The Tradition of the Christmas Letter

I’m not sure how many of you have written or received a “Christmas Letter”, so let me start off by explaining this ubiquitous literary genre. First, I’m uncertain how to categorize the traditional family Christmas letter - is it fiction or nonfiction? Generally speaking, let’s call it a little bit of both. Basically, it’s a [...]

So, it’s been awhile . . .

since I’ve posted. Basically, I am either reading, thinking about reading, or worrying about all the reading I still have to do. In the in between times, I do my Chinese homework and worry about the fact that I will never, ever be fluent. But, of course, that’s not true. I can already wander [...]

Reality, Made-up Memories and Memoir Writing

This summer, I have plans to work on a new book. This one will be centering on my experiences living in Hong Kong, my life as a tai tai (a largely literal, yet somehow derogatory, term for a wife), and the demise of my so-called marriage.
In the past, I have frequently thought about writing a [...]

The 10 Things that Track Running Can Teach You about Life

After having spent two weeks on the road, eating and drinking whatever I wanted, I came home only to find that my digital scale had turned on me. Perhaps, I thought, I shouldn’t have had all those sticks of beef jerky. Or that McDonald’s strawberry milkshake. Or those biscuits and gravy. Or all of those [...]

The Negative Side of Having “Potential”

Summer is stretching its long arms out in a near mind-crushing expanse of potential. Classes are over, the days are longer, and I have a summer stipend which means I have nothing but time and sunshine in which to write. I have no deadlines and no one expects me to show up for work at [...]

How to Survive a Road Trip

Having just completed the long journey from New York City to Berkeley, California, in a car, I can tell you that road trips are difficult. You see a lot, you do a lot, you are stuck in a space that is four feet by four feet for hours at a time. Some of it is [...]

Roadtrip Americana Style

My roadtrip has officially begun, although I haven’t actually driven anywhere yet. For the next two weeks, I will be writing daily, but posting less frequently. Unless there’s an update on the pig situation in Guangdong or I feel the need to share some reflections on Edward Said’s Orientalism, in which case I’ll post from [...]

BIP (book in progress) fragment

 
Las Vegas, Nevada - September 27, 2003

Mark stood in front of me, blocking out the light from the low-hanging lamp over the desk. It wasn’t the best lighting, he told me, but it would have to do. As he put on his glasses and opened up the black case in front of him, I [...]

Perception is Reality (and other tales from the trenches)

Humankind cannot stand very much reality.
T. S. Eliot
Everything is a dangerous drug except reality, which is unendurable.
Cyril Connolly, “The Unquiet Grave”, 1945
(1903 - 1974)
 
The Chinese philosopher Lao-Tse famously wrote that there are three truths: my truth, your truth, and the truth. In today’s political arena, the same might now be said of reality. Reality is [...]