Put me in front of a group of interested listeners, and ask me to read from something that has been part of my life for so long–over which I’ve worried/exulted/banged my head–and my throat will tighten. My eyes will burn and sometimes tear. I’ll swallow hard, as if to keep down a “Holy Sh-t.”
I promise, the whole essay is rated G. I'd let my goddaughter read it, if she could read.
And you, reader, might want to check out more of The Quivering Pen. David Abrams, whose forthcoming Iraq war novel, Fobbit, has been called an "instant classic" by Publishers Weekly, offers several gems a week about books new and old. Here's two of my favorites, in which David remembers two of his (and mine, and probably several other people's) favorite writers: Lewis "Buddy" Nordan and Flannery O'Connor.
Bonus tidbit: David lives in Butte, America, hometown of Evel Knievel, and he makes the best shrimp and grits in Montana.
2 comments:
I read your book the other day in one sitting at Starbucks on Chelan Avenue. I left it there hoping that someone else might be compelled to pick it up, read it, and find the same value that I found in it.
I figured that that was the least I could do for someone that took the time to read all of my assignments in journalism school. I just wanted to say thank you for being the professor that really took interest in my writing and pushed me to do more. Again, thanks.
Chandler
In one sitting? Chandler, that's a lot of coffee.
Thanks for writing, and for your kind words, and especially for leaving the book for someone else. That's a great kindness.
It's good to hear from you. I hope you're still making beautiful photographs, thinking interesting thoughts.
Be well.
-- Michael
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