I Read

• Fern Holland's War. "A young American lawyer ventured to Iraq to help empower women, but her human rights work soon turned into politics. And then the politics turned deadly."
  
  I first heard about her death when I read a little tribute article on her in Glamour in the June 2004 issue. Elizabeth Rubin, of the NY Times, writes a longer tribute for Holland.
  
  
• Goodbye (Again), Norma Jean. "At 88, Arthur Miller returns to a theme he first dramatized 40 years ago: his marriage to Marilyn Monroe."
  
  Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman. I remember reading this play in Junior English. Who doesn't? I don't remember the story anymore, but I think the play is such an institution in American drama, and Miller is such a forceful playwright that few students could claim that they haven't read the play or, even more unimaginable, that they haven't heard of Miller or his play.
  
  
• 'The Falls': Force of Nature. Terrence Rafferty, of the NY Times, reviews Oates's new book, "The Falls."
  
  The only piece of writing I had read by Joyce Carol Oates is one of her short stories, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" She made a great impression because my English professor, who one of the best teachers I have ever had, believe that Oates should win a Noble Prize for Literature. So formed my impression of Oates as an author who readers, and me, should read and play detailed attention to her writing. Despite coming highly recommended by my professor, her short story mentioned above is still the only piece of writing I have read from Oates.
  
  
• Clive Talking. For those who love Clive Owen (like me). Yummy.
  
  
• The Secret Life of Bees by "Sue Monk Kidd. Excellent. Touching.