Richard Russo’s book The Straight Man made it into ShortList.com’s 30 Funniest Books Ever. Straight Man – Richard Russo: “The male mid-life crisis is a rich playground for novels. The inherent comedic value in such a ludicrous Western capitalist notion gives authors room for plenty of manoeuvre. But to balance that with the needs of a weighty tome, that takes some skill. Russo has it in spades. Straight Man concerns the life of Hank Devereaux, an interim chairman of an English department. As he takes on his wife, the faculty, his daughter, his feelings for three women and the campus geese, Devereaux’s life slowly begins to unravel.”

Richard Russo’s book The Straight Man made it into ShortList.com’s 30 Funniest Books Ever.

Straight Man – Richard Russo: “The male mid-life crisis is a rich playground for novels. The inherent comedic value in such a ludicrous Western capitalist notion gives authors room for plenty of manoeuvre. But to balance that with the needs of a weighty tome, that takes some skill. Russo has it in spades. Straight Man concerns the life of Hank Devereaux, an interim chairman of an English department. As he takes on his wife, the faculty, his daughter, his feelings for three women and the campus geese, Devereaux’s life slowly begins to unravel.”

I’ve known people that the world has thrown everything at to discourage them…to break their spirit. And yet something about them retains a dignity. They face life and don’t ask quarters.
Horton Foote
To me, all creativity is magic. Ideas start out in the empty void of your head - and they end up as a material thing, like a book you can hold in your hand. That is the magical process. It’s an alchemical thing. Yes, we do get the gold out of it but that’s not the most important thing. It’s the work itself.
Alan Moore
Writing is a delicious agony.
Gwendolyn Brooks

cdn.indulgy.com

parabola-magazine: Then I suddenly had the most tremendous feeling of the pitifulness of human beings, whatever they were, their faces, pained mouths, personalities, attempts to be gay, little petulances, feelings of loss, their dull and empty witticisms so soon forgotten: Ah, for what? […] Suppose we suddenly wake up and see that what we thought to be this and that, ain’t this and that at all? I staggered up the hill, greeted by birds, and looked at all the huddled sleeping figures on the floor. Who were these strange ghosts rooted to the silly little adventure of earth with me? And who was I? –Jack Kerouac in The Dharma Bums (1958). Kerouac is 91 today.

parabola-magazine:

Then I suddenly had the most tremendous feeling of the pitifulness of human beings, whatever they were, their faces, pained mouths, personalities, attempts to be gay, little petulances, feelings of loss, their dull and empty witticisms so soon forgotten: Ah, for what? […] Suppose we suddenly wake up and see that what we thought to be this and that, ain’t this and that at all? I staggered up the hill, greeted by birds, and looked at all the huddled sleeping figures on the floor. Who were these strange ghosts rooted to the silly little adventure of earth with me? And who was I?

–Jack Kerouac in The Dharma Bums (1958).

Kerouac is 91 today.

From idea to book

From idea to book

weldonowen.com

But luxury has never appealed to me, I like simple things, books, being alone, or with somebody who understands.
Daphne du Maurier
Time to go buy some books. That’s right I’m going book shopping this morning! Lucky me!

Time to go buy some books. That’s right I’m going book shopping this morning! Lucky me!

Raise your kids to read.

Raise your kids to read.

mamasmiles.com

Books & Coffee

Books & Coffee

thegogglette

Excellent advice.

Excellent advice.

makemestfu

dontrblgme: Jinbōchō - 神保町 (via Sparkling World)

dontrblgme:

Jinbōchō - 神保町 (via Sparkling World)

Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say.
Barbara Kingsolver (via writingbox)

writingbox