Author Archives: John Walters

Rereading On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

In these days of lockdown, with the library and physical bookstores inaccessible and even books delivered by post under suspicion, I find myself groping for reading material, as I relate in my recent post “How to Find Books During a … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple

Until I left my birthplace and took to the road in earnest, seeking adventure and my voice as a writer, I had no idea that the Indian Subcontinent would become so important to me. I hitchhiked up and down the … Continue reading

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How to Find Books During a Pandemic

Who could have anticipated that things would escalate so quickly? Evidently there were a few strident voices, but none of them were given the platform they needed to shout the warning out loud and clear. Even if their voices had … Continue reading

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A Second Look: Writing as a Metaphysical Experience

This book is part memoir, part journal, and part instruction.  Here’s the back cover blurb from the print edition:  From the author’s introduction:  “For me, writing is metaphysical because it is inseparable from who I am and my conception of … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Best American Short Stories 2019 Edited by Anthony Doerr and Heidi Pitlor

The short story is a particular type of art form. I love reading great short stories, but it’s notoriously difficult to find them. Even the stories in the various best of the year volumes don’t always match my tastes. I … Continue reading

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Book Review: Bird Cloud: A Memoir by Annie Proulx

I have been living in rented apartments and houses for several years now, ever since I left Greece to return to the States. In Greece we had owned our own home; here, I struggle every month to pay the rent … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

I first came across the name of Bill Bryson in a volume of interviews called A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk About Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration by Michael Shapiro. While reading this book, I made a list … Continue reading

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A Second Look: America Redux: Impressions of the United States After Thirty-Five Years Abroad

Update February 15th, 2020: For some reason I had a strong urge to repost this description of the memoir I wrote upon returning to the United States after spending thirty-five years overseas. Perhaps it’s due to the sense of displacement … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Best Science Fiction of the Year Volume 4 Edited by Neil Clarke

This is the third Best of the Year volume in the science fiction and fantasy field that I have read this year, and… I wouldn’t say that I am becoming jaded, but I am learning that not all that is … Continue reading

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Book Review: American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley

This is a fascinating book about America’s efforts to conquer space during the Cold War. However, it is not a comprehensive history of the space program. Instead, it focuses on John F. Kennedy’s fixation on space exploration and eventually on … Continue reading

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