Lauren B. Davis

In case you’re interested, my review of Anne Tyler’s new novel, “The Beginner’s Goodbye” is up other at Truthdig.com.  You can click here to read it.

I just got back from Ottawa, where I was at the “Politics & the Pen” gala dinner, which raises money for the Writers Trust of Canada, and then over at the Ottawa Writer’s Festival.  Had a wonderful time, but I’m pooped and about to grab a bit and then go to bed incredibly early!

I was asked by OPEN BOOK TORONTO to share 12 unexpected things about myself.  Here are the first three:

1. I cook a really mean lamb tagine (and will share the recipe if you want it.)
2. I have a secret crush on Vin Diesel. I also have a secret crush on Jeremy Irons. I think there’s nothing odd about having a crush on those two, albeit dissimilar, men.
3. I believe in ghosts. Thus far, they’ve been fine company.

If you’d like to read the rest (hint — disappearing churches and natural anti-depressants), you can do so my clicking here.

I recently wrote an essay for “The 49th Shelf” about what happens when we think in terms of “us versus them,” a subject close to my heart, since it’s the theme of my recent novel, OUR DAILY BREAD.

Here’s the beginning of it:

At a dinner party recently, someone brought up the topic of Israel and Palestine. Within moments, an educated and well-traveled individual I’ll call Joe stated Israel is a much-maligned island of moral purity in a sea of barbaric, immoral hatred. Israel, he said, has committed no atrocities, done nothing illegal or unethical, whereas the enemies of Israel have slaughtered children in untold numbers and desire only to drive Jews into the sea.

“Open Book Toronto” asked me, and a few other writer types, to talk about how to write endings.  After pondering the question. . . . well, click here to find out what I said.  Hint:  It’s good to have one!

I recently reviewed Jeanette Winterson’s terrific new memoir — WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL — for Truthdig.com.  Here’s the first bit:

Winterson's scalding new memoir