Describe your new book: This book is the story of my life — the ups, the downs, and the music. If someone were to write your biography, what...
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I've been a fan of Kevin Sampsell's writing since the Cafe Lena poetry open mic days, when I published a story of his in an early issue of Plazm magazine. In A Common Pornography, I found that same sharp yet intimate writing I was captured by all those years ago. While this memoir is deeply, unabashedly personal, it is also vast in it's acknowledgment of growing up in an anywhere sort of small town in the Pacific Northwest during a particular time--a time period that has informed much of the creativity found in these parts today. Sampsell's story is raw and engaging to read, a story of many things hidden and wrong, but common. At times I felt voyeuristic, but I like that.
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Matt Love is an impressive Oregon storyteller; in this latest book, Gimme Refuge, he chronicles his way out of teaching high school English through the blackberry brambles of the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge into his life as a writer. Love’s story is one not commonly told, yet is one of the modern Everyman—it is the story of the rise out of feeling mediocre in one’s daily dealings, no matter how noble one’s profession. Love shares the anecdote of being asked by a possible publisher, “Who’s your audience—burnt out teachers? environmentalists?” Love answers with a question, “Are you happy doing what you do?” Anyone who answers this question with a “no” is the audience for Gimme Refuge. In following Love’s richly told story, the reader is able to come to terms with his or her own sense of a greater purpose. Gimme Refuge is an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, bring tears to your eyes read that places Love on the podium of Oregon literary powerhouses. The reader will walk away from this story with a renewed appreciation for hard work, the natural world, the daily joys and calamities of teaching, and following one’s dream.
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(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
Matt Love is an impressive Oregon storyteller; in this latest book, Gimme Refuge, he chronicles his way out of teaching high school English through the blackberry brambles of the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge into his life as a writer. Love’s story is one not commonly told, yet is one of the modern Everyman—it is the story of the rise out of feeling mediocre in one’s daily dealings, no matter how noble one’s profession. Love shares the anecdote of being asked by a possible publisher, “Who’s your audience—burnt out teachers? environmentalists?” Love answers with a question, “Are you happy doing what you do?” Anyone who answers this question with a “no” is the audience for Gimme Refuge. In following Love’s richly told story, the reader is able to come to terms with his or her own sense of a greater purpose. Gimme Refuge is an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, bring tears to your eyes read that places Love on the podium of Oregon literary powerhouses. The reader will walk away from this story with a renewed appreciation for hard work, the natural world, the daily joys and calamities of teaching, and following one’s dream.
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Neva Knott has commented on (3) products.
A Common Pornography: A Memoir by Kevin Sampsell
Neva Knott, August 12, 2010
I've been a fan of Kevin Sampsell's writing since the Cafe Lena poetry open mic days, when I published a story of his in an early issue of Plazm magazine. In A Common Pornography, I found that same sharp yet intimate writing I was captured by all those years ago. While this memoir is deeply, unabashedly personal, it is also vast in it's acknowledgment of growing up in an anywhere sort of small town in the Pacific Northwest during a particular time--a time period that has informed much of the creativity found in these parts today. Sampsell's story is raw and engaging to read, a story of many things hidden and wrong, but common. At times I felt voyeuristic, but I like that.(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
Gimme Refuge: The Education of a Caretaker by Matt Love
Neva Knott, July 10, 2010
Matt Love is an impressive Oregon storyteller; in this latest book, Gimme Refuge, he chronicles his way out of teaching high school English through the blackberry brambles of the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge into his life as a writer. Love’s story is one not commonly told, yet is one of the modern Everyman—it is the story of the rise out of feeling mediocre in one’s daily dealings, no matter how noble one’s profession. Love shares the anecdote of being asked by a possible publisher, “Who’s your audience—burnt out teachers? environmentalists?” Love answers with a question, “Are you happy doing what you do?” Anyone who answers this question with a “no” is the audience for Gimme Refuge. In following Love’s richly told story, the reader is able to come to terms with his or her own sense of a greater purpose. Gimme Refuge is an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, bring tears to your eyes read that places Love on the podium of Oregon literary powerhouses. The reader will walk away from this story with a renewed appreciation for hard work, the natural world, the daily joys and calamities of teaching, and following one’s dream.(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
Gimme Refuge: The Education of a Caretaker by Matt Love
Neva Knott, July 10, 2010
Matt Love is an impressive Oregon storyteller; in this latest book, Gimme Refuge, he chronicles his way out of teaching high school English through the blackberry brambles of the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge into his life as a writer. Love’s story is one not commonly told, yet is one of the modern Everyman—it is the story of the rise out of feeling mediocre in one’s daily dealings, no matter how noble one’s profession. Love shares the anecdote of being asked by a possible publisher, “Who’s your audience—burnt out teachers? environmentalists?” Love answers with a question, “Are you happy doing what you do?” Anyone who answers this question with a “no” is the audience for Gimme Refuge. In following Love’s richly told story, the reader is able to come to terms with his or her own sense of a greater purpose. Gimme Refuge is an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, bring tears to your eyes read that places Love on the podium of Oregon literary powerhouses. The reader will walk away from this story with a renewed appreciation for hard work, the natural world, the daily joys and calamities of teaching, and following one’s dream.(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)