We need to do some book reviews soon. Before we do that, let’s review other people who are doing the reviewing already.
Britty Books: This Blogger website is maintained by Britty, the self-professed “chief bottle-washer” and book lover of the site. I came across the site because I wanted to read up a little on Alice Munro. As a Canadian, she certainly knows her Munro (and a number of other of other Canadian writers). What I like about Britty is that she not only tells you what makes a certain book good, but also provides a brief explanation of how it might be appropriate. For instance in her review of Away from Her (a book that I now need to read), Britty points out that the book is excellent for those for whom Alzheimer’s has touched their lives. As an English instructor, I am always looking for ways to demonstrate literature’s relevance to my students, and Britty does a great job of showing away. Presently, she’s doing a series exploring books on the issue of bullying. Britty also maintains a personal writing website called Scrivner. She reveals herself to be a prolific and interesting poet.
Remaining a Writer: James T. Harding appears to be the host of this Blogger site. I came across this website while researching David Sedaris, a favorite author of mine. His website features a rather curious exploration of Sedaris’s writing, called “How to write like David Sedaris.” His dissection of Sedaris’s short stories reveals a writerly instinct and careful attention to detail. An Oxford University graduate specializing in medievalism and music, Harding lives in Edinburgh with his “very literary family,” and explores the nature of the writer’s craft. Please read his most recent article, “5 ways to be taken seriously as a writer without actually writing anything.” It’s very funny, and I’m afraid that I’ve been guilty of more than one of these trappings before.
Random Literary Blogging: Donnigan Merritt is the host of this WordPress site. An Arkansas writer, he explores everything from his own writing experiences to his views on politics and more. His most recent post, “A few of my favorite Buenos Aires photos” was quite a fun read/sight. I was rather impressed by the Babylon Tower of books, a temporary installation in the city. Merritt is a published author and his articles are more or less devoted to the random musings of an author. More than anything, I think his posts reveal how blogging sites such as WordPress provide an opportunity to seek inspiration. As students of writing, we are always told to simply write and worry about the rest later. Merritt’s site does this.
Kate Gale: A Mind Never Dormant: The Life of a Writer/Editor: Kate Gale is the publisher of Red Hen Press, a small nonprofit publishing company based in Pasadena, California. Both Gale and Red Hen Press strive to serve the local Southern California literary community (it’s not just Hollywood, you know!). As Red Hen’s Mission Page explain:
Red Hen Press is committed to publishing works of literary excellence, supporting diversity, and promoting literacy in our local schools. We seek a community of readers and writers who are actively engaged in the essential human practice known as literature.
Gale’s own website provides humorous insights on her own life and experiences managing Red Hen Press, pursuing a literary career, and somehow finding the time to raise a family.
Christian Mihai: Christian Mihai is a young Romanian author and one of the first persons to befriend Foolish Human. He is quite an inspiration to other writers, both in his dogged determination to his craft and in the advice he offers on how to get published. Mihai is a published writer who has just released a new novel called Jazz. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m going to have to check it out.
That’s about it for now! We’ll take a look at other books and sites in the near future. In the meantime, please take a look at these authors’ creative sites.
