A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be invited to speak out as well. (Not that I'm that interesting. He's just that nice.) And so I am there today, talking about the need to write and read books that have a true and jolting impact—books that avoid the safety zone of imitation and too-familiar comfort. My piece begins like this:
I need them urgent. I need them to persuade me of their relevance, to yank me by the hair, to stop me in my whirling tracks, to somehow give me faith (still, still) in this planet rotten with injustice.And can be found in total here.
I am a bore, I am a scold, I am no fun, excuse me and but:
What books, you might wonder, have jolted me of late? I read both nonfiction and fiction (I think the sentiments apply to both). In recent weeks, I've been deeply engaged by books like these:
Five Days at Memorial, Sheri Fink
Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Katherine Boo
The Sixth Extinction, Elizabeth Kolbert
Once I was Cool, Megan Stielstra
The Yellow Birds/Kevin Powers
Life Drawing, Robin Black
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr
The Department of Speculation, Jenny Offill
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