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219th out of 363 books
—
144 voters
Life Work
by
Donald Hall
Distinguished poet Donald Hall reflects on the meaning of work, solitude, and love
"The best new book I have read this year, of extraordinary nobility and wisdom. It will remain with me always."—Louis Begley,The New York Times
"A sustained meditation on work as the key to personal happiness. . . .Life Workreads most of all like a first-person psychological novel with a poet...more
"The best new book I have read this year, of extraordinary nobility and wisdom. It will remain with me always."—Louis Begley,The New York Times
"A sustained meditation on work as the key to personal happiness. . . .Life Workreads most of all like a first-person psychological novel with a poet...more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
April 15th 2003
by Beacon Press
(first published 1993)
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I love everything I've ever read by Hall - from his poetry to his essays to his children's books - and this short memoir was no exception. His work here was affected (I'd say enhanced) by his confrontation with mortality as he wrote it. I really liked reading about the way he structured his days and the glimpses into his relationship with his wife, the poet Jane Kenyon.
I am a huge Donald Hall fan, so I entirely expected to enjoy "Life Work," and I did. Some of the stories about his family are familiar from having read "Eagle Pond." Hall meditates on the notion of work, usually illustrating from his own personal experience as a poet, as well as his ancestors' work on the family farm ("woik," as his Connecticut grandparents said, "wuk," as his New Hampshire grandparents said). Hall writes, "Contentment is work so engrossing that you do not know that you are work...more
On impulse, I picked up a copy of Life Work by Donald Hall. A poet, children’s author, short story writer, and essayist, Hall extolls the pleasure of work, the satisfaction of meaningful production, the identity of self reflected in labor. He rakes through the history of work and workers, seeing these endeavors as a great life anchor. He focuses on his ancestors with their pre-dawn to dark manual labor. He turns to contemporaries and examines their thoughts on creative, productive days.
For mont...more
For mont...more
I enjoyed Hall's "Eagle Pond," but this one didn't do it for me so much. I enjoyed, again, the descriptions of rural New Hampshire life, but I had "heard that one before."
"Life Work" is divided into two parts, and after the first part, I thought that I really didn't like the book. The main theme of the first part seems to be, "Check me out, I work super hard, but it ain't no thing cuz I love what I do; also, I know some famous people!" This didn't feel really compelling to me. I also felt uneasy...more
"Life Work" is divided into two parts, and after the first part, I thought that I really didn't like the book. The main theme of the first part seems to be, "Check me out, I work super hard, but it ain't no thing cuz I love what I do; also, I know some famous people!" This didn't feel really compelling to me. I also felt uneasy...more
I picked up Life Work based on a review that referred to it as a secondary source...the long way around. It's different from a lot of what I read but that was pleasantly refreshing.
Donald Hall, who wears a poet's cap among other literary hats, writes a series of short essays/ponderings on work, the nature of work, why we labor, the value it brings to our lives, etc., while at the same time reflecting on the working life of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents in 19th and early 20th...more
Donald Hall, who wears a poet's cap among other literary hats, writes a series of short essays/ponderings on work, the nature of work, why we labor, the value it brings to our lives, etc., while at the same time reflecting on the working life of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents in 19th and early 20th...more
May 08, 2012
Paul Hamilton
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoir,
non-fiction
Let's assume you were wondering if there was ever a market for blogging before the semi-coherent daily ramble became a legitimate form of communication ten or twelve years ago. To confirm this, you need look no further than Donald Hall's Life Work, a semi-topical serialized set of quasi-daily ruminations on the subject of work, self, life, death, family, history and the intersections of all the above. Written in the very early nineties, this book is a blog, regardless of whatever memoir title mi...more
The first half is a way too detailed account of what this man does for a living. Utterly boring. Seriously? You've published, and presumably been paid for, a book which is half filled with your daily routine and details about your to-do lists.
The second half is a little more lively. Ironic, since he's convinced he's about to die through most of it.
You know it's bad when talk about his great and grandparents' work on their farms in the late 1800's to mid 1900's livens things up.
Terrible.
The second half is a little more lively. Ironic, since he's convinced he's about to die through most of it.
You know it's bad when talk about his great and grandparents' work on their farms in the late 1800's to mid 1900's livens things up.
Terrible.
I love all of Donald Hall's writing, poems and prose, and this book is no exception. To say that he has a way with words is an understatement. He writes about the importance of meaningful work in this book, well, work that is meaningful to you, which can be any work. He also writes about the habits of getting work done, especially writing, his own and that of some other writers he knows.
I wish that everyone would read Donald Hall's books. He is just so good and evokes so much emotion with his w...more
I wish that everyone would read Donald Hall's books. He is just so good and evokes so much emotion with his w...more
Donald Hall's Life Work is a quiet, reflective, steady--if not sturdy--piece of work, slice of life. It is/was written as an extended meditation and brief memoir highlighting multiple generations in the hardworking family Hall of fame and fortune. Recurrent themes include Hall's daily devotion to poetry and prose writing as making/scratching a meaning/living and accomplishing everyday tasks and, penultimately, in defiance of death, in consideration of its cancers. Is not life work and work life?...more
Donald Hall tells us the story of his folks, how they worked the land, and tells us his story, too. Of how he gets up at 4:15 am to prepare for starting writing at 6 am, most days; his working life has its rhythms, just as the working life of his folks did. A strongly written book, beautiful in its simple prose style.
A friend recommended this book to me and Life Work definitely resonated with me, my values and my passion for work. I have often experienced "absorbedness" during my last 25 years of being an educator. I have experienced what Hall describes as "absorbedness" even more frequently during my first year as a librarian. I am so absorbed in being a librarian that it doesn't seem like work. I can't wait to read more of Hall's works. I have purchased several of his poetry books as sell has some poetry b...more
I love Donald Hall's poetry and prose--it all reads like poetry to me. I especially love his recollections of his family history and the places that are dear to him.
very interessting book not really what im into though
had to read it for class
had to read it for class
Nice little memoir. Will appeal to you if you are interested in writing, life in rural New England or the nature of work.
Memoir from a poet and author that loosely hinges on “Work”, which for the author is mostly writing. He fluffs things out a bit with details on ancestors and olden days. There’s really not enough material brought in to make this memoir memorable or instructive. The author was married to poet Jane Kenyon before her premature death at 48. That’s what I would have liked to have heard more about.
Nov 10, 2008
Kendall
added it
An interesting- somewhat amusing- and somewhat informative book about Hall and his writing life. Talks a great deal about his relatives- and their lives as farmers and dairy owners- and how all this ties into his own work ethics as a writer. Worth reading again.
Jul 10, 2009
jojo the burlesque poetess
marked it as limbo-unfinished
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fo-schoo
gonna be writing my 3rd semester craft paper on Hall/Kenyon (go team creative writing MFA programme!), and i found this at a used bookstore while looking for 'unpacking the boxes,' but i'll take what the fates have sent my way. so far so great!
Excellent meditation on the meaning of work. Beautiful prose written by a poet.
Reading is a sedentary activity. This book sings the virtues of physical, engrossing work. I was engrossed by the book, yet antsy that my reading it prevented me from doing real work. King of irony.
Best description of vocation I've ever read. Hall was a poet laureate and his prose is proof of that. If I can find half as much fulfillment in the work of my life as he has I'll be a happy man.
'Life Work' reads like a pre-write for 'The Best Day/The Worst Day', where he comes off much more human & loving, and less self-righteous & egotistical than he does here.
I flat out adore the soulfulness of Hall's writing. Memoir or poetry, poetry and memoir, they all entrace me.
This is an inspiring book on many levels. I read it years ago and it still sticks with me.
Fantastic, inspiring, fascinating. Highly recommend!!
Apr 10, 2013
Victor Cosby
marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2013
Briddle_mn
added it
Mar 22, 2013
Bo
marked it as to-read
Mar 15, 2013
Ann
marked it as to-read
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Donald Hall was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1928. He began writing as an adolescent and attended the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at the age of sixteen—the same year he had his first work published. He earned a B.A. from Harvard in 1951 and a B. Litt. from Oxford in 1953.
Donald Hall has published numerous books of poetry, most recently White Apples and the Taste of Stone: Selected Poems 1...more
More about Donald Hall...
Donald Hall has published numerous books of poetry, most recently White Apples and the Taste of Stone: Selected Poems 1...more
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Apr 22, 2013 03:58pm
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