I first came across the work of Ada Limón on Good Reads, and later on the Twitter page of Kaveh Akbar, poet and fervent reader. I was, at first, unsure of what drew me in more closely: the book’s cover … Continue reading →

As a disclaimer, I have read through most of the collection. Gerard’s choice to begin Sunshine State with “BFF” is clearer after having read the rest of the essays, and I believe it is meant to function as a thematic introduction to the … Continue reading →

As I began to read I noticed a distinct lack of emotion in  Strout’s “Sign.” Tommy Guptill’s farm has been burned to the ground but there’s no sense of devastation or upset. Chronologically, the order of the story is very … Continue reading →

If I am honest, I tend not to read fiction, but much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning chapter of the novel.  After having read the assigned chapter, I considered reading the next. Strout’s sentences don’t continue at … Continue reading →

I finished “The Sign” by Elizabeth Strout a few minutes ago, and I’m still not quite sure what exactly it is that I am feeling about it. It was kind of a weird story but a completely ordinary story at … Continue reading →

I thoroughly enjoyed Atwood’s writing style. As I’m sure others may have mentioned, her imagery is lovely. Like Mary Lavin and Elizabeth Bowen before her, Atwood immerses the reader in thick description. The line beginning the story is among my favorites. … Continue reading →

As I began Atwood’s “Alphinland” I started to picture the narrator as a child, or at least much younger than is revealed. There’s something whimsical about the first few lines with “fairy silver” and “handfuls of shining rice.” This kind of … Continue reading →

I found the language in “Alphinland” to be particularly compelling. I knew this would be true of Atwood’s writing from the very first line, “The freezing rain sifts down, handfuls of shining rice thrown by some unseen celebrant.” The italicized words, especially when spoken out … Continue reading →

Go here to read the text of the speech.