Beautiful, Betsy. On Memorial Day I always think about the sailors who lost their lives when the Stark was attacked on May 17, 1987. Have a great weekend!
I’m really enjoying everything about Spark, Betsy. I love how you have a central theme but take it all over the place. Your writing is a delight and you give me lots to think about and much to discover. I wanted to say that even though I have been having trouble reading books these days (which is inconvenient for a book reviewer), I have loved reading short stories. I’ve joined a group (strangers to me when I joined) via Zoom and each week we discuss a short story from the “Best of” series published by Houghton Mifflin — 2019 edition. So far, there’s been only one story I could have lived without. The rest feel essential. “Black Corfu” by Karen Russell is one of my favorites for the writing. “Letter of Apology” was funny and brilliant. Talking about these brilliant short stories with a group of smart strangers certainly keeps me on my toes!
This just in from Kate, a Spark subscriber, one of the greatest readings of a gem of a story by Michael Cunningham. There is a wonderful moment when Russell Tovey, the reader, gets carried away and it is has not to be carried along with him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_haFaFPhYj4
Betsy, your essay today is so pertinent in light of the NYT cover page naming 1000 people who have died of COVID-19. Particularly touching is the one line used to describe the person’s life. Certainly got me thinking about what MY one line would be!
So I’m happy to have an opportunity to name a friend of mine who died last month - not of COVID, but from ovarian cancer, just 23 days after her diagnosis. Her name was Paula Clinard, an extraordinary music education who shared her positive energy with generations of young people.
I’m looking forward to reading the Anne Tyler book. Thank you again for offering it. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think!
Thank for sharing Paula's name with us., Becca. I will think of her today. Yes, that NYT project was sobering and so well thought out. One line. One name. An entire life.
Beautiful, Betsy. On Memorial Day I always think about the sailors who lost their lives when the Stark was attacked on May 17, 1987. Have a great weekend!
I’m really enjoying everything about Spark, Betsy. I love how you have a central theme but take it all over the place. Your writing is a delight and you give me lots to think about and much to discover. I wanted to say that even though I have been having trouble reading books these days (which is inconvenient for a book reviewer), I have loved reading short stories. I’ve joined a group (strangers to me when I joined) via Zoom and each week we discuss a short story from the “Best of” series published by Houghton Mifflin — 2019 edition. So far, there’s been only one story I could have lived without. The rest feel essential. “Black Corfu” by Karen Russell is one of my favorites for the writing. “Letter of Apology” was funny and brilliant. Talking about these brilliant short stories with a group of smart strangers certainly keeps me on my toes!
Thanks for all of this, Rae!
This just in from Kate, a Spark subscriber, one of the greatest readings of a gem of a story by Michael Cunningham. There is a wonderful moment when Russell Tovey, the reader, gets carried away and it is has not to be carried along with him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_haFaFPhYj4
Betsy, your essay today is so pertinent in light of the NYT cover page naming 1000 people who have died of COVID-19. Particularly touching is the one line used to describe the person’s life. Certainly got me thinking about what MY one line would be!
So I’m happy to have an opportunity to name a friend of mine who died last month - not of COVID, but from ovarian cancer, just 23 days after her diagnosis. Her name was Paula Clinard, an extraordinary music education who shared her positive energy with generations of young people.
I’m looking forward to reading the Anne Tyler book. Thank you again for offering it. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think!
Thank for sharing Paula's name with us., Becca. I will think of her today. Yes, that NYT project was sobering and so well thought out. One line. One name. An entire life.