Nonfiction — The Rhino Sanctuary if rhinos were ideas

To Thoreau or Too Thorough?

Does going to the woods to live deliberately mean you turn the volume up or down? If so, on what? Up on the deep breaths? Down on the internet? Up on the silence? Down on the noise? Up on the acceptance? Down on the judgment?

ProseJonathan BrownDecember 11, 2019Walden, Thoreau, The Woods, NonfictionComment

Ani DiFranco’s No Walls and the Recurring Dream

Some of my favorite parts of No Walls and the Recurring Dream are when Ani gives us insight on her songwriting process. She writes, “People have often asked me about my songwriting process and all I can say is this: It takes many forms. Intentionally so. I don’t ever want to write the same song twice so I try taking different routes to finish the line.

ProseJonathan BrownDecember 3, 2019Ani DiFranco, No Walls and the Reoccurring Dream, Nonfiction, taco bout booksComment

Thoughts On Me, Elton John's New Book

I suppose my biggest issue with Me was I felt like Elton John trivialized suicide. When he recounted taking too much valium and jumping into a swimming pool during a party, it seemed more like performance art than a cry for help. Or maybe it was a cry for help disguised as performance art. Or maybe all cries for help require a little performance art in order to be effective. I can’t tell.