Continuing my reading from Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, we now jump a decade from John M. Oskison's 1925-published "The singing bird" to D'Arcy McNickle's "Train time" which was published in 1936 . D'Arcy McNickle As before, I'm using both anthology editor Bob Blaisdell's brief intro and Wikipedia's article to introduce this … Continue reading D’Arcy McNickle, Train time (#Review)
American writers
John M. Oskison, The singing bird (#Review)
From Zitkala-Ša's 1901-published "The soft-hearted Sioux", Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers jumps a quarter of a century to 1925, and John M. Oskison's "The singing bird". John M. Oskison Again, anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides a brief intro to the author, but it's Wikipedia that is able to provide more detail. John … Continue reading John M. Oskison, The singing bird (#Review)
Zitkala-Sa, The soft-hearted Sioux (#Review)
Zitkala-Ša's "The soft-hearted Sioux" is the second story in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, sent to me by my American friend. I posted on the first one, Pauline Johnson's "A red girl's reasoning", a couple of weeks ago. Zitkala-Ša As he does for all the stories, anthology editor Bob Blaisdell … Continue reading Zitkala-Sa, The soft-hearted Sioux (#Review)
Gwendolyn Brooks, Maud Martha (#BookReview)
I came across Gwendolyn Brooks' 1953-published novella, Maud Martha, on JacquiWine's blog last year, and was confident it was a book for me - so I bought the e-Book version and read it slowly on my phone and iPad whenever I was out and about. This sort of reading doesn't work for all books, but … Continue reading Gwendolyn Brooks, Maud Martha (#BookReview)
Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land (#BookReview)
There was a collective cheer from the four librarians in my reading group when one of our members read Anthony Doerr’s dedication for his latest novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land. It goes like this “For the librarians then, now, and in the years to come”. Thank you Anthony! Cloud Cuckoo Land, at over 600 pages, is … Continue reading Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land (#BookReview)
Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
If you love travel, you would enjoy Jeanne Griggs' poetry collection, Postcard poems, which comprises postcard-sized poems ostensibly sent from locations around the USA, and further afield. Like all good travel writing, though, these poems offer more than just simple travel. However, before I discuss them, I should introduce the poet. Some of you will … Continue reading Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
W.E.B. Du Bois by James E. Purdy, 1907, gelatin silver print, National Portrait Gallery, which has released this digital image under the CC0 license While I knew of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), it wasn't until I read Nella Larsen's Passing earlier this year that I was inspired to read something by him. Americans will probably … Continue reading W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
Nella Larsen, Passing (#BookReview)
For last year's Novellas in November, Arti (of Ripple Effects) posted on a book and author I'd never heard of, Nella Larsen's Passing. She also discussed its 2021 film adaptation. Quite coincidentally, that same month, my Californian friend Carolyn wrote positively about the film in a letter to me. It sounded right up my alley, … Continue reading Nella Larsen, Passing (#BookReview)
David Foster Wallace, How Tracy Austin broke my heart (#Review)
Many readers here, I know, are not the slightest bit interested in sports. You know who you are and I'm not going to out you, but you are welcome to do so in the comments. Meanwhile, this is for the rest of you who enjoy watching sports. For me, watching sports aligns well with being … Continue reading David Foster Wallace, How Tracy Austin broke my heart (#Review)
James Weldon Johnson, Stranger than fiction (#Review)
Several months ago, I bookmarked a Library of America (LOA) Story of the Week offering - as I often do for later use - but, despite its being a very brief offering, I've only got to it now. It's on James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938), and was timed, 17 June 2021, to synchronise with the 150th anniversary of his birth. … Continue reading James Weldon Johnson, Stranger than fiction (#Review)
Whispering Gums 