So You Think You’re Literate?

Posted on August 29, 2017August 26, 2017 by vlaw759

You think you’re literate?

So did I until I delved into Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison. She’s a long-standing advocate of buying local and cooking seasonal produce. Although I bought the book in 2014, and have cooked from it since then, I only recently started reading it.

If you are interested in botany, gardening, cooking and/or eating, this book’s for you!

The twelve chapters, each devoted to one vegetable family, includes essays, photos, and recipes. Just reading the chapter headings is an education—at least, it was for me.

Chapter One: The Carrot Family. I once felt rather smug, knowing that Queen Anne’s lace is related to carrots. Ha! In this 43-page chapter, Madison introduces the rest of the family: angelica, anise, asafetida, caraway, celery, celery root, chervil, cilantro and coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, hemlock, lovage, osha, parsley, parsley root, parsnips, and wild carrot. Although I’ve grown dill and parsley for decades, I never tumbled to the relationship.

In Chapter Two: The Mint Family, I learned that most staples of my herb garden are relatives: basil, lavender, marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, and mint are all perennial for me. The problem with mint is that it won’t stay potted! It’s been known to actually cross the patio.

Thanks to this chapter, I now know that anise hyssop, bee balm, catmint, chia seeds, horehound, lemon balm, perilla, and savory are in this family as well. Unfortunately, my hyssop isn’t anise hyssop. Only bees want to sample it.

I won’t go in depth with chapter contents, for that wouldn’t do the book justice. I’ll just mention selections. Chapter Three: The Sunflower Family, surprised me by including lettuces and tarragon. The Knotweed Family includes a favorite from childhood, rhubarb. The Cabbage Family includes kale, mustard, radishes, and turnips. Tuscan Kale with Anchovy-Garlic Dressing is a recent favorite.

By Chapter Six: The Nightshade Family, I stopped being surprised that eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco might turn up together—along with miscellaneous other relatives. Chapter Seven (The Goosefoot and Amaranth Families) deals with edible weeds, leaves, and seeds.

Chapter Eight includes the recipes for chives, onions, asparagus, leeks, shallots, etc. Of course there are chapters on squashes, melons, and gourds—which includes cucumbers; grains and cereals (e.g., barley, wild rice, millet, etc.); and legumes (all sorts of beans and peas).

Chapter 12 is the last—shortest—chapter, on The Morning Glory Family. It’s shortest because the only edible member is the sweet potato.

I LOVE THIS SORT OF INFORMATION! Yes, I could get the botanicals elsewhere. But, as cookbook author Davis Tanis said, “Filled with fascinating botanical notes and inspired recipes that really explore vegetables from the the ground up—it is a pleasure to read.The writing is beautiful and the lessons are astutely down to earth.”

Get into Pictures

Posted on August 25, 2017August 25, 2017 by vlaw759

Last Saturday, August 19, was World Picture Day—and I missed it! But it’s never to late to recall a good idea.

Those of us who have taken writing workshops know the value of pictures as writing prompts. I’ve been on the receiving end and the giving end of postcards, photos, or paintings as the stimulus for stories. Several of my published stories started with such prompts, including Naked Truth, Love Me Tender, and Pictures Not Displayed (forthcoming).

Whole books have been published for the specific purpose of prompting stories. There’s a lot to be said for using such a book for daily—or at least regular—writing exercises, some of which turn into scenes in longer pieces or books. They can add a plot twist that surprises the reader.

Books that aren’t necessarily intended as writing prompts can nevertheless be great resources.

Each picture should lead to a full story, including—at the minimum—who, what, when, where, and why. Never underestimate the importance of why. Rorschach cards are used to elicit such stories for diagnostic purposes. And as with the Rorschach cards, the good writer will consider what led up to the picture, what will happen now, and what is the protagonist thinking and feeling.

But beyond looking at pictures, you should take pictures. This is often easy, given the availability of cell phones with a photo capability. Keeping an eye out for photo opps makes you more sensitive to details of your surroundings—from the color of flowers to found art—to capturing people’s emotions in the moment. Your own pictures are as useful for material as any others. Go for it.

Vicarious Adventure

Posted on August 1, 2017August 1, 2017 by vlaw759

My personal adventures have been relatively tame: parasailing in the Bahamas, zip-lining in Costa Rica, draping an anaconda around my shoulders in the Amazon rainforest. (FYI: Anaconda poop bleaches clothing.) But I’ve always enjoyed vicarious adventures—women’s adventures.

This started when I was in elementary school. I read the adventures of Ruth Fielding in a series of books owned by my paternal aunt.

Although the settings of these thirty books seemed like ancient history (published 1913-1934), I loved kind-hearted, curious, brave, adventuresome Ruth.

When I was somewhat older, I discovered Cherry Ames: Student Nurse.

The medical aspects of this series (27 books) fascinated me. But more important was the heroine, whose kind heart led her into dangerous situations that her sharp wits got her out of. I gave my Cherry Ames books to my older granddaughter a few years ago, but alas, her interests are more in the fantasy/horror genre. Oh, well.

As you may have gathered by now, for me, there is no expiration date on adventure.

Beryl Markham’s incredible book is set in the earliest years of flight, and being a bush pilot in Africa. The writing is lyrical, the scenes compelling.

When I was involved in a vicarious love affair with Alaska (I’ve never been there), I read book after book set there, and through a rather circuitous route, came across Woodswoman.

When one thinks New York, the first thing to come to mind is not wilderness. And yet the North Country has winters suitable for training military for the Arctic, and parts of the Adirondacks truly are isolated—and virtually inaccessible in winter. Anne LaBastille living alone, frozen in for the winter, with a jerry-rigged outdoor shower, is plenty adventurous.

My longest term adventure was a two-week float-and-paddle rafting trip down the Colorado River. I mostly floated. Side-canyon hikes were strenuous and attending to one’s bodily needs was a challenge. But the most exciting part was the white-water rapids. I went bow-riding over thirty-foot drops! (Bow-riding is sitting on the front of the raft, holding onto a rope.)

So it’s no wonder I love Writing Down the River. Over one summer, fifteen talented women writers rafted down the Colorado. Their contributions to this book reflect their successes and failures, joys and fears. They take you there! (And, BTW, the photographs are gorgeous.)

Bottom line: Find your adventure—personal or vicarious—and pursue it.

A Creative Nonfiction Writer You Should Know

Posted on July 25, 2017July 25, 2017 by vlaw759

creative nonfiction writer know linda bourassa

Once upon a time, I worked with Dr. Joyce Dyer at Hiram College. We were just solidifying the writing program and making it more prominent within the curriculum. Joyce was a great choice to head those efforts, for she is a stellar colleague and widely admired teacher. But that’s not why I am writing about her today.

Joyce Dyer has a flair for drawing on her own life and making it bigger—relevant, compelling reading.

tangled wood alzheimers journey joyce dyer

In a Tangled Wood: An Alzheimer’s Journey is a rare, powerful memoir of a mother and daughter in the world of Alzheimer’s. It is humorous, painful, and wise. Joyce doesn’t shy away from the struggle, but this book contains a surprising wealth of joy as well.

creative nonfiction writer know gum dipped — [Source: Amazon]

Sociology of time and place permeate two of her books. The titles say it all: Goosetown: Reconstructing an Akron Neighborhood and Gum-Dipped: A Daughter Remembers Rubber Town. The former, in particular, is a case study in writing memoir based on the earliest years of one’s life. How can those memories be recovered? Those times revisited? Anyone interested in writing—or simply reading—memoir should check out these books.

The keen eye and talent for the telling detail that characterize her own work enabled her to edit two volumes of essays that are prime reading for anyone interested in writing, women’s writing, women’s history, or life in general!

Bloodroot: Reflections on Place by Appalachian Women Writers is particularly poignant for me. Being firmly rooted in the hills of eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio, Appalachian voices and places permeate many of my short stories and one (as yet unpublished) novel.

And now I have the pleasure of starting From Curlers to Chainsaws: Women and Their Machines. Published just last year, this is a new acquisition, an anthology I expect to enjoy reading and to shelve for reference. Bill Roorbach’s cover comment says it beautifully: “From Curlers to Chainsaws makes stops along the way to visit prosthetics, lawnmowers, typewriters, vibrators, washing machines, and on and on, from traditional women’s gear to equipment we’re all using now, praise be… a book of women’s voices so clear and diverse and funny and heartbreakingly individual that you hurry from one to the next…” I can hardly wait!

There’s a Rule for That!

Posted on July 11, 2017July 5, 2017 by vlaw759

This is a fun read and less than 200 pages. For one thing, it’s humorous. And it’s a scientific fact that laughing is good for your physical and mental health. So, even if you aren’t rule-bound, you might want to be rule-informed.

The authors are concerned with everyday actions which—although neither immoral nor illegal—are generally considered improper. In general, these are rules for getting along well in U.S. society. Readers are encouraged to suggest additions or amendments to thebookofrules.com.

The rules are organized into the following chapters.

DRIVING, should you want to know about the Green Light Honk, singing along with the radio, who controls the dashboard configuration, and similar vital information.

SHOPPING, including the proper direction and speed of pedestrian flow, shopping cart selection and return, seasonal shopping guidelines, and the proper protocol for found money, to name a few.

DINING OUT, besides dress codes and tipping guidelines for awkward situation, includes dining out with coupons, touching hot plates, and offering compliments/complaints—and more!

FOOD, including accommodating vegetarians, the cereal box prize, and the thickness of peanut butter and jelly.

HABITS AND MANNERS: Who doesn’t want to know how to yawn properly, issue an acceptable fart, or notify an individual of bad breath? This is a long chapter.

HOME: Learn how to make a 60-second sofa seat reservation, authorize the use of wind chimes, deal with yard parkers, and more.

BATHROOMS (such a major topic it’s separated from home in general): Look her for advice on locking the bathroom door, looking in a friend’s medicine cabinet, towel folding and display, and public restroom rules for men and for women. (BTW, I, for one, disagree with their guideline for dispensing toilet tissue.)

The remaining chapters of KITCHENS, DRESS, MULTIMEDIA, THE WORKPLACE, AND TRAVEL contain similarly essential and guidance. As I said, it’s a pleasant read. And if you are like me, intentionally flaunting the rules is inherently gratifying!

If you’re a writer, imagine the ideas for creating an unusual obsessive-compulsive character’s behavior.

Resource for Writers

Posted on April 21, 2017April 21, 2017 by vlaw759

If you read only one magazine for writers, make it Poets & Writers. This is a bi-monthly publication that covers the waterfront for writers. Regardless of your genre, reason for writing, or skill level, there’s something here for you.

In the last six issues, topics covered include articles on literary agents and the business of writing; hot new writers; MFA programs; writing contests; and a personal favorite of mine, from last Sept/Oct issue, “Big Ideas for the Next President.”

Although there is a clear recognition of young emerging writers, P&W also carried a piece about 5 debut authors over 50—which is very comforting and inspirational for those of us who think we might have started too late.

As you can see from this Jan/Feb 2017 cover, topics for each issue range broadly, from learning from rejection to writing about trauma. The next issue featured George Saunders, known for his short stories, who has written a debut novel; also included are articles on writing getaways and retreats and savvy self-publishing.

The most recent issue again dips into current events, with its article on the NEA at risk/the arts funding under Trump.

I cannot endorse Poets & Writers too strongly. At least get a trial subscription.

P.S. Every issue includes writing prompts!

Read this Book!

Posted on January 31, 2017January 31, 2017 by vlaw759

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf is incredible. It’s low-key, but the operational definition of a page-turner. It opens with Addie Moore calling Louis Waters and inviting him to sleep with her. The twist is that they are seventy-something widow(er)s, and there’s no explicit sex. They defy the town gossips and family opposition. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said, “A fine and poignant novel that demonstrates that our desire to love and be loved does not dissolve with age.”

Kent Haruf is a best selling novelist. But this is the first book of his I have read. I literally couldn’t put it down. Haruf has a spare style—like Hemingway, without the macho. It’s a fast read, but you might want to linger. It’s truly gripping.

Knowing What’s Out There

Posted on January 17, 2017January 16, 2017 by vlaw759

IMHO, The New York Review of Books is the single best source on what’s out there. It is published biweekly and does more than what the title says. The publication describes itself as a “journal of intellectual currents.” It contains articles on literature, culture, economics, science and current affairs. The book reviews span the publishing world (see the cover shot above) and each article is an education in itself. And, BTW, the writing is excellent.

Often two related books are covered in a given article. But you get more than a simple review. The authors put the books in context.

Sue Halpern’s article, listed on the cover as “There Is Now Another You” and inside as “They Have, Right Now, Another You,” is a delightful example. Yes, she does review Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy (Cathy O’Neil) and Virtual Competition: The Promise and Perils of the Algorithm-Driven Economy (Ariel Ezrachi and Maurice E. Stuckey). But she also discusses the 98 data points Facebook collects on each of its nearly 2 billion users. “Among this ninety-eight are ethnicity, income, net worth, home value, if you are a mom, if you are a soccer mom, if you are married, the number of lines of credit you have, if you are interested in Ramadan, when you bought your car, and on and on and on.”

Using herself as an case in point, she describes the erroneous—and laughable—profiles that can be generated. (You really should read this article!)

In addition, I learned some interesting—and sometimes disturbing—bits of info. For example, FB follows users across the Internet, disregarding their “do not track” settings. It knows every time a user visits a website that has a FB page. There are some 5,000 data brokers worldwide who comb public records and sell the info to public and private buyers. I concluded that FB isn’t really free to users; we are paying for it by getting the ads targeting our profile. “These ad references are the coin of the Facebook realm; the company made $2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2016 alone…”

independent press listing New York Review of Books

To paraphrase TV pitches, “But wait! There’s more!” NYRB contains ads from big name publishers, university presses, and indie publishers, the book pix usually accompanied by blurbs to entice you to the bookstore—or to put your name on the waiting list at the local library!

art institute chicago New York Review of Books

oslo lincoln center theater New York Review of Books

Readers of NYRB get a glimpse of what’s showing in museums, galleries, and theaters from San Francisco to Chicago, from DC to New York. Some people actually visit those places specifically to see such shows and exhibits. Maybe someday I’ll be one of them. Oh, sigh.

BOTTOM LINE: the NYRB provides info on What’s Out There, and sometimes it’s even local.

Philosophy for the Pop Culture-Minded

Posted on August 23, 2016August 22, 2016 by vlaw759

I took a couple of philosophy courses in college, and trust me, they didn’t have titles anything like these books! But for your reading pleasure, here are a variety of possibilities:

The Beatles and Philosophy: Popular Culture and Philosophy, edited by Michael & Steven Baur

Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind, edited by Josef Steiff

Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside, edited by C. Lewis & P. Smithka

Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant, edited by J.T.Eberl & K.S. Decker

The Grateful Dead and Philosophy: Tetting High Minded About Love and Haight, edited by Steven Gimbel

Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful that Axiom, Eugene!, edited by George A. Reisch

The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy: Wicked Wisdom of the West, edited by R.E. Auxier & P.S. Seng

Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter’s Box, edited by Eric Bronson

The Walking Dead and Philosophy: Zombie Apocalypse Now, edited by Wayne Yuen

Breaking Bad and Philosophy: Badder Living Through Chemistry, edited by D.R. Koepseil & B. Arp

Mr. Monk and Philosophy: The Curious Case of the Defective Detective, edited by D.E. Wittkower

Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts, edited by D. Baggett & S.E. Klein

Rush and Philosophy: Heart and Mind United, edited by J. Berti & D. Bowman

Movies and the Meaning of Life: Philosophers Take on Hollywood, edited by K.A. Blessing & P.J. Tudico

Dexter and Philosophy: Mind Over Spatter, edited by Richard Greene, et al.

Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed, edited by Scott Calef

The Rolling Stones and Philosophy: It’s Just A Thought Away, edited by L. Dick and G.A. Reisch

Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth, edited by J. Huss & D. Werther

South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating, edited by Richard Hanley

Futurama and Philosophy: Bite My Shiny Metal Axiom, edited by C. Lewis & S.P. Young

Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up?, edited by J. Steiff & T.D. Tamplin

Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way, edited by Tom & Matt Morris

Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy: The Porpoise Driven Life, edited by E. McKenna & S.L. Pratt

Dune and Philosophy: Weirding Way of the Mentat, edited by Jeffery Nicholas

Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth, edited by R.E. Auxier & D. Anderson

World of Warcraft and Philosophy: Wrath of the Philosopher King, edited by L. Cuddy & J. Nordinger

Bob Dylan and Philosophy: Popular Culture and Philosophy, edited by P. Vernezze & C.J. Porter

The first and last titles say it all! The various volumes focus on issues of life, love, society, politics, spirituality, personal identity, art, ethics, conflict, community, cosmos, truth, American identity, justice, human fulfillment, meaning-of-life, obesity, animal rights, political correctness, religious tolerance, homophobia, moral responsibility, social justice, patriotism, romantic love, artistic creativity, and class oppression. Here’s a chance to explore the more serious underpinning of popular culture that, possibly, account for the popularity. Check these books out online; there’s something for every reader here!

Vivian Lawry

Writer

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