I loved Cold Mountain so much. For years, every time I saw it at a used book sale, I would buy it so I could give it to a friend who hadn’t read it.
I’m pretty sure I just joined as a paid subscriber, as part of your memoir course. Like, just a couple of weeks ago (I know, should have done it sooner!); are you saying you’ll be refunding that payment, or part of it? I’m happy for it to be applied to Trackless Wild instead, but it sounds like there’s no way to do that directly. If you want to let us know the options for supporting you at Trackless Wild that would be great (paid subscription, buying a cup of coffee, etc. )
As a journalist and aspiring memoirist, I do appreciate posts like this week about the possible decline of “blurbing.” When one turns the word blurb into an adjectival participle the connotation changes, and the word sounds a little silly. Are you considering doing a monthly Rhizosphere Issue inside Trackless Wild? Or will you just share what comes into your life? You are an environmentalist, but you are also a generous, effective, and inspiring teacher of writing, and I know that part of your sharing will not be stifled.
You know you don’t need reader permission to merge Rhizosphere and Trackless Wild. There is already a great deal of overlap: observations on nature and living, connections to family, friends and the world, powerful writing, news in context, principled stances, what you learned when you went on a trek, book reviews, and links to articles. I choose to follow blogs when I connect to the voice or when I know I am going to get a bit of wisdom or a prod or a reminder that will keep me on my chosen path.
Mostly, I read books for this. And despite those ubiquitous little orange symbols that are always popping up in my inbox, I only pay for you and George Saunders. I do follow Seth Godin, and Daphne Gray Grant (free), but mostly I read books for my morning calibrations. Tosltoy, Peck, Seamus Heaney. Right now: Nepo’s Drinking from the River of Light, and Handler’s Braving the Fire.
As you are taking on another role, as many in our generation must, I know that I don’t need to remind you of Robert Bly’s truthful words: Every breath taken in by the man
Who loves,/and the woman who loves,/Goes to fill the water tank/Where the spirit horses drink.
Whose blurb would I have loved to see on my book? I focused on two people who are writers and one-eyed, like me. 1.) Alice Walker. Did I ask her? No, too scared. 2.) Salman Rushdie. Did I ask him? Yes; I had a connection. Did he respond? Of course not. I would be very happy to see blurbs go away. "Favor trading" is an apt phrase for them.
I think it's fascinating that traditional publishers are doing away with blurbs, or at least considering ending the practice. Perhaps once, blurbs were super useful, but nowadays between ample spaces for reader reviews *and* what feels like a practice of pay to play, blurbs can come across as disingenuous.
SO agree with you about bestsellers, And about Charles Frazier and "Cold Mountain." (Also, Richard Powers and "The Overstory" in this category for me. As is Rebecca Solnit and everything she has written.) The bestseller list is mostly trash, not worth the time. But very glad that you have persisted and prevailed! <3
I loved Cold Mountain so much. For years, every time I saw it at a used book sale, I would buy it so I could give it to a friend who hadn’t read it.
I’m pretty sure I just joined as a paid subscriber, as part of your memoir course. Like, just a couple of weeks ago (I know, should have done it sooner!); are you saying you’ll be refunding that payment, or part of it? I’m happy for it to be applied to Trackless Wild instead, but it sounds like there’s no way to do that directly. If you want to let us know the options for supporting you at Trackless Wild that would be great (paid subscription, buying a cup of coffee, etc. )
Anne, it will be applied to TRACKLESS instead, and if I owe you anything back, you'll get a refund. Thank you for clarifying.
Anne, I love that practice of buying used copies of a beloved book so you can give them away. Wonderful!
As a journalist and aspiring memoirist, I do appreciate posts like this week about the possible decline of “blurbing.” When one turns the word blurb into an adjectival participle the connotation changes, and the word sounds a little silly. Are you considering doing a monthly Rhizosphere Issue inside Trackless Wild? Or will you just share what comes into your life? You are an environmentalist, but you are also a generous, effective, and inspiring teacher of writing, and I know that part of your sharing will not be stifled.
You know you don’t need reader permission to merge Rhizosphere and Trackless Wild. There is already a great deal of overlap: observations on nature and living, connections to family, friends and the world, powerful writing, news in context, principled stances, what you learned when you went on a trek, book reviews, and links to articles. I choose to follow blogs when I connect to the voice or when I know I am going to get a bit of wisdom or a prod or a reminder that will keep me on my chosen path.
Mostly, I read books for this. And despite those ubiquitous little orange symbols that are always popping up in my inbox, I only pay for you and George Saunders. I do follow Seth Godin, and Daphne Gray Grant (free), but mostly I read books for my morning calibrations. Tosltoy, Peck, Seamus Heaney. Right now: Nepo’s Drinking from the River of Light, and Handler’s Braving the Fire.
As you are taking on another role, as many in our generation must, I know that I don’t need to remind you of Robert Bly’s truthful words: Every breath taken in by the man
Who loves,/and the woman who loves,/Goes to fill the water tank/Where the spirit horses drink.
Thanks for whatever you choose to share.
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. That is very helpful. And the Bly lines are breath-taking.
Whose blurb would I have loved to see on my book? I focused on two people who are writers and one-eyed, like me. 1.) Alice Walker. Did I ask her? No, too scared. 2.) Salman Rushdie. Did I ask him? Yes; I had a connection. Did he respond? Of course not. I would be very happy to see blurbs go away. "Favor trading" is an apt phrase for them.
You made me chuckle. I would have been terrified to ask either of those writers.
I think it's fascinating that traditional publishers are doing away with blurbs, or at least considering ending the practice. Perhaps once, blurbs were super useful, but nowadays between ample spaces for reader reviews *and* what feels like a practice of pay to play, blurbs can come across as disingenuous.
SO agree with you about bestsellers, And about Charles Frazier and "Cold Mountain." (Also, Richard Powers and "The Overstory" in this category for me. As is Rebecca Solnit and everything she has written.) The bestseller list is mostly trash, not worth the time. But very glad that you have persisted and prevailed! <3
No blurbs on my new book! Thanks to your advice on this…