I was born in Montreal but moved to the Adirondack Mountains in New York when I was still a child. Have since lived in several cities and towns in New England.
Last Night at the Lobster, by Stewart O'Nan
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)1 Jan 2009 at 11:43 am
It's not surprising to me that I loved Steward O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster
; he's one of my favorite writers, after all, and this books stands out for me among the many books of his I love. It's not only a book with a lot of heart; it's also a book that is timely--as 2009 is said to be the year that many in retail and service lose their jobs, the year that many malls and shops and restaurants
... read more
page 56
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)7 Dec 2008 at 8:20 am
Was just tagged by the most awesome Susan Henderson of Litpark.
And here are the rules...
RULE ONE, I have to grab one of the books closest to me, go to page 56, type the fifth line and the next two to five lines that follow.
The book closest to me is MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (third edition (!!!) which tells you how long it's been since I used it. I need to get the newest edition ... read more
The Gathering, by Anne Enright
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)24 Nov 2008 at 9:47 am
I read Anne Enright's The Gathering (Man Booker Prize)
slowly. I had to. If I had not, the pain would have been insurmountable. Even so, the pain was there, a dull throb.
If you have ever grieved (which we nearly all have or will at some point in our lives), then this book will speak to you. Directly, honestly. If you have ever grieved a family member, one you remembered as a child, then this book ... read more
"My heart is filled with love for this country"
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)4 Nov 2008 at 11:47 am
Next week, on November 12th, I will go to my local immigration office for my test and interview. This is the final step to see if I will be granted the privilege of becoming an American citizen. I did not make the decision lightly to file papers to become a citizen of this country I love and now that it is so close, I am filled with a great sense of relief and joy.
And today this joy is quadrupled ... read more
What not to wear
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)23 Oct 2008 at 12:24 pm
September 3rd was the first day that the consignment store I frequent was taking in winter clothes. I've been going there for a while now as both a consignor and a shopper. Never have I seen the place so packed. The line to drop off consignment items snaked through the store.
Ever since that day whenever they are open to take consignments (which is less frequently now--they are so overrun), you mu ... read more
counting down
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)14 Oct 2008 at 12:16 pm
Countdown To ... read more
was researching potty training and stumbled across this gem
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)5 Oct 2008 at 8:26 am
... read more
I feel like the morning star
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)27 Sep 2008 at 2:41 pm
It's easy to lose hope these days. Easy to sink into the belief that all is lost. The economy is failing. War carries on with no end in sight.
The planet rages on, fighting for its life. (I read the other day that carbon emissions were up 3% in 2007, putting us on track for the worst case scenario for global warming.)
People are shooting each other.
Babies are sick and dying in China.
People in th ... read more
"we should be guided by what works"
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)17 Sep 2008 at 8:30 am
These are dark times--scary times--as we teeter on the brink of a Depression, something I did not believe I would see in my lifetime. My mother and father were children of The Great Depression and I'm sure they never thought their own children would face the hardships they faced. I'm guessing they prayed that the opposite would be true--that we would only know economic certainty.
And we did for a ... read more
How do you think that would make you feel?
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)14 Sep 2008 at 8:23 am
What impresses me so much about Barack Obama is his ability to put himself in someone else's shoes. Such an ability to empathize, I believe, is what makes a great leader, particularly in a country as diverse (and seemingly divided) as this one. We don't need us vs them, we need us. We need to know what common ground we share--because there is a lot of it, common ground. But then I know this alread ... read more
taking a deep breath
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)10 Sep 2008 at 8:38 am
Was feeling quite depressed last night about the polls, about the women at open play at the library gushing over she-who-shall-not-be-named-vp-candidate, about the non-stop news coverage of she-who-shall-not-be-named, about the state of the economy, education, and health care in this country. ETC!
Then I picked up The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
again and read this:
... read more
The Silver Linings Playbook, by Matthew Quick
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)10 Sep 2008 at 8:18 am
Philadelphia is not only the home of the quintessentially American Liberty Bell, cheese steak, and Rocky, but now Philadelphia offers us another American original: Pat Peoples, the neurologically-damaged, ex-wife pining, mother-loving, uber Eagles fan protagonist of Matthew Quick's dazzling debut novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374264260?ie=UTF8&tag=read08-20&linkCode=as2&camp= ... read more
hope
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)4 Sep 2008 at 1:03 pm
I've begun reading Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
. I should have read it long ago, but he wasn't my candidate in the beginning; from the start my ideals were more closely aligned with Kucinich.But now he is my candidate and I am proud to say it. Each day I am more inspired by him and my belief in what he can accomplish as president grows. In these da ... read more
The Smart One, by Ellen Meister
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)21 Aug 2008 at 1:01 pm
My mother always told me, "Friends may come and go, but a sister is forever." She had six sisters, so she knew what she was talking about. My father had four sisters and I have three. I grew up in a world of sisters and feel like I have a pretty good handle on sisterhood, and so does Ellen Meister.
At the core of her charming, thrilling, and often hilarious new book--The Smart One
--are sisters. Thr
... read more
I'm the guest blogger today on The Mumpsimus
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)20 Aug 2008 at 12:47 pm
I am excited to be the Best of the Web Guest Blogger today on the awesome lit blog: The Mumpsimus. Please check it out if you've got some time to spare. Thanks! ... read more
A new Narrative
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)20 Aug 2008 at 9:02 am
Narrative Magazine has relaunched with a smashing new web site and news of an upcoming contest: 2008 Fall Fiction Contest: First Prize is $3,000, Second Prize is $1,500, and Third Prize is $750. The prize winners will be announced in Narrative and will be eligible for publication. Additionally, ten finalists will receive $100 each. We’ll announce finalists in the magazine as well. All entries wi ... read more
The Smart One -- order your copy today!
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)7 Aug 2008 at 8:06 am
Ellen Meister is a friend of mine. I love her dearly, but I also love her books. Her newest release, The Smart One
, (available now!) is no exception. I read this book in draft and loved it, but have yet to read the final version. My copy should be arriving today or tomorrow and I will dig in immediately. Until then, I want to wish Ellen hearty congratulations on bringing another great read to the ... read more
A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness -- my review at Quick Fiction
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)3 Aug 2008 at 5:34 pm
I'm delighted to direct your attention to my review of A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness: Four Chapbooks of Short Short Fiction by Four Women over at Quick Fiction.
I loved the book and so will you. So please do order yourself a copy. I promise you will be captivated. ... read more
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)27 Jul 2008 at 1:29 pm
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette WallsA deeply moving, unforgettable memoir of a truly hard-scrabble life. What I admire most about this book is that Jeannette Walls never paints her family as victims. Nor does she portray her unbearably narcissistic parents as evil (even though it would certainly be easy to do so--her drunken father, her childlike mother. Oh, how I was enraged in the scen ... read more
Surprise Valley Writers' Conference
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)25 Jul 2008 at 8:41 am
Here's your chance to workshop and mingle with some fine writers in California's beautiful high desert. The excellent workshop staff includes one of my favorite writers, Pia Z. Ehrhardt. Sign up today and don't miss this excellent opportunity. Here's the info: Surprise Valley Writers' Conference ... read more
A Life's Work, by Rachel Cusk
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)10 Jul 2008 at 9:30 am
When my dear friend Kat came to visit on the day after my son's first birthday, she brought with her several books, one of which was Rachel Cusk's brilliant, startling book A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother
.Kat expressed regret that she had not gotten the book to me sooner, but now having read the book, I have to say I think her timing was perfect. I'm not sure my elated, exhausted heart could h ... read more
Best of the Web 2008 Contents Announced
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)10 Jul 2008 at 8:40 am
Best of the Web 2008 Contents Announced
Dzanc Books' Best of the Web 2008 anthology hits stores next Tuesday and can be ordered online, or pre-ordered at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or by your favorite store today! Ryan Call recently reviewed the collection at NewPages.com, ending his review with:
"The book both recognizes a wide range of quality online writing, and gives its readers a comprehensiv ... read more
2008 Dzanc Prize Ready for Submissions
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)1 Jul 2008 at 7:48 am
Hiya. Spreading the word on this exciting prize:
2008 Dzanc Prize Ready for Submissions
April 23, 2008, Ann Arbor , MI —Dzanc Books announces the opening for submissions to the 2008 Dzanc Prize.The Dzanc Prize provides monetary aid in the sum of $5,000, to a writer of literary promise. All writers applying for the Dzanc Prize must have a work-in-progress they can submit for review, and present th ... read more
a year ago today
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)25 Jun 2008 at 4:30 am
My darling son, my heart, was born. This morning I am up with the birds and reliving every moment of it: The fear, the expectation, the excitement.
The joy that eclipses all other joy.
That moment when he is held up before you and he opens his mouth to say, "It is me. I am here. Pay attention."
And forever more, he is where your attention goes.
The weather forecast says today is the pick of the w ... read more
read Pia Z. Ehrhardt at fivechapters.com
by noreply@blogger.com (Myfanwy Collins)23 Jun 2008 at 8:13 am
Pia Z. Ehrhardt is one of my favorite writers and human beings and her excellent story "Closer, Still" is serialized on fivechapters.com this week. Here's part I. Read it! ... read more