cover art: "Rooms by the Sea" by Edward Hopper
David Jauss is my adviser this semester at Vermont College. During the residency, each student creates a reading list, which the adviser must approve. The books on the list may change as writing issues come up, but it’s a place to start.
Both semesters I’ve included books by my adviser on my list. This seems like an opportunity not to be missed–to read a writer’s work and have a dialogue about it.
Before I arrived at Vermont College, I knew of David Jauss mostly from his craft essays in the AWP Chronicle. I had also read a story of his. For my first packet due on Saturday, August 7th, I read some more of his work.
I started with his poetry and loved almost every one of his poems in the collection, You Are Not Here.
From “Requiem”:
“…how many times
have I paused at the crossroads, then turned right
toward home, instead of left,
toward the darkening highway that leads to that nowhere
called everywhere…”
And from “You Are Not Here”:
“each morning I ask myself
where I won’t be today
or ever.”
These excerpts are breathtaking.
So are the rest of the poems, Lindsey. Highly recommend this book of poetry.
If you haven’t read it you must read his “Alone With All That Could Happen: Rethinking Conventional Wisdom About the Craft of Fiction Writing”—wonderful!
I agree, Richard! I’ll be writing about that later in the week.
Beautiful!
Thanks for reading, Erika!
I also recommend his book of essays and will add that he has a wonderful collection of short stories as well… Black Maps. Each story is steeped with insight and compassion. His prose is both concise and expansive. The short journeys he takes you on are ones that stay with you long after the read. I wish he had more in print.
I do too, Jodi. Just posted on the craft essays and will post on Black Maps later in the week.
Based on the excerpts you provide alone, I’ve added David Jauss to my Goodreads ‘to read’ list. Thanks for the heads up!
Terresa, I think you will love these poems. Let me know when you get to them.
That excerpt from “You Are Not Here” is both frightening and powerful. I think I am going to have to buy that book.
Lauren, the whole poem is that way.