Annual Rereads
Happy July
4th 3rd WriteByNighters!
As I’ve written about again and again, this is the time of year when I revisit my favorite childhood book and one of my annual rereads, Johnny Tremain. I’m presently 50 pages into a 500-page novel, so I’m not sure I’m gonna get to Johnny on time. He’s still asleep in that little attic on Fish Street, waiting for those gulls to wake.
I got the chance to meet George Saunders last year, and he told me that the opening of Johnny Tremain has always stuck with him, in particular the fact that Esther Forbes doesn’t use a comma in her first line, which reads, “On rocky islands gulls woke.” So you see? Read Johnny Tremain, become a decorated short story writer.
Do you have a July 4th reading tradition? Do you have any other annual rereads? Do you have a July 4th [other type of] tradition?
Let us know below. We’re always curious to learn more about you fine writin’ folk.
And for a few more patriotic books, check out this post.