reader / writer / teacher
The power of the Internet brought me this mp3 of Amy Hempel reading “The Harvest” and suddenly I know what we’re listening to in class tomorrow. http://www.wiredforbooks.org/mp3/AmyHempel.mp3 Amy Hempel — “I moved through the days like a severed head that finishes a sentence.” Continue reading amy hempel reading
I’ve long read and admired Junot Diaz‘ style of prose. I’m almost embarrassed to say how much I’ve modeled my own work after his. This latest collection of work contains all the themes of trouble and failure at its heart. And also the redemption. I continue to admire how the work follows a consistent universe … Continue reading quick review of junot díaz’ this is how you lose her
We’re discussing a few stories tomorrow from Stuart Dybek‘s collection The Coast of Chicago. I admire “The Woman Who Fainted” and “Pet Milk” (4:27) and I was happy to find this reading for my Lit 50 students. So important to hear the author’s voice. I was lucky enough to hear him read years back at … Continue reading stuart dybek’s the coast of chicago
Discussing Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” today in Lit 150 class. I’m stealing this lesson/discussion from the Yale Writers’ Conference. Love her voice. Continue reading a good man is hard to find
Grateful for the thoughtful review at Indiereader.com: “…the book is filled with beautiful moments, like shards of broken stained-glass window lying in the dirt. This book will open your eyes to a new way of life and will leave you with haunting images not soon forgotten. A worthy read.” –IndieReader.com Continue reading the house of order indie reader review
A few months back I wrote a quick review of Daniel Chacon’s book Unending Rooms. I admire Chacon’s aesthetic and overall writerly choices. I look forward to picking up his novel and his other work Chicano Chicanery. His work at times is surreal and also thought provoking. I find his work here playful and intelligent. And … Continue reading quick review of daniel chacon’s hotel juarez
My friend and mentor Will Hochman answers some questions and gives his opinion on the new Salinger documentary. Continue reading will hochman on salinger documentary
Rereading Borges’ The Garden of Forking Paths this morning. And the idea of a chaotic novel or a novel with confounding paths of time consoles me as I’ve been thinking Semi-Orphaned is a mess of vignettes and scene/organization that spirals. Hopeful that I have found a plan for the chaos. “No one realized that the book … Continue reading a book and a labyrinth
Sat down today–all day today–working towards an August 15 contest deadline for my Semi-Orphaned manuscript. Here is a quick excerpt: Animales Neto was over on the bed shirtless and crudo, shaking his head at the reality of missing his father’s funeral service, when he raised both arms to smell his pits. He started digging in … Continue reading semi-orphaned aug 15 deadline
Happy to see The House of Order featured on the cover of the August Sacramento Book Review! Continue reading the house of order in sacramento book review
James Thurber short story adaptation? This looks interesting: Continue reading james thurber short story adaptation
The good folks at CIELO: Culturally Integrated Education for Latinos Organization here in Springfield, Illinois will be discussing my book at their August book club meeting. And they’ve invited me to come and discuss the book on Aug 6. I’m getting excited. Continue reading the house of order: cielo august book club selection
Found this great wiki page on Tom Spanbauer and literary minimalism: http://creativewriting.wikia.com/wiki/Dangerous_Writing Continue reading tom spanbauer literary minimalism page
Here’s a quick excerpt from the writeup in the August San Francisco Book Review: Star Rating: 5 out of 5 “Raw and highly emotional at times, Jaramillo’s stories give a realistic look in to the lives of his characters as he presents short vignettes that hint at a deeper family saga. His style is easy to read … Continue reading the house of order writeup in the san francisco book review
I’m grateful for the nearly half-page writeup in the hometown newspaper: “Jaramillo is writing about working in Southern Colorado farm fields, driving and drinking beer and smoking pot; visiting family members in the state penitentiary; about tattooed pregnant girls, dirty kids in laundromats and their desperate mothers–and the pain-filled list goes on, back through several … Continue reading half-page writeup in pueblo chieftain
