On this page I'll post some things you might find interesting and/or enjoyable.  Send me your thoughts via email:  diannshope@gmail.com  I'll post new items periodically.

Poetry                                                 

The Speaker
by Louis Jenkins
The speaker points out that we don’t really have
much of a grasp of things, not only the big things,
the important questions, but the small everyday
things. “How many steps up to your back yard? What
is the name of your district representative? What
did you have for breakfast? What is your wife’s
shoe size? Can you tell me the color of your
sweetheart’s eyes? Do you remember where you
parked the car?” The evidence is overwhelming.
Most of us never truly experience life. “We drift
through life in daydream, missing the true
richness and joy that life has to offer.” When the
speaker has finished we gather around to sing
a few inspirational songs. You and I stand at the
back of the group and hum along since we have
forgotten most of the words.
"The Speaker" by Louis Jenkins from Before You Know It: Prose Poems. © Will O' Wisp Books, 2005.

Articles

Here's a link to Bill Moyers' guest Jonathan Haidt, talking about The Righteous Mind, a fascinating book about the "psychological underpinnings of our contentious culture."  I read the book and plan to buy it when it comes out in paperback - so I can underline.  Everyone should read it - we'd understand ourselves and each other so much better.

Links

Here's a book about women, men, work and family that I think everyone should read.  It's about how our culture devalues child-rearing and care giving and the price we, our children and our society pay.  It's called Unfinished Business.  Take a look at the description and some of the reviews.  A similar topic, but with a more outraged author, is addressed in Moma: Motherhood, Love and Revolution.

Here's a book about grammar.  It's written for teachers, but writers can use it as well. 

Here's a moving memoir by a friend whose physical heart problems are the occasion of amazing interactions with the medical establishment (good and bad) and great courage and personal growth. 

Here's a review of a book everyone should read:  Being Mortal by Atul Gawande