A few weeks ago I phoned my son Jack in Asheville. “How would you feel about me taking over your…
Read More
writing & reading
A good book changes us, inspires us, perhaps even answers a few of life’s questions. Over the years, I’ve shared many personal favorites and this community of passionate readers has responded in kind, with hundreds of book recommendations offered in the comments. You’ll find reviews here, gift suggestions, and lists of favorites, as well as observations about the writing life. Dive in. Read more about what writing & reading mean to me, or browse the archive of stories below.
who is we?
If you’ve ever fallen out of touch with a friend, you already know this: reconnecting isn’t easy. You quiet your…
Read More
of gardens and grandmothers
a podcast with Margaret Roach
(and a book give-away, too)
It’s just after 5 a.m. as I type these words, still completely dark outside. But my friend Margaret Roach and I…
Read More
the book you want to read now:
Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth
(and a give-away)
For sixteen years I had what was arguably the best job in the world. It certainly was the best job…
Read More
moments of seeing: books!
Sometimes, life sits you down in a chair and insists that you stay put, doing the thing you’re really meant…
Read More
chatting with ghosts
a visit to E.B. White’s farm
Have you ever wondered by what mysterious alchemy a whim becomes a wish, and a wish a reality? I’m pretty…
Read More