Tag: bird by bird

It’s a grey day,

here,

in the city.

I finished,

Anne Lamott’s,

book, Bird by Bird,

yesterday.

It is a special book,

I promised,

it to someone,

but,

I hesitate,

to part with it,

so soon.

It has made,

me think,

it has brought me,

joy and insight,

I recommend it highly.

So many parts,

rang true,

spoke to me.

I believe,

it will speak to anyone,

who writes,

aspires to,

or,

even,

reads.

Lamott writes it,

more clearly,

I think,

than I,

can say it,

    There are lots of us, some published, some not, who think the literary life is the loveliest one possible, this life of reading and writing and corresponding. We think this life is nearly ideal. It is spiritually invigorating, says a friend, who converted at eighteen from Christianity to poetry. It is intellectually quickening. One can find in writing a perfect focus for life. It offers challenges and delight and agony and commitment.

I know,

it’s silly,

and,

perhaps,

even,

a little,

pathetic,

that,

the words of,

 a perfect stranger,

somehow,

validate?

illuminate?

elucidate?

your wandering,

meandering,

path.

As if she is saying,

BB,

don’t worry,

about,

spending,

your life reading,

and,

and seeking,

it’s all,

mise en place,

for writing,

at least,

I hope that’s,

what she’s,

saying:-)

Later girls,

BB

Yesterday,

was,

kind of quiet,

at the bookstore,

but,

honestly,

bookstores tend,

to be.

I was roaming,

around the shelves,

looking at what,

I have,

and why,

some of them,

aren’t selling.

So,

rooting around,

my dictionary,

 grammar,

foreign language,

style guide,

section,

happened upon,

this writing guide,

Bird by Bird,

by Anne Lamott.

It’s been there,

a while.

I thought I would,

check it out.

Some books sell,

themselves,

some books,

wait for,

their reader/buyer,

and some,

you have to nudge,

into someones,

hands.

This book,

should have sold,

ages ago,

a lot of wannabe,

writers,

frequent,

used bookstores,

this is a good guide,

cheap,

and in more,

than adequate,

condition.

When I acquired it,

I figured it would,

go,

fast,

but,

a year or so,

later,

it’s still on the shelf.

The reason I believe,

it hasn’t sold is,

the title,

people must,

think it,

a missplaced,

ornithology guide,

in fact it is,

a delightful,

practical,

book,

on writing.

Not, one of those,

how to become,

the next Stephen King,

James Patterson,

or assorted other,

bestselling millionaire,

but, how to write,

really write,

everyday,

eek out a living,

be happy,

and,

miserable,

doing what,

you must do,

write.

Filled with,

memories,

and observations,

on life,

and the creative,

process,

a gem,

maybe,

it hasn’t sold,

because,

it was waiting,

for me to read it,

first,

or,

last:-)

Lamott has,

 an easy going,

and,

quirky,

funny style.

She speaks to me:-)

From page fifteen,

on the reasons it is important,

to write,

not just be published,

     Because for some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.

Nice huh?

Sometimes,

a book,

waits patiently,

for you,

to pick it up,

to need it.

When you’re ready,

when you are,

there.

Maybe,

not just books,

🙂

Later girls,

BB