I love the author. Her humor and way of teaching is marvelous! Enjoy!

Caught at a bookcrossing meeting. Planning on sending it as a wishlist trade or RABCK.

Released on Monday, June 21, 2004 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota Controlled Releases.

Sent off to Ebumu in trade for Tears of the Giraffe.

This book came in the mail today from arugh48187, who kindly sent it in exchange for my copy of 'Tears of the Giraffe.' My husband and I have a 14 month old baby, so a while ago we read Lamott's 'Operating Instructions' to each other over a few weeks at bedtimes. Since then we've been wishing to read 'Bird by Bird,' because we are both academics and writing figures prominently in our lives. I was so pleased to receive this copy!

Here is Bird by Bird in a nest of sweet woodruff and Crocosmia.

I like this book and the author's funny, self-effacing style. I'm not a novelist, but I do write a lot because I'm an academic. I loved Lamott's descriptions of the agony of the writing process, with which I happen to be familiar. The sections on plot and character development don't exactly apply to my writing about my biological research. Yet I was very interested to learn of some of the struggles that fiction writiers face, and I enjoyed Lamott's anecdotes about her writing life. She thoroughly dispels the myth that having accomplished one well-received book leaves a writer full of confidence and grace in the face of the next one.

Now it's time for me to look for some of the author's novels; so far I've only read her nonfiction!

cmm25 asked if she could be next to read Bird by Bird, so this book is now off to Wisconsin. Hope you enjoy it! (Sent by media mail Oct. 18)

Oh, and Congratulations on your baby, arugh48187!!!!!

Received this book yesterday in the mail and I nearly have it finished! What a good read. It has given me a lot of hope for my writing.

Ebumu thank you so much for sending this along and for the postcard!