The Writing Life

February 21, 2005
In this collection of wry and poised autobiographical essays, most previously unpublished, National Book Award winner Gilchrist (Victory over Japan
, etc.) is disarmingly direct in evoking herself as a trapped young wife and mother who returned to college, studied under Eudora Welty and became involved in the New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Miss., during the civil rights era, a turning point in her eventual "escape from the bourgeoisie." She writes frankly and without self-loathing about overcoming alcoholism, and reflects on the powerful influence of her disciplined, sporty father, drawing analogies between tennis and writing, coaching and teaching. She tells of writing her first published book of stories, In the Land of Dreamy Dreams,
in three months and of how its publication coincided with the birth of her first grandchild. Affording insights into her writing process, including the necessary evil of letting down friends and family in order to put writing first, Gilchrist's droll, optimistic and seasoned voice is irresistible. A final series of pithy essays focuses on her adaptation to academia late in life; she enthralls with witty, tender observations of her writing students' progress. Gilchrist's love of life, her tireless work ethic and her self-assured sense of fun and folly shine in this vital and inspiring collection. Agent, Susan Ramer of Don Congdon and Assoc.

Starred review from May 1, 2005
Gilchrist is a popular southern writer of novels and short stories (remembered most readily for " Victory over Japan," 1984, her National Book Award-winning collection of stories). Since 2000, she has been teaching creative writing at the University of Arkansas, and her latest book, a collection of essays (most of which are appearing in print for the first time here), stems from her teaching experiences. It is, simply, a beautiful book. Beautiful in its lucid, limpid eloquence; in the remarkable wisdom about human nature it displays; and in its delicious cocktail of sarcastic humor, disarming candor, and face-slapping intelligence. In one essay, Gilchrist posits, "Rules are made to be broken." And although she is referring in this particular instance to the rules of writing, the maxim also holds true to the stand she has taken for a life and a lifelong viewpoint based on her own interests and inclinations. From heart-stopping and -warming memories of her friend and fellow Mississippi writer Eudora Welty to such practical writerly concerns as, "I believe young writers should be careful about what they read," this gathering of her thoughts speaks to anyone for whom the written word is one of life's primary joys.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)