110 pages

5 Stars

These poems are deeply personal, about the death of her true love, Raymond Carver. I am honored she trusted me with her feelings. There are poems in this powerful book that made me cry, and there were places where I smiled. I don't believe I've ever read a book as deeply passionate as this extraordinary book.

The writing is stunning, and I thank Ms. Gallagher for sharing her love and her grief.

The Next American Essay

Nonfiction / Essays

475 pages

5 Stars

This is a marvelous collection of essays, all kinds of them. D'Agata has arranged them chronologically, after his introduction to the book, beginning in 1975 with John McPhee's The Search for Marvin Gardens. You remember Marvin Gardens, don't you, from Monopoly? I learned a great deal about the game from his essay.

Every year until and including 2003 contains one essay representative of that year. And the book finishes with an Epilogue.

Do I have a favorite? Oh, yes, I'm sure I do. However, they are so different, one from the other, that it's really hard to choose. I found Erato   Love Poetry the 1985 selection by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha so intriguing, I ordered Dictee. Kinds of Water by Anne Carson enthralled me. Black by Alexander Theroux now has several passages underlined. And The Body by Jenny Boully. Oh, what can I say about that essay? A whole, complete essay in footnotes. I love footnotes (I consider endnotes to be the Unforgivable Sin) and to find a whole essay written in them? Oh, I all but swooned.

Yes, there are several different kinds of essays in this collection. Some serious, some playful, all very well written. If you like essays at all, I strongly urge you to buy and read this book. I loved every word of it.

The Story and Its Writer, 5th Edition – ed. by Ann Charters

Fiction / Short Stories, varied

5 Stars

At almost 1800 pages, this is not a book to read in bed, unless you are a weightlifter as well as a reader, and have exceptionally strong wrists. The pages are thin, but it still weighs a ton! And that's exactly what it is—a ton of good reading.

Part One of the book is a collection of short stories arranged alphabetically by author. I started them all and finished most of them. It is a great collection of stories by authors as varied as Salman Rushdie, Flannery O'Connor, and Leslie Marmon Silko. Part Two is a collection of commentaries by and or about the authors. I did not read all of them, but since it is my book, I shall probably go back to them in the future.

This book is, I am sure, a textbook used in various colleges, and perhaps even high schools. Don't let that be off-putting. It is a marvelous collection, and if you aren't sure if you like an author, it's a good way to find out. Some authors I like better than others. We're all like that.

Magic Kingdom for Sale –by Terry Brooks

Fiction / Fantasy

386 pages / 3029 KB

5 Stars

Yes, Terry Brooks has written books that are not Shannara related, and they are every bit as much fun!  At least I enjoyed it immensely.

Ben Holiday grieves. His wife, whom he loved, died, and he has never totally recovered. An ad comes out in his wife's favorite holiday wish book offering a magic kingdom for sale for the mere pittance of $1M. Ben has the money. And he has the desire to start over someplace else. But a "Magic Kingdom"?? Even one with dragons and witches in a land not on any map he's ever seen?

Not only can he afford to buy it, but when he does, he will become the King!

And so our protagonist gives up his lucrative law practice in the Windy City for a dream, an escape, and buys the Magic Kingdom. And our good fortune is that he shares it with us!

This book is pure escape and loads of fun, perfect reading as you recoup from the madness of the holidays, and if you leave it on the coffee table, maybe the younger ones in your house will pick it up to read. Wouldn't that be a treat?

The Flanders Panel –by Arturo Perez-Reverte

Fiction / Mystery

306 pages / 7052 KB

4 Stars

I absolutely loved this book. I don't know whether a knowledge of chess would have made it more enjoyable or not. If you don't know chess, this book will not be off-putting. At least it wasn't for me.

The mystery surrounds a 15th-century painting and artist when Julia, an art conservationist/restorer discovers hidden beneath some of the paint, a cryptic question: "Who killed the knight?" As Julia delves into the old mystery, to solve the murder, she finds herself embroiled in a modern-day mystery, and her life is in danger.

There are holes in the story, but I don't know if they are due to the author or the translator, or a combination of the two. The ending left a few questions, but nothing serious. However, I read fiction for the escape, and I found this a delightful escape. But, then, I'm a sucker for historical fiction. Even if it takes place is the modern era.

I did do a bit of research about both the artist and the painting. The information is available on the web if any of you choose to do likewise.

Highly recommended.