E.B. White once wrote in a letter to his brother that “Birds are all right except you get practically nothing done, as they make everything else seem so unimportant.”
So in the vein of Mr. White, let’s blame my lack of book news on the birds, shall we?
There is much to be divulged here in this little bit of space, and I shan’t keep you long. But not one more day should go by without me completing my literary contribution here by telling you what I think you should read.
Actually, the above is all a crock. I don’t care what you read and I don’t pretend to be any sort of authority on what you should or should not pick up. More accurate to say the following is what my literary mind has been 
consumed with. (And yes, I did end that sentence with a preposition. But according to Grammar Girl, that’s now fine. Which, by the way, if you haven’t picked up her entirely charming and sharp handbook on English grammar, go quick: “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing,” by Mignon Fogarty. You can also become a fan on Facebook and be updated with clever little tidbits and podcasts.)
“The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett, recently took my heart, breath and ability to analyze away. I’ve only read it once, so be forewarned then that insight may be lacking in this paragraph. But I couldn’t wait to flesh out the thoughts before passing this recommendation on to you. To keep it quiet until properly digested and analyzed would be a grave disservice. This book is insightful, colorful, poignant in character development and social construct, and a wonderful story. It’s my favorite read of the year thus far.
Next comes “Sailing Alone Around the Room,” by Billy Collins. Former poet laureate and all around funny man had me laughing and sighing. His writing is sharp and quiet, and the poems are extremely accessible. I highly recommend if you aren’t a reader of verse to begin with him. This collection in particular has a healthy dose of range, and you won’t be disappointed. If you are, then feel free to tell me about it. Let’s discuss.
Lastly, as foreshadowed, “The Letters of E.B. White.” Always a fan, and who isn’t? (We are introduced to him with “Charlotte’s Web” at such a young age and from there are usually captivated. Really, ask any book lover what their top five books are and you’ll likely get a shout out to the Web.) As we grow up, we may have perused his essays from his time at the New Yorker and Harper’s, or flipped through his musings of life on a farm. All great. But his letters will teach you something about the man you may not have already known or inferred. They show process of not only literary projects, but the process of a man whose entire existence is ultimately spent on cultivating his relationship to the family of things through words. He’s an astute observer and an insightful if self-deprecating describer of character – his.
One more note: Jim Lynch, best-selling author of “The Highest Tide,” has a new book out, “Border Songs.” Regrettably, (and only regrettably because I haven’t managed to slot enough time for full devotion, darn it), I’m only on page 76 as I compose these humble notes. But it’s lovely. And funny, which appeals. Some have compared it to former television series “Northern Exposure.” Rightly so. The cast of characters is odd and endearing. So far I love it. That being said, I’ll be brave enough to take a stance and highly recommend it now. And, in an attempt to complete the circle of excuse with which I began, much of the plot of this novel revolves around birds, which completely, for some inexplicable reason at this juncture, possess an inordinate amount of my thought process these days.
Cheers, best, and be good,
Shannon
Shannon Calder is a freelance writer, consultant, inspiration specialist and book reviewer. To read more go to postcardscalder.blogspot.com.
