Monday, November 10, 2025

message from a friend

 



Sigrid Nunez





Dear Readers,

I know, you already have a stack of books, and you don't want it to get so tall it endangers you.  Still.  And yet.  

Let's say this, you have a stack, but you want a good book, a book for right now, a book to help you imagine yourself expanding enough to survive even this tragedy we are living.  Or, well, maybe I am claiming too much; how can I be sure you will find this book helpful?  Let me try again:

This year I have read over 70 books- I didn't expect to love this one; I thought, I might like it, I thought it might entertain.  I had never heard of the author (which is pretty much how it goes for me- no matter how many books I read, I still haven't heard of this book, or that book, or the book you just read!), but I looked at her picture on the internet, and I knew, I knew in an instant that I wanted to read a thing this person had written.  Even if it was about a big dog; and well, you know, me and dogs, we have a kind of complicated relationship ever since one knocked me down when I was 4 or 5 and broke my tooth on the sidewalk.  

Let me set the record straight, it isn't just about a big dog.  (Also, and if you have read any dog lit, you may be worrying, the dog does not die.)  It is also about Big Life.  I am looking for instructions for how to live Big Life, and this book, The Friend, is a good guide.  I think you will enjoy it, should you add it to your stack!  

I have to run now, because I need to go and get all the other Sigrid Nunez books!