West of Most Things -Part 1

Beer.

Last week I attended the annual Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest reading and writers workshop with Jonathon Evison, author of the award winning novels About Lulu and West of Here. Oregon Quarterly, the alumni magazine for the University of Oregon hosts this annual event and this is my second year in attendance. The reading is always held in an old and opulent lounge on campus with dark wood paneling and massive portraits of University luminaries. The winners read their essays, which are often sad, and always well written. It is a lovely event.

However, much to the dismay of this years judge, because it is on campus, it is also alcohol free. If you know anything at all about Jonathon Evison, it's probably that the man likes beer. Most of his branding is beer related, so much so that it is rare for him to attend an event without beer already set out. And here he was, in Oregon, land of the microbrew and Eugene, home of Ninkasi. And we wouldn't serve the guy a beer. He managed the event anyway, and did a gracious job of introducing the essays. It was wonderful to meet him and hear him talk about his craft, but after being trapped in a hot room with all of us for three hours, you could tell he was ready for a more relaxed scene. 

You can read the winning essays from this and previous years here:

http://www.oregonquarterly.com/essay.php

Do You Know Her?

Stones.

When my mother, an avid reader, wants to know if I have read a particular author, she will ask me if I know her.

"Do you know Annie Dillard?"

Annie Dillard is a prolific essayist and poet, she is often compared to Thoreau, though I believe that that is more due to their shared love of nature than anything else.  Annie Dillard's voice is singular.  She is an author recognizable from her cadence and clarity alone.  Since the early 1970's she has quietly become one of the great American naturalist voices.  

I remember where I was when I first read Teaching a Stone to Talk; sixteen, a dreary day of homework and rain; and then this:

“You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it.” 

And this:

“I would like to learn, or remember, how to live.” 

She is also beautiful and humble.  Her website is unabashed in it's protest of self promotion, she does not tell us her life story or show us pictures of her family.  She says, quite clearly  that if you want to know about an author, read their work or works. 

Yes, I know her.

References/Resources:

Quotations:

http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/14827-teaching-a-stone-to-talk-expeditions-and-encounters

Annie Dillards Website:

http://www.anniedillard.com/

Image:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/photographic_examples_13_four_river_rocks.shtml