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The Long Goodbye: A Memoir by Meghan O’Rourke
Her mother died of cancer. So did mine. That’s where our similarities end, so it was hard for me to relate. Great poetic writing, though. #25wordbookreviews Continue reading
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RIP Mary Oliver
One of my favorite poets has died. Here is her obituary in the NY Times. And here is my favorite poem by her–possibly my favorite poem, period: Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have… Continue reading
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Reading Radar
On my radar this week: Started the audiobook of Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Partially because I want to start off the year with something thoughtful, partly because I have a grudge against Brene Brown that I feel like I have to get rid of. I don’t know why. Anyway, I’m having some trouble focusing on… Continue reading
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Vic’s 2019 Reading Goals
When it came to my reading goals, I did not do very well in 2018. I had five goals and I only made one of them. I wanted to read all of Sherman Alexie’s books — I only read one before the #metoo accusations surfaced about how he’d abused his power with female authors and… Continue reading
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Vic’s Top 10 Books Read in 2018
2018 was a GREAT year for reading. I was lagging behind my Goodreads Challenge goal of 75 books for much of the year, but a very quiet few weeks at the end of December allowed me to catch up and even read one more for a total of 76. In all I rated nine books… Continue reading
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#tbt: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
It’s 1991, and I’m lying on my bed in my dorm room. I’m a freshman in college, and it’s the first time I’ve been on my own, away from my close but incredibly dysfunctional family. I’m making friends, sort of, but I don’t feel like I entirely click with my housemates. I’m shy. I’m overweight… Continue reading
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I love autumn.
Went for a late afternoon motorcycle ride in the sunshine today. Stopped at a coffee shop and sat and read the new Kate Atkinson for a little bit. I’m developing a relationship with KA — I don’t love everything she writes, and she’s not really easy for me to read. But some of her books… Continue reading
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Regrets, I’ve Had a Few; or, My Writing History and What I’ve Learned from It
My name is Elise, and I am a writer. Or at least I try to be. In some senses I am; I did work as a ghostwriter for nearly a decade and write upward of fifty books in that time. So I think that qualifies me. And I have notebooks and thumb drives full of… Continue reading
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LGBT YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy: It’s a Thing, and I Love It
Toward the end of 2016, I was browsing for something to read—something to finish out the year right, to carry me through the holidays and into my weeklong staycation between Christmas and New Year’s. I hit all the usuals—the Kindle new releases and daily deals pages, my Amazon “to read” wish list, my Goodreads “Want to… Continue reading
About Me
I’m Victoria Griffith and I am enthusiastic about a LOT of things. Pine trees and mushrooms and the desert. Mountains and motorcycles, travel and photography. Friendship and writing and books and surviving the love of your life’s terminal diagnosis.
I read constantly, think about reading obsessively, and have strong opinions about what makes a great memoir. I write about books here, and I’m working on one of my own.
I was born in Paterson, NJ, call Seattle home, and spend winters in the desert of Southern California, where the light is different and the ocotillos are doing something extraordinary. I try to get out and see as much of the world as time and money will allow.
If you’d like to say hi, you can reach me at vgriff@vgriff.com.
vgriff 