Buzzed Books
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Buzzed Books #61: The Madeleine Project
Buzzed Books #61 by Amy Watkins Clara Beaudoux’s The Madeleine Project: Uncovering a Parisian Life When Clara Beaudoux moved into a new apartment in Paris, she inherited the overflowing basement storage unit of the deceased previous tenant, an elderly woman named Madeleine. Madeleine had no living relatives, and her next of kin, a godson, told… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #60: Gregory Orr’s A Primer for Poets & Readers of Poetry
Buzzed Books #60 by Amy Watkins Gregory Orr’s A Primer for Poets & Readers of Poetry Why do we write poetry? As an experienced poet, I’m supposed to have an eloquent, compelling answer to this question. I’m supposed to acknowledge that the reasons for writing poetry are various and all valid. I’m supposed to quote… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #59: A Pioneer Son at Sea: Fishing Tales of Old Florida
Buzzed Books #59 by Henry Hughes A Pioneer Son at Sea: Fishing Tales of Old Florida Gilbert Voss was born into a Florida pioneer family in 1918, back when panthers still roamed swampy jungles. He had a colorful career in commercial and charter fishing, and in the US Coast Guard, eventually becoming an eminent marine… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #58: Square Inch Hours
Buzzed Books #58 by Amy Watkins Review of Sherod Santos’s Square Inch Hours I read Sherod Santos’ collection of prose poems, Square Inch Hours (Norton, 2017) during a rainy cold snap—what amounts to bleak midwinter for a Floridian—and the poems were perfect for the weather. Not perfect like a warm cup of cocoa to comfort me… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #57: Bloodroot
Buzzed Books #57 by Amy Watkins Annemarie Ní Churreáin’s Bloodroot As I pretty much devoured Annemarie Ní Churreáin’s Bloodroot, I felt a little embarrassed because American readers (like me) tend to romanticize Ireland. A small, foolish part of me expects both magic and grit from Irish writers. I can only rationalize my silliness by pointing… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #56: All I Want to Do is Live
Buzzed Books #56 by Justin T. Brozanski Trace Ramsey’s All I Want to Do is Live, a collection of creative nonfiction and poetry, is an unmistakably great book. Ramsey’s writing is brave against the noise of daily life as he struggles against his “desire to not live,” and seeks strength in the people who love him: his… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #55: Bob Hicok’s Sex & Love &
Buzzed Books #55 by Amy Watkins Bob Hicok’s Sex & Love & In the first episode of the FX comedy series Louie, the main character (single dad Louie CK, playing a fictionalized version of himself) goes on a date with a woman he does not know. When she asks about his children, he answers candidly… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #54: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate
Buzzed Books #54 by John King Al Franken, Giant of the Senate Al Franken has given me great solace over the years. I still buy and drink Ovaltine because the company sponsored his radio show from 2003-2007. For creative people, one intriguing lesson to be drawn from Al Franken’s career is that he was a… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books # 53: Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History
Buzzed Books # 53 by Amy Watkins Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History Near the end of my MFA, a new writer friend asked the topic of my critical thesis. I launched into a long and not particularly coherent description of the 20 or so ideas–all inextricably related in my mind–that… Continue reading
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Buzzed Books #52: The Atheist Wore Goat Silk
Buzzed Books #52 by Amy Watkins Anna Journey’s The Atheist Wore Goat Silk Much art is made to elevate mundane things. Think of Georgia O’Keefe demanding that we look again at humble flowers. Think of Neruda gazing at a slice of lemon and seeing a cathedral window, or finding the poetry in a suit or… Continue reading
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The Drunken Odyssey is a forum to discuss all aspects of the writing process, in a variety of genres, in order to foster a greater community among writers.
Recent Posts
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