But seriously, I did have a lot of fun writing that novel. I was practically raised in public and academic libraries, have always adored them, even did a stint at library school in an MLS program. Probably best not to go into the choppy history of my graduate education, though. We'd all get seasick.
Oddly enough, I haven't been reading a lot of fiction lately. I'm mostly reading poetry. I'm carrying three collections around with me in my book bag these days (I take public transportation everywhere, and riding the bus requires packing a lot of reading material). Marie Howe's The Good Thief, Brenda Hillman's Bright Existence, and Jason Bredle's Standing in Line for the Beast have been going with me everywhere. In terms of voice and style, these poets couldn't be much more different, yet there's a similarity in their intensity, their inventive language, and the mad, glorious light that their words release into a world crowded by the prefabricated images and noises of mass media.
When is this snow going to end? A friend offered to run away to San Diego with me last night. We'd just get in her car and keep driving West until the temperature rises above 20 degrees. Look at this stuff. Look!
Okay, I cheated and posted a pretty shot from one of my favorite walking trails (I walk a lot, when I'm not working, muttering to myself about flying monkeys, or reading poetry). The truth is, this stuff is ugly. Small tragedies are happening all over the city as people crash and burn on the ice. Yesterday I saw a poor guy fall down on the sidewalk, spilling a fresh cup of coffee all over the frozen sludge. Coffee, no less -- anything that makes you drop the heavenly host first thing in the morning can't be a good thing.
