You know what you need? More Cynthia Ozick
Greetings from my bed on a Sunday evening. I’ve been here all weekend, tucked in with a stack of books that I’ve been too tired to read. No, it isn’t Covid. It seems to just be a plain old cold. …
Ceasefire Now. Release the Hostages.
I have shared links to articles and calls for ceasefire in Gaza on social media. I have signed petitions and an open letter against the conflation of criticism for the horrendous actions of the Israeli government with antisemitism. I have …
Laying My Dead Dad Novel to Rest
My father died when he was fifty years old and I was nineteen. He died suddenly and then slowly—a heart attack at work that he never regained consciousness from, followed by three weeks in a coma on life support, and …
In which I filled my bedroom with tiny kittens
Just as the summer was drawing to a close, and I was looking forward to quietly gliding into fall, I pulled a typical Cari move and upped the degree of daily difficulty. Not a tremendous amount—just enough to add some …
“Unrequited love’s a bore!”
Fucking Jack Kerouac, man. This weekend I read Minor Characters by Joyce Johnson, as research for my current novel. Folks, it was a damn good read. If you’re in any way interested in the Beats, and could do with a …
The Dangers of Auto-Fan-Fiction
Greetings from my mother’s kitchen table. The kids and I are halfway through a not-quite-two-week trip back east to visit family in NYC and New Jersey. It’s been a wonderful visit so far. I miss my people and these places …
You, Me, and Doris Lessing’s The Summer Before the Dark: The end
(pages 206 to 273) Well, we’ve reached the end. For those who read along, thanks for joining me. One more time into the breach and then onward: In which it all comes down to the seal. And hair? Okay, so …
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You, Me, and Doris Lessing’s The Summer Before the Dark: Week Three
(pages 149-206) Hey, folks. Here we are, week 3 of 4 in our reading together. If you aren’t reading along, please bear with me for one more week, and remember that I am absolutely NOT turning this newsletter into a …
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You, Me, and Doris Lessing’s The Summer Before the Dark: Week Two
(pages 78-149) Welcome back! Thanks to all who joined in on the conversation last week. I hope everyone is enjoying the reading. I’ve been having a great time with it. I’m reading it for the second time, but it keeps …
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You, Me, and Doris Lessing’s The Summer Before the Dark: Week One
(pages 3-78) Welcome to the first of four discussions about The Summer Before the Dark! Doris Lessing is one of my favorite authors, and I’m so looking forward to reading and thinking about this novel with you. It was published …
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