In “Visitations: Poems,” Julia Alvarez looks back on her life in the Dominican Republic and New York with candor and a clear eye.
Poets and Poems: Fred Chappell and “Ever After”
“Ever After,” Fred Chappell’s last poetry collection, is consistent with his other poetry and fiction, focusing on family and meaning.
Five Ways to Research Your Family History
The writing of the novel “Brookhaven” provided five ways to research and decipher family history and genealogy.
Poets and Poems: Baruch November and “The Broken Heart is the Master Key”
The poems of “The Broken Heart is the Master Key” by Baruch November show the continuing echo and influence of Yiddish culture.
Poets and Poems: Sr. Sharon Hunter and “Light Before the Sun”
In “Light Before the Sun: Poems,” Sr. Sharon Hunter explores family, dysfunction, and beauty to find resolution and understanding.
Poets and Poems: D.S. Martin and “The Role of the Moon”
In “The Role of the Moon,” poet D.S. Martin pays tribute to the metaphysical poets, creating new poems inspired by 17th century poets.
I Grew Up in “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
I discovered in a graduate seminar that “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez read like my family history.
Poets and Poems: Catherine Lawton and “Where All Things Meet, Mirror & Mingle”
In “Where All Things Meet, Mirror & Mingle,” poet Catherine Lawton fully integrates faith and life into a cohesive whole.
Poets and Poems: Emily Bright and “This Ground Beneath Our Feet”
In “This Ground Beneath Our Feet,” poet Emily Bright explores what grounds our relationships and our lives.
Poets and Poems: Tobi Alfier and “Goodbye Kisses”
“Goodbye Kisses: Poems” by Tobi Alfier explores the aftermath of broken relationships and the aftermath of heartbreak.
Poets and Poems: Nikki Grimes and “Twice Blessed”
“Twice Blessed” by poet Nikki Grimes tells stories of the items deposited in and sold by secondhand store and yard sales.
Poets and Poems: Alexander Voloshin and “Sidetracked”
Alexander Voloshin published one major poetry work, an epic poem about the Russian Revolution, emigres, and Hollywood entitled “Sidetracked.”
Poets and Poems: Linda Nemec Foster and “Amber Necklace of Gdansk”
In “Amber Necklace from Gdansk,” poet Linda Nemec Foster explores the land and heritage of her Polish ancestors – and finds herself.
Artists and Poems: Julian Peters and “Nature Poems to See By”
In “Nature Poems to See By,” Julian Peters uses comic art to illustrate and deepen the understanding of classic poems.
Alan Jacobs Writes a Biography of “Paradise Lost”
Alan Jacobs, in his biography of “Paradise Lost,” explains that the poem by John Milton serves as a cultural mirror.
Poets and Poems: Marjorie Maddox and “Hover Here”
The poems of “Hover Here” by Marjorie Maddox sit gently and quietly, taking their turn and waiting to be read.
J.R.R. Tolkien, Motorcars, and “The Bovadium Fragments”
In “The Bovadium Fragments,” J.R.R. Tolkien used allegory to oppose a road proposal and lampoon archaeologists.
Seven Tips for Researching Family Heritage
Researching my historical novel “Brookhaven” taught me several important lessons for researching family heritage.
Poets and Poems: Seth Wieck and “Call Out Coyote”
In “Call Out Coyote: Poems,” Seth Wieck demonstrates a love and respect for the people, history, and geography of the Texas Panhandle.
Poets and Poems: Susan Rooke and “A Room Full of Ghosts”
In ‘A Room Full of Ghosts,” poet Susan Rooke explores the formative roles memory and memories play in our lives.