Tag: relationships

Book Reviews

Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Ruby Pipes9 Comments

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I read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close on Shannon‘s recommendation. All she really had to do was send me the quote, “There were things I wanted to tell him. But I knew they would hurt him. So I buried them, and let them hurt me.” Sold.
 
The book follows the life of an nine-year-old boy, Oskar, after his father is killed in September 11th. Oskar finds a mysterious key in his father’s belongings and goes on an adventure to find what it opens. It’s gut-wrenching beautiful.
 
This isn’t the kind of book you rush through. I spent my time with every paragraph, circling things, underlining. The story is stunning, but the way it is told is pure bliss. A book you want to quote back to everyone. It was difficult to not read the whole thing aloud to anyone who would listen.

Autobiography · Poetry

No Ice

Ruby Pipes24 Comments
© Photography by Tanya De 2008.
© Photography by Tanya De, 2008.

Maybe I should just write poetry, I think.
As if saying more with less is easy
and words can make sense of
the ache still clinging to my chest.

Like we can sculpt emotions
out of a dictionary,
lay it out in front of us and say,
“Oh yes, now I see.”

It was like any other summer night
when we sat on the steps of my parents’ house.
Smoking Marlboro cigarettes and
drinking bourbon. No ice.

I didn’t know it was the
last time we’d be there
before you wandered
into the woods with a gun.

But I wonder if you did.
If, when we hugged good night,
you held on just a little tighter
than you would have otherwise.

What I’ve been trying to say is–
in poetry and empty howls to the universe–
“I’m sorry you didn’t know,
but I saw you. I did.”

Guest Posts · Writing

Guest Posts

Ruby Pipes6 Comments
"Capilano Suspension Bridge" © Michelle Lee, 2011. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
“Capilano Suspension Bridge” © Michelle Lee, 2011. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Hi there, readers. In the coming year I’d like to start incorporating guest posts into my blogging schedule. So, would you like to write one? Do you know someone who would?

I’m looking for people who write in all styles on topics like depression, addiction, mental health, relationships, and personal development.

Send questions, ideas, and submissions to rubyabrowne[at]gmail.com.