Hunger Mountain, the VCFA journal of the arts, will be at Association of Writer's & Writing Programs-Chicago this year! Look for Editor Miciah Bay Gault with the VCFA crew at booth #417. Are you going? Stop by and say hello!
Follow Hunger Mountain (Twitter , Facebook) & Vermont College of Fine Arts (Facebook & Twitter) for updates and pictures!
Here is a list of AWP Panels With Vermont College of Fine Arts Alumni and/or Faculty
Patrick Ross (VCFA MFA student) will also be tweeting & posting "AWP Nuggets" on his blog.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Writing Prompt From the Hunger Mountain Essay, Corn Maze by Pam Houston
There is a fantastic essay over at Hunger Mountain-Corn Maze by Pam Houston-on the dividing line between fiction and creative nonfiction.
Within this essay is a very simple, to the point writing prompt. Read the essay first to see what context it is in, then see what you can do with the prompt:
"Write down all of the things out in the world that have arrested your attention lately, that have glimmered at you in some resonant way. Set them next to each other. See what happens."
Within this essay is a very simple, to the point writing prompt. Read the essay first to see what context it is in, then see what you can do with the prompt:
"Write down all of the things out in the world that have arrested your attention lately, that have glimmered at you in some resonant way. Set them next to each other. See what happens."
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Top 10 Cookbooks I Use In My Kitchen
I love to cook and bake. I love being in the kitchen and making something delicious from scratch. There have always been those basic cookbooks to work from; then there are the specialty cookbooks that are so much fun. Then, there are those specialty magazines that come out in the fall and winter holidays: Fall Baking, Holiday Baking, Christmas Cookies from Better Homes & Gardens and Taste of Home. So yummy! Great if you want to indulge a bit!
Is ten too many cookbooks for one to have? The fact that this is the Top Ten implies that I have more. Yes, I have more, but not that many more. Probably.
How many, and which ones, do you use on a regular basis?
-Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, 14th Edition (2006)
-Betty Crocker New Edition (2005)
-The New Basics Cookbook, Julie Russo & Sheila Lukins (1989)
-Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook, Beth Hensperger (2004)
-Make It Fast, Cook It Slow, Stephanie O' Dea (2009)
-Spanish Cooking, Parragon Books (2004)
-How To Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman (2007)
-Wildly Affordable Organic, Linda Watson (2011)
-Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, 9th Edition (1981)
-Anjum's Eat Right For Your Body Type: the Super-Healthy Detox Diet Inspired by Ayurveda, Anjum Anand (2011)
Is ten too many cookbooks for one to have? The fact that this is the Top Ten implies that I have more. Yes, I have more, but not that many more. Probably.
How many, and which ones, do you use on a regular basis?
-Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, 14th Edition (2006)
-Betty Crocker New Edition (2005)
-The New Basics Cookbook, Julie Russo & Sheila Lukins (1989)
-Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook, Beth Hensperger (2004)
-Make It Fast, Cook It Slow, Stephanie O' Dea (2009)
-Spanish Cooking, Parragon Books (2004)
-How To Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman (2007)
-Wildly Affordable Organic, Linda Watson (2011)
-Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, 9th Edition (1981)
-Anjum's Eat Right For Your Body Type: the Super-Healthy Detox Diet Inspired by Ayurveda, Anjum Anand (2011)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Books I Read in 2011
LIFE, Keith Richards (Little, Brown & Company)
Amazing. He was always crazy and bad-ass! Seriously, though, an excellent book. I was laughing most of the way through in incredulity. I mean, do I really need to say anything more? Read it. You'll love it.
Grimm's Tales for Young and Old, translated by Ralph Manheim (Anchor)
I read some of these to my 7 year old daughter. She asked me to!! I kept telling her that these stories are not like the movies; that Cinderella is not in a sparkling blue dress and Disney-fied. Still, she wanted me to read, and I thought-well, OK! She freaked out a little when I came to the wicked step-sisters, the golden shoes and the blood.....I read the rest of the book to myself.
Culinaria: Hungary; Spain (HF Ullman)
I love these books-so pretty, so delicious. There are many more in the series.
As Always, Julia: the Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, Edited by Joan Reardon (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
This not only follows the evolution of one of the most popular cookbooks ever, but also gives excellent insight into 1950's/mid-twentieth century publishing. Yes, I watched Julie and Julia. I have to admit, I liked the part about Julia better. It was a good movie. Funny, that Mastering the Art of French Cooking was initially turned down by Houghton Mifflin. Oh well.
What to Tip the Boatman, Cleopatra Mathis (The Sheep Meadow Press) (poetry)
I heard her read at the VCFA summer residency and she was amazing. She read from this book and a few others.
Late Wife, Claudia Emerson (Louisiana State University Press) (poetry)
I heard her read at VCFA as well. Powerful presence. Powerful words.
Wildly Affordable Organic, Linda Watson (Da Capo Press)
Great book! Delicious recipes, great ideas for eating organic on a budget. I've cooked from it and the recipes are super easy to follow.
All-American Poem, Matthew Dickman (American Poetry Review, winner of the Honickman First Book Award)
I've seen this man read poetry. Such a showman. It's always a great show! I know they get compared all the time, but I do want to mention that he has a twin brother, Michael, who also writes poetry. I find it absolutely remarkable that they write so damn well, and their poetry is so very different.
Complete Book of Home Preserving by Ball (Robert Rose, Inc.)
I did a lot of canning in 2011. It was all good. Particularly the cranberry sauce with fruit and rum-yum!
Wicked Bugs/Wicked Plants, Amy Stewart (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)
Interesting, but kind of gross.
The Thanksgiving Table, Diane Morgan (Chronicle)
Great themed cookbook for the holidays-so delicious. She also has The Christmas Table.
Not Your Mother's Casseroles, Faith Durand (Harvard Common Press)
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker, Beth Hensperger & Julie Kauffman (Harvard Common Press)
I use both of these quite often. The slow cooker book a little more, though.
Anjum's Eat Right for Your Body Type, the Super Healthy Detox Diet Inspired by Ayurveda, Anjum Anand (Da Capo Press)
This is in pretty heavy rotation in the kitchen. Recipes based on Ayurvedic practices. Particularly the beet/goat cheese/balsamic vinegar recipe. Yum.
Best Food Writing 2011, Holly Hughes (Da Capo Press)
POETRY Magazine
I read all issues from 2011
Hunger Mountain
Issues: Menagerie and At the top of the stairs (of course! :) )
Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life, Claudia Welch (Da Capo Press)
Women: you need to read this. There is just so much information in here about how hormones actually work, what to do to balance them out through diet and other things. There is a whole chapter dedicated to bio-identical/hormone therapies, what they do and how safe they actually are. Certainly worth the read. Very easy to read, despite heavy information.
Indiana Review-various issues
Bellevue Literary Review-various issues
Just Tell Me What to Eat! The Delicious 6-Week Weight Loss Plan For the Real World Timothy S Harlan, MD
(Da Capo/Lifelong Books)
Loving this book! Not your basic, traditional weight loss/diet book. Delicious recipes, real, healthy food. Focusing on a more Mediterranean diet.
Amazing. He was always crazy and bad-ass! Seriously, though, an excellent book. I was laughing most of the way through in incredulity. I mean, do I really need to say anything more? Read it. You'll love it.
Grimm's Tales for Young and Old, translated by Ralph Manheim (Anchor)
I read some of these to my 7 year old daughter. She asked me to!! I kept telling her that these stories are not like the movies; that Cinderella is not in a sparkling blue dress and Disney-fied. Still, she wanted me to read, and I thought-well, OK! She freaked out a little when I came to the wicked step-sisters, the golden shoes and the blood.....I read the rest of the book to myself.
Culinaria: Hungary; Spain (HF Ullman)
I love these books-so pretty, so delicious. There are many more in the series.
As Always, Julia: the Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, Edited by Joan Reardon (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
This not only follows the evolution of one of the most popular cookbooks ever, but also gives excellent insight into 1950's/mid-twentieth century publishing. Yes, I watched Julie and Julia. I have to admit, I liked the part about Julia better. It was a good movie. Funny, that Mastering the Art of French Cooking was initially turned down by Houghton Mifflin. Oh well.
What to Tip the Boatman, Cleopatra Mathis (The Sheep Meadow Press) (poetry)
I heard her read at the VCFA summer residency and she was amazing. She read from this book and a few others.
Late Wife, Claudia Emerson (Louisiana State University Press) (poetry)
I heard her read at VCFA as well. Powerful presence. Powerful words.
Wildly Affordable Organic, Linda Watson (Da Capo Press)
Great book! Delicious recipes, great ideas for eating organic on a budget. I've cooked from it and the recipes are super easy to follow.
All-American Poem, Matthew Dickman (American Poetry Review, winner of the Honickman First Book Award)
I've seen this man read poetry. Such a showman. It's always a great show! I know they get compared all the time, but I do want to mention that he has a twin brother, Michael, who also writes poetry. I find it absolutely remarkable that they write so damn well, and their poetry is so very different.
Complete Book of Home Preserving by Ball (Robert Rose, Inc.)
I did a lot of canning in 2011. It was all good. Particularly the cranberry sauce with fruit and rum-yum!
Wicked Bugs/Wicked Plants, Amy Stewart (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)
Interesting, but kind of gross.
The Thanksgiving Table, Diane Morgan (Chronicle)
Great themed cookbook for the holidays-so delicious. She also has The Christmas Table.
Not Your Mother's Casseroles, Faith Durand (Harvard Common Press)
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker, Beth Hensperger & Julie Kauffman (Harvard Common Press)
I use both of these quite often. The slow cooker book a little more, though.
Anjum's Eat Right for Your Body Type, the Super Healthy Detox Diet Inspired by Ayurveda, Anjum Anand (Da Capo Press)
This is in pretty heavy rotation in the kitchen. Recipes based on Ayurvedic practices. Particularly the beet/goat cheese/balsamic vinegar recipe. Yum.
Best Food Writing 2011, Holly Hughes (Da Capo Press)
POETRY Magazine
I read all issues from 2011
Hunger Mountain
Issues: Menagerie and At the top of the stairs (of course! :) )
Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life, Claudia Welch (Da Capo Press)
Women: you need to read this. There is just so much information in here about how hormones actually work, what to do to balance them out through diet and other things. There is a whole chapter dedicated to bio-identical/hormone therapies, what they do and how safe they actually are. Certainly worth the read. Very easy to read, despite heavy information.
Indiana Review-various issues
Bellevue Literary Review-various issues
Just Tell Me What to Eat! The Delicious 6-Week Weight Loss Plan For the Real World Timothy S Harlan, MD
(Da Capo/Lifelong Books)
Loving this book! Not your basic, traditional weight loss/diet book. Delicious recipes, real, healthy food. Focusing on a more Mediterranean diet.
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Gone With the Wind Read-A-Long at The Heroine's Bookshelf
Starting August 1st, read along and discuss (what some think to be) one of the greatest novels.
I've read the book many times and have seen the movie. To be honest, I prefer the movie over the book. Recently, on the Hunger Mountain Facebook page I posted something about the anniversary of the book-something about a group in Atlanta commemorating the classic by dressing in character. I certainly didn't expect the response! Turned into a lively, heated discussion on race, the US and the South.
Will you be reading along? I will be. I have a hardback copy from 1954 that's still in pretty good shape. Bought it for 50 cents at a resale book shop. The original first edition hardback came in at 1,037 pages! This one weighs in at 689 pages, due to the double column page format.
For more info and rules, including prizes and the reading schedule, check the site!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Who Is That Behind Hunger Mountain's Facebook Page?
In the third installment of Hunger Mountain's second Thursday series, Voices of Hunger Mountain, we all wonder: Who is that posting on Facebook? Who is that 'behind the mountain'?
Well, it's me. Surprise!
Well, it's me. Surprise!
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Some Thoughts From the VCFA Residency, June 26-July 7
As the Hunger Mountain Intern, I had the opportunity to attend some excellent lectures and readings during the Vermont College of Fine Arts Residency this past week and a half.
Here are a few highlights:
-Lecture by Matthew Dickman (VCFA Faculty, Poetry) on "...depression and suicide through poems...". Not the best subject at 9am. Suicide in the Morning! Even though they sometimes go hand in hand (suicide and depression), it seemed as if the focus was more on suicide than depression, really. The poems he picked to illustrate his points were amazing though: Jack Spicer (A Poem Without a Single Bird in It), Anne Sexton (Wanting to Die), Joe Bolton (In the House of Death), one of Dickman's own (Trouble). Powerful. Even more powerful, at the very beginning of the lecture, he asked for anybody who had experienced suicide in any way-knew somebody, survivor-to stand up. Nearly half the audience stood up. Very intense. -An artist's (writer's) responsibility is to engage the dark.- Paraphrasing a bit.
-Reading by Robert Vivian (Hunger Mountain CNF Editor & VCFA Faculty) and Claudia Emerson (Visiting Faculty). Good God, this was one of the best readings I have attended in a long time.
Vivian read a chapter from his forthcoming book, Water and Abandon (2012). Mesmerizing. Somehow I imagined his voice to be different than what I heard: shy, slow, a bit quiet. I think I might have to get the book when it comes out.
This was the first time I heard Claudia Emerson read as well. What a presence! It completely filled the room. The way she presented her work-slow, methodical, precise-so you'd understand everything within the poem was excellent. She flowed so easily from one poem to the next, from one intro to the next.
She read from several of her books including, The Late Wife and Figure Studies, as well as a few new ones. From Figure Studies: "Latin Teacher" , "The Girls Dissect Eye of Cow" , "What They Are Missing" and " A History Lesson". This collection seemed to be a little more on the lighter side and at a distance, whereas The Late Wife was completely more personal and written mostly in the 1st person. Titles such as "The Cough" and "The X-Rays" set the mood for The Late Wife: highly emotional and personal. She mentioned after this particular collection, the first person was "not allowed" in her writing because it was so personal, emotionally exhausting. The need to create distance from that voice was necessary to regroup creatively.
I'll have to grab some of her books as well.
-Hunger Mountain's The Writing Life Assistant Editor, Jennifer McGuiggan, gave a lecture on The Secret Life of Language. "We experience language bodily (through the five senses) first, then mentally": the taste, the sound, the feel of words. The "five S's" of how we experience language: substantive, sensuous, spiritual, subversive and sassy. Heavily quoted from Virginia Woolf's essay, "Craftmanship" from the the The Death of the Moth and other Essays. One of my favorite quotes from Woolf's essay is as follows:
"They [words] are the wildest, most freest, most irresponsible, most un-teachable of all things. Of course, you can catch them and sort them and place them in alphabetical order in dictionaries. But words do not live in dictionaries; they live in the mind. If you want proof of this, consider how often in moments of emotion et there is the dictionary; there at our disposal are some half-million words all in alphabetical order. But can we use them? No, because words do not live in dictionaries, they live in the mind."
A nice surprise: a recording of Virginia Woolf's own voice reading from her essay. Also, an excellent list of Resources and Books to follow up after the lecture. Much more to the lecture-use of language, how we learn it, how we use it, how it uses us. Is language more than just a way to communicate? Overall, a fascinating lecture, particularly for those who love all aspects of language.
Here are a few highlights:
-Lecture by Matthew Dickman (VCFA Faculty, Poetry) on "...depression and suicide through poems...". Not the best subject at 9am. Suicide in the Morning! Even though they sometimes go hand in hand (suicide and depression), it seemed as if the focus was more on suicide than depression, really. The poems he picked to illustrate his points were amazing though: Jack Spicer (A Poem Without a Single Bird in It), Anne Sexton (Wanting to Die), Joe Bolton (In the House of Death), one of Dickman's own (Trouble). Powerful. Even more powerful, at the very beginning of the lecture, he asked for anybody who had experienced suicide in any way-knew somebody, survivor-to stand up. Nearly half the audience stood up. Very intense. -An artist's (writer's) responsibility is to engage the dark.- Paraphrasing a bit.
-Reading by Robert Vivian (Hunger Mountain CNF Editor & VCFA Faculty) and Claudia Emerson (Visiting Faculty). Good God, this was one of the best readings I have attended in a long time.
Vivian read a chapter from his forthcoming book, Water and Abandon (2012). Mesmerizing. Somehow I imagined his voice to be different than what I heard: shy, slow, a bit quiet. I think I might have to get the book when it comes out.
This was the first time I heard Claudia Emerson read as well. What a presence! It completely filled the room. The way she presented her work-slow, methodical, precise-so you'd understand everything within the poem was excellent. She flowed so easily from one poem to the next, from one intro to the next.
She read from several of her books including, The Late Wife and Figure Studies, as well as a few new ones. From Figure Studies: "Latin Teacher" , "The Girls Dissect Eye of Cow" , "What They Are Missing" and " A History Lesson". This collection seemed to be a little more on the lighter side and at a distance, whereas The Late Wife was completely more personal and written mostly in the 1st person. Titles such as "The Cough" and "The X-Rays" set the mood for The Late Wife: highly emotional and personal. She mentioned after this particular collection, the first person was "not allowed" in her writing because it was so personal, emotionally exhausting. The need to create distance from that voice was necessary to regroup creatively.
I'll have to grab some of her books as well.
-Hunger Mountain's The Writing Life Assistant Editor, Jennifer McGuiggan, gave a lecture on The Secret Life of Language. "We experience language bodily (through the five senses) first, then mentally": the taste, the sound, the feel of words. The "five S's" of how we experience language: substantive, sensuous, spiritual, subversive and sassy. Heavily quoted from Virginia Woolf's essay, "Craftmanship" from the the The Death of the Moth and other Essays. One of my favorite quotes from Woolf's essay is as follows:
"They [words] are the wildest, most freest, most irresponsible, most un-teachable of all things. Of course, you can catch them and sort them and place them in alphabetical order in dictionaries. But words do not live in dictionaries; they live in the mind. If you want proof of this, consider how often in moments of emotion et there is the dictionary; there at our disposal are some half-million words all in alphabetical order. But can we use them? No, because words do not live in dictionaries, they live in the mind."
A nice surprise: a recording of Virginia Woolf's own voice reading from her essay. Also, an excellent list of Resources and Books to follow up after the lecture. Much more to the lecture-use of language, how we learn it, how we use it, how it uses us. Is language more than just a way to communicate? Overall, a fascinating lecture, particularly for those who love all aspects of language.
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