Books
Comments on Books I’ve read.
Big Two-Hearted River
David’s comment on my previous entry prompts me to remember that I’m way behind in my book reviews. Last summer, among other things, I read all of The Nick Adams Stories, including “Big Two-Hearted River.” which was by far the best of the book. The collection gathers up all of Hemmingway’s Nick Adams material, much of which... more »
Lives on the Boundary
The last book on my sabbatical reading list was Mike Rose’s Lives on the Boundary. Part memoir, part rhetorical theory, part public policy polemic, and always engaging, re-reading it was well worth my time. I’d forgotten that CCCC ‘93 in San Diego, he’d autographed my copy. “Best Wishes. Mike Rose.... more »
Writing Partnerships: Service-Learning in Composition
Thomas Deans is one of only a few SL/Composition gurus that’s publishing, and Writing Partnerships is a great resource for instructors like me at two-year institutions like Lake Superior College. The book is both theoretical and practical, and Deans uses three case studies that exemplify the paradigm that he develops. Deans begins by setting the... more »
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
After I got off the plane in New Orleans a few weeks ago, I proceeded to get on the wrong shuttle, which took me to the wrong hotel (glazed with rain water, beside the white chickens). Turns out that Hilton Garden Inn is not exactly Hilton, like Chevy is not Cadillac, and that... more »
Out of the Silent Planet
After reading Surprised by Joy, I got a hankering to reread C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet, which I’d enjoyed in my youth. I had this notion that it might fit into my Science Fiction class next fall. Upon rereading it, I discovered that it wasn’t as good as I remembered... more »
Surprised by Joy
I was in a religious book store with my brother and sister-in-law who were in possession of a 40% off coupon expiring that day. It was clear that I would commit a sin if I didn’t save some money, and so I bought this C.S. Lewis memoir of his early life. It’s... more »
Sabbatical Notes From Underground: Writing with Power
Part of my sabbatical plan was also to read Peter Elbow’s cookbook, which my brother Karl told me years ago was the best book about writing he ever read. Granted, it may have been the only book about writing he ever read, but he was an English major before he went to seminary,... more »
Flight
Sherman Alexie is probably most famous for writing the screenplay to Smoke Signals back in 1998. Since then, he’s been doing some other things, like competing in the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout and doing stand up comedy. But 2007 saw a novel burst. He published both Flight and The Absolutely True... more »
Three Cups of Tea
For once I’m on the book band wagon. Duluth’s One Book read this spring is Three Cups, and there have been discussion groups at LSC (one of which I’ve attended), plus Greg Mortenson himself is speaking here in a week or so and Sherry and I have tickets (courtesy of Stacy Johnston... more »
Sabbatical Notes From Underground: Mina P. Shaughnessy: Her Life and Work
Jane Maher’s biography of Shaughnessy is my second sabbatical read (one academic book of the month club), and I finished it right on schedule yesterday (thank heavens for leap day!). Back when I was planning my sabbatical over a year ago, I wanted to reconnect with the passion of my graduate school... more »