Newsletter - September, 2002

Katy (age 13) writes that she recommends A WALK TO REMEMBER by Nicholas Sparks. And she adds, "if any one thinks, 'Oh I have seen the movie I don't need to read the book,' you are wrong. The book is totally different."
Reminds me of a bumpersticker: "Don't judge a book by it's movie."

The Bishop sent me LYING AWAKE by Mark Salzman ($12). It takes place in a convent, the pivotal question is around the religious experiences of a nun, whose intimacy with God seems to be caused by a fixable medical condition. The book is a short, well written and a compelling read. It reminds me a bit of MARIETTE IN ECSTASY ($13) by Ron Hansen, which is about a Sister of the Holy Cross who received the stigmata. (They threw her out, of course.) MARIETTE is much weirder than LYING AWAKE. And while we're visiting convents, I should mention that we have an old copy of Rummer Godden's IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE ($8) that's been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years. A must read if you like touring nunneries via books.

Meanwhile, I've ordered in SANCTUARIES: The Complete United States, a guide to lodging in Monasteries, Abbeys and Retreats by Jack Kelly ($18). Just in case you want a realtime tour.

Sheri returned the oop JESUS TALES by Romulous Linney to me, so it's up for grabs again ($7). She wasn't thrilled with it, she liked Ron Hansen's ATTICUS better, which she also returned ($5). ATTICUS is about a father looking for his son who has disappeared. It's not weird like Hansen's MARIETTE. I'd say it is a prodigal son story, except for when I read that in a review, I thought "oh, I don't need to read that, I already know the prodigal son story." --Sort of like not going to "West Side Story" because you've already seen "Romeo and Juliet."

NURSING BOOKS: We've received a large donation--three boxes worth--of nursing school books; diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, various training books in great condition. I can't figure out what to do with them. We don't have enough room to start a whole medical section. Is there someone out there we can pass this treasure onto?

SOME OTHER NEW ARRIVALS include Rick Joyner's THE FINAL QUEST, Hans Kung's ON BEING A CHRISTIAN, a whole stack of 12-step, codependency, and children of alcoholic books; an old 2 volume matching GRIMMS and ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES, biographies of Edith Stein (one for young people), selections from Evelyn Underhill's writings and the usual stream of how to cope, how to be a better Christian, and what's wrong with the church books.

CREATIVE COLLUSION: Come to a one day collage workshop this Saturday, September 21 at 10:30 a.m. After last month's plea, Edith from the "Profound Writer's Group" got us permission to use the parish hall at The First United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz on 250 California St. We couldn't make collages at The Word Shop without seriously bumping elbows. Thank you, Edith!
The workshop is an opportunity to have fun creating in a group setting, while putting the pieces together to form meaningful insights. Kateri Livingston and I will provide materials to cut and paste magazine collages. If you want to bring family pictures or some other comparable cut and paste project, you're welcome to do so. Bring finger food to share.
Although aimed primarily for adults, children are also welcome. They tend to finish faster. If you think you can come, call 688-6607 or email me so we have enough scissors and glue. We have the church until 2:00ish, but people can leave whenever they feel done. (Once we've admired your work, of course.) There is no charge for the class; donations will be cheerfully accepted.

I have a stack of Word Shop Flyers that Dan and Lynn Wagner very kindly designed for us. If you have a place to post a flyer, please come by and pick one up or let me know and I'll mail one to you. I don't have the time/energy/money to do a massive mailing, but I'd love to put a flyer in the hands of some few who will get them up somewhere.

Meanwhile, two of our volunteers are going on three week vacations the beginning of October. Would anybody like to do a three week trial shift? The times are Tuesday 3-6, and Thursdays 12-3. If you're interested and those times don't fit, let me know. We can shift around the times...The Word Shop staff is a shifty bunch.

"A painting is never finished - it simply stops in interesting places. -Paul Gardner, painter

Blessings,
Alliee +