Meeting my Irish Author

I'll always remember that night. 

I went alone, as I often did back in those days. 

Professor Sandra Manoogian Pearce had brought Irish author Edna O'Brien to Moorhead State University to read from her new novel HOUSE OF SPLENDID ISOLATION. 

 

It was October, 1995 and I had just bought a copy of the book at Zandbroz Variety, and O'Brien was going to do a signing after her reading. 

 

I arrived early to Weld Hall auditorium, where the event was taking place. I had not been there before, and I instantly loved its oldness and character. 

 

I settled in, and read from the book. I often will come very early to a venue to get a feel for the place before it comes alive with an audience. 

To hear Edna O'Brien read her own work was to forget where you were.

[Below is the rest of the interview shown above of Edna O'Brien, that was done the evening before the reading in Moorhead...]

Penmanship

I learned how to handwrite in 1967 in third grade.  Mrs. Knutson was our teacher for that year, and I remember her as a competent, pleasant woman but one that you just felt inclined to pay attention to.  I became very engaged and fascinated with learning to write in longhand.

The class was called Penmanship, and the activity itself was called handwriting.  I never heard it referred to as cursive until my own children were in school many years later...

An actual example of my handwriting from 1967 that my mother kept...

And another thing, what is the deal with how kids nowadays hold pens and pencils? It looks downright awkward. No wonder that many of them can't write very well! I also can't help wondering if they're not even making excuses for it...

Reading Aloud

I had my father make up (very good) stories on-the-fly many times he shared and acted out with various voices for me. 

I had out-loud reading done for me as a child, and later as an adult by family and friends. 

I read to my children entire books a chapter at a time, and have read short books to grandchildren. 


I have read to myself out loud many times just because it helped me understand the story better to HEAR it outside my head. Reading itself, speaking the words, is just FUN, too! 

I have read to other adults, in both reading theatre and to partners, entire books - it can be a very fun, social, and intimate activity!