Books, oh how I love books…
September 25th, 2005
A comment on an earlier post made me realize that perhaps I should give Anne Lamott’s work a look. (Paper bag over head…I haven’t ever read her!)
A quick search on Amazon helped me realize that I’ve actually hear her interviewed, and that I’d already considered one of her books — she was featured on the Infinite Mind’s program about Writer’s Block! After perusing the list of her books on Amazon, I picked two more, so here are my purchases:
- Bird by Bird — I have to admit that I harbor the fantasy of writing a book (NOT a novel) and becoming published someday. Next week, I actually will start a short writing workshop that one of the moms in my local group is creating — focusing on the memoir, right up my alley.
- Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith — This one will likely be one that will push my buttons just as well as Blue Like Jazz did back in May. Wow, has it really only been a few short months since I discovered this wonderful world of “progressive” Christianity? It’s amazing how much one simple book recommendation could enrich my life.
- Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year — I had no idea that like me, she was/is also a single mom. Considering that Maya turned one Friday, this should hit home.
Woohoo! Books!
Posted by Allison in this-n-that, feed my brain |
September 25th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
I wrote you earlier. My son and I went to the store…early. At the stoplight was a white NewBug with a Kerry sticker and Americans for Peace sticker.
I saw the dreadlocks in the front cabin
I looked at my son. “LaMott’s car” I said
Huh?
“The writer…That’s Anne Lamott.”
He laughed cuz he knows I like her stuff and his momma likes her stuff.
She was skipping church. So were we.
September 26th, 2005 at 8:17 am
Allison, you’ll love Anne Lamott. I echo Mac– Anne lives in the neighboring community and I used to run into her weekly. For a while my wife and I attended church with her. She has a way with words.
September 26th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
Oooh, I just finished Traveling Mercies! I wish I could write with as much veracity and poetry as she does. A great book, and I can’t wait to read some of her others. You’ll love her, I promise.
September 26th, 2005 at 1:00 pm
Oh yeah–you’ll love her. I’ve heard that Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller is also beloved by Lammott fans, so I’m going to try that next.
Do you like Kathleen Norris? She has a great book called Amazing Grace about “scary” religious words. Good stuff.
September 28th, 2005 at 10:02 am
I love Bird by Bird. I have used it several times as a textbook in writing workshops. Anne and I stand opposed on many political views. She is bombastic in political postures, and that tends to turn me off. But that (as is also the case with Hunter Thompson) doesn’t diminish the incredible gift she has as a writer.
September 30th, 2005 at 2:48 pm
i’m with the others.. you’ll love her. her style is a rare gift..
October 9th, 2005 at 1:45 pm
Yeah, Annie’s a treasure, even though I agree with Mike about her politics. She wears them on her sleeve, but I can see past it to connect with what she is saying about life, church, and family. I recently listened to the audiobook version of Plan B: Further Thoughts on faith and posted about it on my blog.