Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Colum McCann loves books, America, Obama

by Jim

Colum McCann published this gorgeous op-ed the day after Christmas.  I was distinctly not reading the newspaper the day after Christmas, so I just found it today. In a few short paragraphs, he covers the impact of literature, the election of Barack Obama, and his own swearing in as an American citizen.

I wish more people could write like him, and I wish more people’s lives were as fully enriched by the books they had read. I have a feeling that visitors here will be able to relate to both wishes.

Happy new year, folks!

5 comments:

  1. Jim - Wow. Colum's words are beautiful and thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The words. THE WRITING. I must now find, buy, and read everything he's written. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "We are built on the wounds and mercies of the past" -- that's a great line.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am in the middle of Let The Great World Spin: Love. It. fatcaster: I highly recommend it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're the second person I know who has, just today, pointed out this essay. And, wow. This line, among others--"Literature can stop my heart and execute me for a moment, allow me to become someone else." Just wow.

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete