2016
March 29th-
Novel: Yet another Benjamin Black novel (the mystery pen name of John Banville). I love the darkness of the main character, a pathologist named Quirke. And I love getting to spend time, if only in my imagination, in Dublin.
Poet: Anders Carlson- Wee
He also came to visit my class. I know, I’m spoiled. What I love is that he never sacrifices accessibility. Yet he somehow never sacrifices craft, either. Yeah, I don’t know how that works. But I love reading it.
2015
Jan 9th-
Novel: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
I have loved everything I have read by him. And while this has been slow going (work and the adventure of pregnancy keep getting the way), I love the forthright presentation of magic within the bounds of a real and believable world.
November 17th-
Journal: Parcel
Poet: James Arthur
He recently came and spoke to my high school students. I have never met another poet with such a mastery of technique coupled with such warm humility and good humor. And he recites his poems from memory! If you haven’t bought Charms Against Lighting, do so immediately. I can’t get the titular poem out of my head.