A Close Up on a Writer Who Reads
What I’m reading or thinking about reading
This past Wednesday, August 2, would have been James Baldwin's 94th birthday. In honor of that, director Barry Jenkins (most noted for "Moonlight") tweeted a first look trailer for his upcoming adaptation of Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk. I was in 6th grade the first time I read about Tish and Fonny. It is my… Continue reading #BookToMovieTrailer – ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’
Title: A Little Life Author: Hanya Yanagihara Pages: 720 Rating: 4.5/5 *Mild spoiler included below* If you've explored my site recently, you have encountered A Little Life in several of my recent posts (see here and here). I participate in a two-person book club and, at the suggestion of my friend, read A Little Life for the… Continue reading Book Review: A Little Life
"'You won't understand what I mean now, but someday you will: the only trick of friendship, I think, is to find people who are better than you are -- not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving -- and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you, and to… Continue reading The Only Trick of Friendship
So I've stumbled across this thing called a "writing meme" - I can't find a definition or a site that compiles a list of them in one place. But, they are essentially trending writing prompts. The first one I found, while perusing other writerly blogs, was Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by That Artsy Reader… Continue reading #TopTenTuesday – Poolside Reading
S O S By Amiri Baraka Calling black people Calling all black people, man woman child Wherever you are, calling you, urgent, come in Black People, come in, wherever you are, urgent, calling you, calling all black people calling all black people, come in, black people, come on in. - 1966
The very first day of my Critical Reading and Writing: Short Story Writers class last semester, my teacher had us read "Close Reading," the first chapter from Francine Prose's Reading Like a Writer, and "Good Readers and Good Writers" by Vladimir Nabokov. My courses stressed the importance of "reading closely," -- like a writer, not a… Continue reading Reaping the Rewards of Close Reading
Would anyone believe me if I told you I didn't know much about Edgar Allan Poe prior to my first semester of Grad school? Yeah, I knew a few of his more famous works, like "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "A Tell-Tale Heart" but that was pretty much it. After reading "The Cask of… Continue reading Getting to Know Poe
I don't believe I've written a post since last MAY!!! What an eventful span of time it's been. My computer went on the fritz. Geek Squad estimated it would cost $300+ to fix. So I stopped using it, relying solely on my phone for the internet. Then, one day I decided to turn my laptop… Continue reading Where In the World Have I Been?
Lord, In My Heart For Countee Cullen Holy haloesRing me round Spirit waves onSpirit sound Meshach andAbednego Golden chariotSwinging low I recite themin my sleep Jordan's coldand briny deep Bible lessonsSunday school Bow before theGolden Rule Now I wonder If I tried Could I turn myCheek aside Marveling withAfterthought Let the blow fallSaying naught Of my true Christ-like control And the nature of my soul Would I strike withrage divine Till… Continue reading Lord, In My Heart
"The graduation at Fort Hare offered a moment of introspection and reflection. I was struck most forcefully by the discrepancy between my old assumptions and my actual experience. I had discarded my presumptions that graduates automatically become leaders and that my connection to the Thembu royal house guaranteed me respect. Having a successful career and… Continue reading “The graduation…
