Jan Priddy > Recent Status Updates

Didn't like that the woman is "not my wife" rather than named the first time I read the title story. Like it less now.

Somehow this is marked DNF? I used to teach a couple of stories from this marvelous collection so it's getting a reread. The first story "Towel Season" does a remarkable job of revealing genius. Analogy—I know a tech person who explains things this way.

Lifetimes ruined by stupid, careless choices. I will say I am not enjoying this collection. Maybe because it is so authentic?

If I could, I would read this straight through.

I found this book yesterday at our favorite local charity shop. It's been on my to-read shelf for years and I'm struggling not to read it straight through.

I recognized "Poem after Carlos Drummond de Andrade" from a reading. Knew it immediately. Marvin's voice, his reading in all his power and tenderness.

"It's life, Carlos." I can hear Marvin read this poem, hear his voice, his faith and promise and his life. "... life blows you apart in her arms."

It is a spectacular poem.

I remember the fist story as I read.

I was nearly through the first story in this collection, and noting how similar the set-up and structure are to "Potato Gun," a story I used to teach. Then the book vanished from my bedside and I have not been able to find it. Then, wondering what he had been up to, I checked Wikipedia and found he was forced to resign after a sexual impropriety was unearthed from his years teaching HS. So okay, I'm done now.

Yes, a beautiful fairytale!

Cain and Abel are referenced twice so far. And Thor, of course since this is a pre-Christian Danish epic.

My husband gave me this book because we both admired Marvin, I took a class with him, and regard him as one of the kinder and more generous and eloquent people I have ever met.

So very smart and she assumes the reader will pay attention.

The chapter about the Modoc... so powerful!