Is that a bull you're burning on your altar, or are you just trying to annoy your neighbors?
Madeleine L’Engle, author of, among other things, A Wrinkle in Time, called Biblical purists “Fundalits.” She was quite fond of the fundamentals of the Bible, but highly annoyed by people who took them literally. I agree. As someone who takes the Bible seriously, I simply can’t take it literally. Thankfully, I’m not alone. My mother-in-law,…
Read MoreThe Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee
My review of Chang-Rae Lee’s latest novel, THE SURRENDERED is up on the Globe and Mail website. Hope it persuades you to buy this important book.
Read MoreWhy are you doing this?
It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by bad news these days. Financial problems, health care ‘debate’ incivility, bombings in subway stations, natural disasters…. it’s grim, and seemingly ubiquitous. Writers and booksellers are no stranger to dire predictions and this week two articles were brought to my attention. One was a blog post from New York…
Read MoreWriter, dreaming…
I’m a big dreamer. Most writers are, I think. I was raised as an only child, a none-too-popular one at that, and thus books and my imagination provided a good deal of my entertainment. I spent many a summer afternoon in an old abandoned apple-orchard near my house. A stream trickled through it and I…
Read MoreWriting through rough waters
Not long ago I was speaking with my spiritual director, Sister Rita, about some revision I was doing to the novel I’m working on. I talked about the beginning of the book, wherein a certain character — a 7th century Irish boy — has a vision and, regardless of opposition, follows that vision. He builds…
Read More"If you're at the cutting edge, then you're going to bleed."
Reading the Times last weekend was a curious exercise in juxtapositions. First, I read an article called “On Top of the Happiness Racket” about Gretchen Rubin’s book, “The Happiness Project.” Then I turned to the magazine section and found an article by Jonah Lehrer, entitled “Depression’s Upside.” The title of this essay was a quote…
Read MoreHow not to write
There are innumerable ways to avoid getting your writing done for the day. Most writers are geniuses at the art of procrastination, and I am no exception. Here are a few of the techniques I’ve used so far this morning… I woke up at 6:45 a.m. Tea. Can’t think without it. Call a friend. He…
Read MoreThe Long and Solitary Trip
Author Dani Shapiro, author of the novels Black & White and Family History, the bestselling memoir Slow Motion, is coming out with a new memoir, this one about her spiritual journey, called Devotion. Recently she wrote a terrific piece in the LA Times about the difficulties facing writers today. I wish I’d written it myself. …
Read MoreClearing out the mental/spiritual closet
Lent begins today, which is, in Christian tradition, the period leading up to Easter and is intended as a time of reflection, of going within to hear the small still voice, and to take stock of who we are, to face ourselves and not be afraid of our imperfections. On the Explore Faith website I…
Read MoreWhy some critics drive writers to a cabin in the woods
I’m fascinated by curious juxtapositions, which always get me thinking, and this week presented an intriguing one. First, and most sadly, J.D. Salinger passed away, a man as famous for hating being famous as he was for writing “The Catcher in the Rye.” Second, Martin Levin, Books Editor for The Globe and Mail, wrote an…
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