Welcome to Hermit Crab Village
Some hidden gems for you!
photo by Anna McPhee on Unsplash
I once took a class on essay writing and learned about the “hermit crab” essay. Basically, the format is a story hidden in the form of something else (a tale about a relationship breakup presented as a grocery list, etc.) I have yet to write one of these, so I turned my quest into a humor piece, talking about our family’s fraught history as hermit crab parents:
Last week, Aiden and Peter had an amazing morning creating a hermit crab village on the sandbar in Delaware Bay—just as their father had done in the same place, many years ago…
Speaking of hidden gems…
TWO TERRIFIC BOOKS:
Here are a couple of lesser-known books I have really enjoyed, by writers I love.
I am a HUGE fan of Anne Tyler, whose 24 novels embrace wonderful, quirky characters, most set in and around Baltimore. Her most famous books include The Accidental Tourist (made into a movie starring William Hurt and Geena Davis), Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and Breathing Lessons (which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989). I’ve read and loved them all; it began for me in the 1970s when I picked up her second novel, The Tin Can Tree, a touching portrait of a family grieving the death of a six year old child. Even early on, Tyler’s immense talent is evident…
As many of you know, my hands-down favorite book of all time is Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I read it first as a young teenager, and it continues to bring me joy with every re-reading. Over the years, I was happy to discover Smith’s other novels. None approach the brilliance of “Brooklyn” but they are all really well-written. To my mind, the best of these is Tomorrow Will Be Better; here’s a review of this hidden gem, by Maureen Corrigan on NPR’s “Fresh Air”:
SONG: “Concern” by Rose Seyfried
My Rose doesn’t have time to write much music these days, but I love to share her songs from years ago. Here’s a hidden gem I think should be more widely heard (I know, I know, I’m the mom, but still…have a listen and see what you think):
BLOG PREVIEW: Tragic Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity (Vote for One)
Can you be both realistic about the world, and at the same time optimistic about the future? What the heck is toxic positivity anyway? My response tomorrow on Working Title!!
And finally…
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
As a queen sits down, knowing that a chair will be there,
Or a general raises his hand and is given the field-glasses,
Step off assuredly into the blank of your mind.
Something will come to you.
—Richard Wilbur, from “Walking to Sleep”
Anne Tyler has the above quote on a wall in her office. It reassures me as a writer, but I think it applies to everyone of us who worries about our uninspired moments. Something WILL come to us! Have a great week!