Charcut. Vol. 29
short & sweet because my little sister is getting married tomorrow <3
Hi! This month I have been reading Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante. As predicted, it has taken me just about the entire month, and I am by this point quite eager to finish it. Maybe I will fit something else in before May comes. You’ll find out next week.
Additionally I read two short stories out of my copy of the 1997 O. Henry Prize Stories—“City Life” by Mary Gordon (the winner), and then also, because I was intrigued by a collection of hers at the Strand the other day, “Comfort” by Mary Gaitskill. The first was about woman, who having broken away from her poverty-stricken family finds herself greatly disturbed when a slovenly downstairs neighbor interrupts her carefully constructed life. The second focuses on the subject’s respective relationships with his father and girlfriend in the aftermath of a horrible car accident that disables his mother. I’ve already kind of forgotten it—“City Life” was more memorable, which I think is as good a barometer for short stories as any.
Fittingly though unintentionally (April being National Poetry Month), I read a lot about poetry and poets, including Poetry Magazine, which I mentioned last week, and two interesting profiles—one on Michael Ondaatje and one on V.R. Lang. It inspired me to finally start a list of the poets I want to read more of which is something I have thought about doing many times. The internet is a wonderful place (LOL) to discover poetry, but it is often the case that whatever you discover is totally out of context. I want more context & a deeper understanding. So far, on my list:
Jane Kenyon Jane Hirshfield Linda Greg Michael Ondaatje Gregory Orr V.R. Lang
Who should I add?
