I turn fifty in a few weeks. There is no doubt that books have played a formative role in the person I have become. Without books, I would know very little about systemic inequity or the ancient world. I would have little sense of numerous parts of the world, such as Iran or North Korea,Continue reading “14 Books That May Have Changed My Life, And One That Definitely Did”
Author Archives: Xandra
Stranger Things
I have read some peculiar things in books. It’s nothing I ever seek out. I am not a fan of horror or the macabre, where one might expect excesses. Instead everyday books – fiction, memoir, even theology – occasionally offer up some moments for pause. Here are five that have stuck with me: 1. AmyContinue reading “Stranger Things”
Legacies
My father passed away recently. He had an idiosyncratic and formidable personality that is hard to capture in words. In some ways, we were worlds apart. But one thing we had in common was a love of books and writing. My dad was rarely seen without a book, often a doorstop-size biography of a presidentContinue reading “Legacies”
Yosemite
July 14th (or 17th) Sunset or sunrise walk: July 15th Morning hike: July 16th Sunrise walk, followed by drive to El Capitan: July 16th, evening:
Yosemite
July 14th (or 17th) Sunset or sunrise walk: July 15th Morning hike: July 16th Sunrise walk, followed by drive to El Capitan: July 16th, evening:
Mixed Messages
I once knew a woman who had no trouble meeting men. At parties she disappeared into dark rooms with attractive strangers, emerging the next morning with a sly grin on her face. In the six months that I knew her, she had no fewer than half a dozen lovers. In my social circle, this behaviorContinue reading “Mixed Messages”
Cheap Applause
Ten years ago, I submitted my first novel to several literary agents. I had worked hard on it – multiple drafts and revisions after feedback from half a dozen beta readers – and was proud of the final product. It was a thrill to get “full” requests – a second step after agents have readContinue reading “Cheap Applause”
Reading Around The Map: Iran
Books can be a great way to armchair travel. A few hours in the head of a foreign national can tell you about their values, habits, and struggles. This is especially worthwhile when it comes to cultures you will never experience firsthand. Given the ongoing political tensions between the US and Iran, I won’t everContinue reading “Reading Around The Map: Iran”
Ripped from the Headlines
Some books aim for originality while others take a topical premise and explore it in a variety of ways. I think of the latter as “ripped from the headlines” novels. If you watched classic Law & Order, you will remember their tendency to build plots from recent newsworthy events, often switching secondary elements to keepContinue reading “Ripped from the Headlines”
Reading Around The Map: Wisconsin
Setting in fiction is one of those optional ingredients, like walnuts in chocolate chip cookies. While you can’t power a story without a protagonist, there are plenty of novels that give scant detail about the location. You may learn more about the main character’s house than their town. The story may be set in aContinue reading “Reading Around The Map: Wisconsin”
Books Smitten 