What a year it’s been! I am happy to report on the books I read. As you can expect if you’re a regular on this blog, my list includes books about food, animals, psychology, and writing. Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de WaalYet another wonderful text from renowned … More 21 Books in 2020
It’s time for the annual book blog! In 2019, I read 25 books on my favorite topics: animals, relationships, language, and food. You’ll find my mini-reviews below each title. Books are linked to Amazon for convenience; these are not affiliate links. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost … More 25 Books in 2019
The March issue of Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature features my essay, “I Am Reading, I Am Read.” This piece is part of the Gatherer’s Blog — a special column where disabled writers talk about the writing life. In my essay, I explore the challenges of learning to read my poetry in … More “I Am Reading, I Am Read” published in Wordgathering!
Once again, it’s time to report on what I read this year. I set myself the Goodreads challenge of 35 books, and I read them all! As usual, the most memorable books get mini-reviews. And I’ve included links to the two full-length reviews I wrote this year. Sprinkled throughout this list you’ll find my favorite books … More 35 in 2018
Each semester I share with students a list of the books and articles that I have used to develop the methods and concepts for my courses. Some may see this as pretentious — me handing them a long list and saying “Look how much I’ve read!” I don’t have a problem with that: scholars and … More Bibliography as Invitation
My reading goal for 2017 was 35 books. Below you’ll find several of my favorite themes – ecology, music, spirituality, and grammar. But there are also several books about Jane Austen as July marked the 200th anniversary of her death. I’m feeling rather hip as many of these books actually came out in 2017, so … More 37 Books in 2017
May is turning out to be a literary month for me. I’ve created an account on Goodreads to keep numerical track of how many books I’m currently reading. So far, Goodreads says I’m reading 13. As I’ve listed several collections of poetry in this category – collections I read a few poems at a time – my … More Sweet Response
In my freshman composition courses, the students read a variety of scholarly articles, poems, short stories, style guides, and essays. During our discussion of the writer-reader relationship, I like to work in a chapter from Margaret Atwood’s Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing. I choose the chapter “Communion: Nobody to Nobody,” in which … More Immortal Welcome
Well, this essay was supposed to enter a contest, but it doesn’t meet the specifics. So I’ll share it with you instead! ***** Last semester, I returned home after a long day of teaching and found a large flat box on my bed. I could just make out a logo in the top left corner, … More Touching the Wild Shape of Poetry
On Friday morning, I sit across from Elena, a soft-spoken student with a thick Cuban accent. She is a cellist and a dear friend who struggles with writing in English. She explains that she needs help with an essay assignment for one of her music theory courses. Her voice is gentle and husky, full of … More Uncommon Reader
Fifteen minutes before class, I prepare to leave my office. I place a stack of 25 graded student essays into my large bag, wrap my soft red scarf around my neck, hang my small brown purse from my right shoulder, and slide my sunglasses over my regular glasses. I pick up my keys and unfold … More Illumination
Before time pulls a fine, shimmering mist over my academic experiences, I must write from the perspective of the blind student. Though my studies pass beyond each graduation, I find myself in a new role, the teacher’s role, and my ideas about students are changing. So, meet me at the door of all my classrooms, … More Blind Student
When venturing in search of new (or used) books, the Serious Bibliophile requires a few essentials: canvas bags for carrying the books home, a bottle of water, a dedicated and equally bibliophilic companion, a list, and a lot of time. The canvas bags are necessary for two reasons: 1) they won’t tear when you cram … More Intimate with Print
On the Blink 