Collection of wonderful, readable essays
921592
This is a very enjoyable collection of essays, mostly about writing and the life of a writer. The title essay was probably the best one, but it's really the only one about her marriage. The rest could be considered a metaphorical marriage, in the sense that writing is a life-long passion for her and her longest-term commitment, but it was not what I expected from reading the jacket and some of the other reviews. Still, she's a good writer and I'm very glad I found this. I've read two of her novels but nothing of her nonfiction writing before. I found her thoughts on what education and true creative thinking are most inspirational.
1172887
These fourteen essays (with an introduction by Walter Hooper) are about a variety of topics related to Christianity, but not necessarily ABOUT Christianity.  My favorite of the bunch is "Modern Theology and Biblical Criticism", a thumping rejoinder to those whose misapplication of form and redaction criticism (e.g. Bultmann or Schweitzer or Dibelius) to the gospels prevents them from making sound judgments about the life of Christ.  His essay "Petitionary Prayer: A Problem Without an Answer" is brutally honest, ending as it does in a questioning uncertainty about the matter, while his essay "The Psalms" is helpful in guiding the reader to an understanding of how to view that portion of scripture.  Some essays may strike one reader's fancy less than another's, but there is plenty here for most people to find AT LEAST one or two they greatly enjoy.  I liked all of them and found most of them very helpful to my own reflections on life.
3593064
These particular selections of essays by the prolific and most caustic critics of the American Republic, has sat on my bookshelf since the early months of 1999. Included in this overwhelming collection are 114 essays, in some cases, randomly categorized into three chapters - State of Art, State of the Union and State of Being. Vidal is an intensely knowledgeable fellow, and therefore has an opinion on just about everything having to do with art, history, politics, the state of literature and his beloved Republic To attempt to read this entire tome (1271 pages) from start to finish over a few weeks (my original intention) proved to be impossible. Although informative and extremely entertaining, there was just too much to digest, too important to scan through, thus I would mark the essays read with a tick on the contents page, place the book back on the shelf, only to return when the time felt right to take them up again.

Vidal is not only a great historian, he is also one of America's great literary radicals. He was experimenting with the literary form, attempting to apply critical theory to the Novel very early in the piece with such works as Duluth, Mira Breckinridge and the post modern religious satire, Live from Golgotha. These were indeed "radical" departures from the standard fare of American novels coming out at the time. In mainstream circles, however, these novels were not well received, but were critically acclaimed, calling them subversive, iconoclastic, original and extremely funny.

As an essayist, Vidal really has no match in American letters. These essays reveal a master at the top of their form. What is interesting as well as admirable, Vidal was criticising literary theory which had infiltrated academia in the late 60's and early 70's, al la, post structuralism and deconstructionism, but unlike the so-called "experts" in the university's across the western world, (he calls them "Hacks of Academia") Vidal attempted to put these theories to the test in the form of a popular novel, (Duluth) and succeeded. In his essay, "French Letters -Theories of the Modern Novel", Vidal attacks these modern theorists, who state that language and literature as an art form is dead, in elegant prose and biting gusto, revealing their empty (headed) arguments,

"In any case, rather like priests who have forgotten the meaning of the prayer they chant, we shall go on for quite as long time talking of books and writing books, pretending all the while not to notice that the church is empty and the parishioners have gone elsewhere to attend other gods, perhaps with silence or with new words." (1967, p. 110)

In "The State of the Union" essays, Vidal expounds upon American politics and his views on the National Security Council, the CIA and America's on-going imperialistic intentions, which interestingly, have not dated in the least. Most of these essays are as relevant as ever despite the passing of over thirty years.

There is no doubt in my mind that reading Vidal is an education, showing us a way through the miasma of received wisdom, relentlessly thrown in our direction. In many respects Vidal is a beacon of light during dark times, a writer that has never pulled any punches when it came to the things he believed in, namely writing, politics and his beloved Republic. This book should be standard issue for anyone interested in literature, politics, art, and American history.
359458
I enjoyed many of the essays in this collection.  I will be teaching a consultant-training class for the first time next semester, and will certainly be sharing many of these essays with them.  I like that it contains more updated information and ideas; even though the fallback essays from Stephen North and Muriel Harris are certainly necessary in a consultant-training course, essays like the ones in this collection also hold their place in Writing Center theory and practice.
2130037
Jonathan Dobrer's newest collection of essays showcases his gift for extremely engaging, often humerous and always thought-provoking writing.  Who can resist delving into an essay that seems to be a confession of a crime "I just got back from making a drug run to Mexico."? It's not a confession nor a crime--but I leave it to the next lucky reader to discover the truth! His essays explore and address seemingly insurmountable social concern; separation of church and state, Sept. 11, the situation in the middle east, corporate fraud, immigration, racism, and national security. And whether or not you may agree with his observations, these essays will make you think and rethink your own observations. These are essays born to spark lively group discussion. The essays here also show Jonathan Dobrer's strong ability to write deeply moving essays such as the one on the death of Daniel Pearl, delightful whimsical pieces such as "Murder Most Vowel" and local interest pieces such as "Irony-Free in Anaheim" that address the issue of immigration in an intelligent, straight-forward manner done so well it could apply to any community in the U.S. This book is a delight to read, talk about, and read again.  I look forward to Jonathan Dobrer's next collection!
873467
Christine Horansky's collection of essays is bold and powerful, yet easily approachable, personable, and digestible. This is an excellent read for someone who is just starting to learn about the global issues women face and the ways they are rising to the challenges, or for someone who has read a lot about these issues but wants to examine them from a different voice, in a different format.
977438
I was extremely surprised to find this collection of essays not reviewed here.  The title essay alone, "Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the spirit," carries more weight than most books in total, given the  revelatory descriptions of traditional Laguna Pueblo culture.
Also,  Silko's essay "The Border Patrol State" and other notes on border  militarism and race related discrimination are important and timely, and  increasingly relevant.
1356277
This a wonderful little book, a collection of essays originally published as a weekly column by the author. The opening story recounts a Mothers Day that the author spent with her aging mother. It tells of her mothers kindness and eternal optimism. As you read the essays, youll will find that the author is also  not surprisingly  filled with kindness and optimism. The stories all reflect consideration of others, and consideration of life itself. There are insights and useful references to various research that any reader will find worth pondering.
4759247
These essays are written beautifully and with great heart. Cavett is smart, funny, opinionated, well read, and knows a bunch of very interesting stuff about people in the public eye. I listened to this collection on tape and loved it so much I am now reading it in hardcover. If enjoy intelligent observations about life and people, don't hesitate to buy this (one day it will be out of print).
3805396
The author's prose is engaging--clear, insightful, charming--and topically, I guess I'm predisposed to Slouka's interests: celebrating the natural world and the rich lives we can lead prior to hopping on our phones and getting glued to screens. That's not all he writes about by a long shot, but the spirit of his pieces carry that vibe. An enjoyable essay collection from a great publisher.
2514520
The essays in this collection form a memoir of Lee Smith's life, as a southerner and as a writer. The title refers to Smith's father's general store- the center of her community in Appalachian Virginia. Smith's essays deal with her coming of age, coming to terms with her Appalachian identity, family tragedies, and the growth of her writing career. All of the essays are poignant and beautifully written. She is open and forthcoming about her family's struggles with mental illness. The essays are comfortable and easy to read, but they also deal with weighty and significant issues. This is a memoir that addresses adult nostalgia for home. Smith discovers when she returns to Grundy that she can't go home again (in fact, there's a Wal-Mart there now). Smith's memoir also deals with the anxieties created by moving out of her home environment, especially a home environment seen as deprived. In sum, these essays deal with identity, literature, life's exhilarations and life's tragedies. It is beautifully written, and well-worth reading.
89685
A wonderful collection of essays that clearly demonstrate why acclaimed economist Thomas Sowell is also one of the foremost philosophers of our time. Sowell writes with a clarity of thought and precision of language seldom seen or appreciated these days and his wry humor and insightful observations reveal the truth and depths of the difficult issues he covers. No hyperbole, no cant, no preconceived or superficial notions. His work, as always, gently exposes such mental laziness and the excuses that prop it up.

This book is five-star dining for the brain: Sowell skillfully crafts a refreshing, stimulating, satisfying, surprising and delightful experience not soon forgotten.
2951803
In one of the beginning essays in this collection, the author, Chris Lisle/Christopher Rabbit, writes about a time capsule for his daughter: "Put those precious memories of love, hopes and dreams in the time capsule of your heart.

REFLECTIONS OF A MIDDLE CHILD is just such a time capsule, complete with humorous drawings of Lisle and his children and pets, and his wife Julie. Lisle's strongest essays combine musings on literature/character/philosophy with personal, moving stories.

You will meet in this collection:

* Lisle's "Big Move"
* "Bevo the Bull"
* Great Grandmother Carrie Lisle--a short piece in the collection but arguably the most moving in its simplicity
* Brother Rex
* Colonel Barrack
* Chris the soldier (his military essays and musings on war are powerful)
* Chris's late father and the myriad people who shaped his path into an Atticus Finch-like attorney suing the negligent landlord "Pap"
* Friend Robert Sanchez ("I love you guys.")
* Spain as seen through the eyes of Olivia, one of Lisle's children

Lisle prefaces each essay with relevant quotes, including his own musings as "Christopher Rabbit". For example: "When you romanticize life, romanticize the ups and downs of your own for there is no more important 'fish story' for the telling than your own." That quote encapsulates the entire collection as Lisle moves from family history all the way through scenes of domestic life (such as his pillow fight with wife Julie and discovering that after many years of marriage, you can still forget what kind of pillow someone uses!)

You can envy this close-knit family and yet recognize yourself in Lisle's portrayals, and catch a glimpse of the divine/mystical in lines such as, "My 'Road to Damascus' moment as I called it showed me that there was a God, a quick glimpse into the shadows of our understanding, that God was there, is there now with you and me." And of course, there is the tale of Christopher Rabbit...
1450315
I thoroughly enjoyed this book consisting of multiple of the "best" essays. Many of them were only a few pages long and able to be read in one sitting which was very convenient.  The essays were very entertaining which made it a pleasant read and I recommend this to everyone of all ages.
1930715
This is a very rich collection of essays. Two of those which were of special interest to me were Jonathan Rosen's, "The Talmud and the Internet" which was later expanded into a book by that name. And Floyd Skoot's Kismet a most moving essay about his own family and his brother's death.

Lopate has a great understanding of the genre. He includes 'rediscoveries' Orwell 's "Some Thoughts on the Common Toad", and Derek Walcott's "The Antilles."
453721
This is a great collection of essays that explore the diversity of the Black experience in America. As a white reader, it was incredibly helpful and important to engage with many different voices sharing their experience of what it's like to live as a Black American, as complex and challenging as it can be. No two pieces in this book are alike, and each brings an essential perspective to the conversation. I picked this up for a book club, and I think it's a great choice for discussion of the state of race in America, particularly as brutality against Black people is at the forefront of public discourse. I don't normally read book introductions (lazy, I guess?), but I read this one and am glad I did. Jesmyn Ward's explanation of her work in assembling this collection was a helpful orientation. Ward makes it clear why this book is a necessary addition to the American catalogue.
1356465
Tanzer is reflective, sardonic, surprising, and infinitely wise.  A wonderful collection of essays to put by the bedside table, whether you have a father, or just want one.