The Nature of Words

It’s that time again. The Nature of Words is Nov. 2-6. There are definitely some interesting authors and poets coming to Bend, including Augusten Burroughs and William Kittredge. I haven’t read much from either of them, but I did like Burroughs’ brother’s memoir, Look me in the eye; my life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison.

I recently read Heidi Durrow’s first novel, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky. She will be at the Nature of Words as well and her novel won many awards including Barbara Kingsolver's 2008 Bellwether Prize for Literature of Social Change. The main character, Rachel, is the daughter of a Danish immigrant and a black G.I. After a family tragedy in Chicago, Rachel moves to Portland, OR to live with her grandmother. There is some uncertainly about exactly what happened to the rest of her family. The story is told from a few different points of view, including a neighbor of Rachel’s in Chicago and her mom’s co-worker. I did find it too coincidental that her neighbor from Chicago managed to find her in Portland.

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is worth reading. I also hope to read Keith Scribner's novel, The Oregon Experiment, and something by Mark Spragg; both of these authors will also be at the Nature of Words: www.thenatureofwords.org.