Book Review: Listening Against the Stone by Brenda Miller

Listening Against the Stone: Meditations by Brenda Miller

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In my writing life, I tend to chafe against expectations of starting in medias res. I like backstory, I like to be prepared for the action when it comes. I don’t mind a leisurely pace. I am easily hurt by the implication that readers will not be as interested in my protagonist’s innermost thoughts and reflections as I think they should be.

One of the gentle lessons of this collection of essays is why I need to get over that reluctance to “get the story started”.

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The Buddha Goes to the Superbowl

The Super Bowl and I are the same age. The first one was played just about a month after I was born.

As I’ve gotten older and the bad news about football keeps coming, I’ve become less interested in watching the Super Bowl on this milestone birthday for both of us.

But my blogging buddy, Mel Pine at Melting Pot Dharma, has an interesting take on it.

“All of us are Buddhas on the inside — you, me, Lady Gaga, Cam Newton, Peyton Manning.”

Read more: The Buddha Goes to the Superbowl