Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Literary Arts

What constitutes truth?

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“I’m Henry Farber, the psychiatrist. You will have heard my name, if only lately. The Great Man was found dead in my office in Providence, Rhode Island. That’s my couch he’s draped across in...

Around the Writers’ Table

“How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome.” That’s the cover story of the most recent Harvard Business Review. The picture on the cover is a photograph of those goofy big-nose, bushy-eyebrow Groucho Marx glasses. As explained in...

Poet’s Corner: ‘amid the alien corn’

amid the alien corn By Michael Oliveira i killed Innocence first as a means of survival Kindness held its own in spite of my denial Compassion feigned ignorance opting not to hear there was no end to Mercy for reasons still unclear yet Love...

Around the Bookstore: The classics are worth revisiting

In the morning and evening, when I go upstairs to turn on or off the lights at the bookstore, I pass our Classics section, which has probably doubled since I became the book buyer...

Living and loving well

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I thought I’d had my fill of reading inspirational self-help books in the 1980s, and hadn’t done so until picking up “Live, Learn, Love Well: Lessons from a Life of Progress Not Perfection” by...

‘Vineyard Folk’ celebrates the human landscape of the Island

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There should be a warning on the cover of Tamara Weiss, Amanda Benchley, and Elizabeth Cecil’s new book, “Vineyard Folk: Creative People and Places of Martha’s Vineyard,” that reads, “Not just a gorgeous coffee...

A tour de force for our times

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Spring into summer with a romp through a lineup of famous English poets imitated, in an act of homage, by former Kent State professor David R. Ewbank, to the tune of “Mary Had a...

Poet’s Corner: ‘Spring Tankas’

Spring Tankas By Ellie Bates vernal equinox daffodils forsythia medicine of hope sunlight warms our heavy hearts we deserve this change from fear gold ranunculus crowded petals like turbans sit on green stalks turn their heads in a warm breeze bow to us as we...

Around the Writers’ Table

While trying to decide on what to write for this week’s Writer’s Table, I received an email from Walker Ryan, a professional skateboarder and the author of two novels, “Top of Mason” and “Off...

‘The Half Moon’ illustrates a marriage in crisis

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“The Half Moon: A Novel '' in the title of part-time Vineyarder Mary Beth Keane’s new novel is not in the night sky, but the bar in the small town of Gillam. It is...

Poet’s Corner: ‘Greetings from the Vineyard’

Greetings from the Vineyard By Fran Schumer I’m on my island, you’re on yours on the 31st floor of building three — The Coleridge. Forgive me if I say you are the albatross around my neck as I once was around yours. You worried about...

It’s always the right time for ‘A Vineyard Season’

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I’m always thrilled to review Jean Stone’s books in her Vineyard series. They are like chowing down on a tasty meal, and “A Vineyard Season” doesn’t disappoint. As always, Stone spins a great yarn...

‘A Border Town in Poland: A 20th Century Memoir’

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“A Border Town in Poland: A 20th Century Memoir,” by Hirsch Bieler, as told to Nora Jean and Michael H. Levin, is an intimate look at the circuitous, five-decade-long journey of survival for Hirsch...

Poet’s Corner: ‘The countdown’

The countdown By Donald Nitchie These are the days we counted down to summer, sliding sweat off upper lips with the backs of our hands. The second hand swam up its side of the clock but it wasn’t time. Summer beckoned from the end...

Around the Bookstore: Oprah’s 100th pick

For many authors, being named as the choice for Oprah’s Book Club is akin to winning an Oscar — a validation, a burst of authorial stardust in a literary career. Since 1996, Oprah has...

Announcing the 5-Minute Book Bite

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By Mathew Tombers’ count, there are over 200 books written by Vineyard-connected authors currently on the shelves of Edgartown Books. Tombers is the manager of the bookstore, and has been hosting frequent author signings...

Two stories, one novel

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There are two interweaving storylines in Islander Kate Hancock’s new young adult novel, “Sea Change,” which, since it takes place on the Vineyard, has lots of local flavor. The tale opens with a bang...

Poet’s Corner: ‘The fisherman’s daughter’

The fisherman's daughter By Jonathan Burke A daughter fishes with her father on the waters of the Lagoon. She wears orange bibs wool sweater and hat rubber boots and gloves as does he. They are out on the pond in the bare light of the sky. The scalloper is caught and turned in the...

Love and desperation

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Hanna Halperin’s second novel, “I Could Live Here Forever,” fearlessly delves into powerlessness in the face of addiction. Ostensibly it is about the main character Leah’s intense relationship with the questionably recovering heroin addict...

Poet’s Corner: Nancy Aronie

By Nancy Aronie I look at you like you’re a crossword puzzle and I can’t get one clue How did this happen that two people so different so wrong for each other fit as if God herself used a celestial bandsaw and made...