reading – Page 10 – Stephen McClurg

March 2, 2015

the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time: Reading Faulkner

I’m reading Faulkner’s novels in chronological order with a friend. We’ve read Vonnegut and Hemingway, so Faulkner seemed the obvious choice after Hem. After spending so much time with Hemingway, then beginning Faulkner, one of the most obvious takeaways we’ve had is wondering why these guys get compared so much. Other than attempting to be … Continue reading the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time: Reading Faulkner

February 13, 2014

you’re never too old to apprentice and 7+ pieces of audio inspiration

In order to hone my fiction chops, I decided to join The Five Hundred, a site that presents a prompt every month with the outcome being some form of flash fiction between 400-600 words. Next week, I’ll have a ghazal (based on a “bonus” 100 word prompt) and flash fiction piece called, “In the Cup … Continue reading you’re never too old to apprentice and 7+ pieces of audio inspiration

January 4, 2014

a farewell to Papa, for now

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Hemingway, New York Journal-American (11 July 1961) I’m lucky enough to have at least one friend who will devote time to reading projects. We just finished our Hemingway list started a year-and-a-half ago. Our goal was similar to the Vonnegut project: … Continue reading a farewell to Papa, for now

January 1, 2013

Allow the soul time to return

Since 2012 began with the world’s end in mind, I thought I’d start 2013 with something else in mind. From Sir James George Frazer’s The Golden Bough: “In some parts of Breadalbane it was formerly the custom on New Year’s Day to take a dog to the door, give him a bit of bread, and … Continue reading Allow the soul time to return

November 19, 2012December 13, 2023

I like big books and I cannot lie…

If there’s ever been a constant in my life, it’s been books. My grandparents had a massive collection and my mother and grandmother regularly took me to the library. I remember the day I was finally old enough to get my own card. It was exciting, particularly for such a shy and nerdy kid. Right … Continue reading I like big books and I cannot lie…

June 22, 2012June 22, 2012

France was a long way off.

In a reading group I’m in, which may have two or four members, we are beginning Hemingway’s novels. His first, Torrents of Spring, is a parody of Sherwood Anderson’s Dark Laughter and, what I would call, High Modernists like James Joyce. Not having read Anderson’s novel, I’m not qualified to comment on the parody itself. Parodies … Continue reading France was a long way off.

October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween

Of course, it was an English teacher. We’ll call her Ms. G. Oh, what a crush I had on her in sixth grade. All it took was for her to talk about a book in class and I would go read it. One day she happened to mention a book by Stephen King. I knew … Continue reading Happy Halloween

October 30, 2010October 20, 2022

Thoughts While Dogwalking and Elsewhere

Woke up early. Before my regular work time. Went straight to a book. Went to breakfast when one of my favorite diners in town opened. The first customer. Vegetable omelet, biscuits, hash browns, bacon. The whole time reading a book on reading. For school and for me to improve my teaching. Making chicken stock for … Continue reading Thoughts While Dogwalking and Elsewhere

May 14, 2010

Summer Reading Project

All year I’ve been planning to read a giant novel or two that I’ve missed. So far, top spots went to War and Peace and Infinite Jest. After an intense year and a thoroughly mushy brain, I’ve decided to dig through our library for novels that I haven’t read, but are the shortest. If we … Continue reading Summer Reading Project