Words of the Week

by Erika Dreifus on
2

“For a long time, I dreamed of being free. Of making a separate peace and standing on my balcony and watching the sun set on my city with no greater thought than “this is my city in the dark.” But I can’t stop caring and worrying. I can’t stop arguing. I know that I’m an individual free to make my own decisions and choose my own path, but I feel I’m being defined by something bigger than myself. I know a little of what my grandparents knew. My worries are older than I am—ancient, the old history closing in. Ebb tide. In the afternoon, you swim above the sand in the clear water, but in the evening the sharks come in to feed in the oceans, white with foam.”

Source: Rich Cohen, “Ebb Tide in the Golden Country: Why All Is Not As It Was for the Jews in America” (Tablet)

Sunday Sentence

by Erika Dreifus on
2

Unknown
In which I participate in David Abrams’s “Sunday Sentence” project, sharing the best sentence I’ve read during the past week, “out of context and without commentary.”

“Who knew an accordion tune could come so close to sounding like a symphony?”

Source: Jason Hess, review of Jessamyn Hope’s Safekeeping: A Novel (NewPages.com)

Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
5

Treasure Chest
Writing-related resources, news, and reflections to enjoy over the weekend.

  • I’ve got some ambivalent feelings when it comes to various “best books” lists (and arguments about them). So I appreciated Laura Miller’s Salon column on “the absurdity of these dumb ‘my “great books” list is better than yours’ debates.”
  • “It’s perfectly in keeping with being a writer—even a ‘literary’ writer—to want to be paid.” Over on The Review Review, Allison K. Williams pleads for literary magazines to be open and up-front about whether they pay their writers. (On a related note: I would plead for those compiling newsletters/lists that feature litmag calls to do the same with the information that they share–is the opportunity that you are sharing one that pays, or not? Does it charge an entry fee, or not? Please don’t make me click through to each and every listing and to its guidelines page to find this information out for myself each and every time.)
  • Useful: “GLAAD responds to Vanity Fair cover featuring Caitlyn Jenner, releases updated tip sheet for journalists.” (via Boing Boing)
  • Next week brings the release date for Jessamyn Hope’s gorgeous debut novel Safekeeping. (I’m proud to be part of the team at Fig Tree Books that’s helping the book reach all of you readers!) Over on the Writer’s Digest/Guide to Literary Agents blog, Jessamyn recently shared “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far.” (Look for her also in the “Breaking In” column in the July/August print issue of Writer’s Digest.)
  • Finally, for some reliably wry literary humor: Over on the Ploughshares blog, Rebecca Makkai wonders, “Was This Review Helpful to You?”

    • Have a wonderful weekend.

    Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • If Saul Bellow were still alive, he’d be about to turn 100. The Fig Tree Books blog takes note, with some fresh considerations of some of Bellow’s novels.
  • Herman Wouk, on the other hand, has just celebrated his 100th birthday. In a lovely essay for The Forward, Judy Bolton-Fasman recalls why her father wouldn’t let her read Wouk’s Marjorie Morningstar.
  • Another excellent essay that caught my attention this week: Maxim D. Shrayer’s reflections on Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy, over on Tablet.
  • A hearty, collective Mazal Tov to all of the publications and writers honored by this year’s Simon Rockower Awards from the American Jewish Press Association.
  • Last, but perhaps not least: I’m extremely proud of this new review of Léon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist, over on The Barnes & Noble Review.

    • Shabbat shalom.

    Words of the Week

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    “Well, it has taken a long time for Henry Johnson and William Shemin to receive the recognition they deserve. And there are surely others whose heroism is still unacknowledged and uncelebrated. So we have work to do, as a nation, to make sure that all of our heroes’ stories are told. And we’ll keep at it, no matter how long it takes. America is the country we are today because of people like Henry and William — Americans who signed up to serve, and rose to meet their responsibilities — and then went beyond. The least we can do is to say: We know who you are. We know what you did for us. We are forever grateful.”

    Source: President Barack Obama, Remarks at the Presentation of the Medal of Honor