Week 12 Prompt

Hall, Donald. Essays After Eighty. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Print.

134 pages

Summary:

Donald Hall is a teacher, poet, and essayist. This collection of essays is personal essays. He writes from the vantage point of hi 80's. He is thrilled to still be writing, breathing, etc. He explains that poetry no longer comes to him, but prose does. Most of these essays look backwards. Through these essays Donald Hall talks about his family of origin, marriages, loves, interests, and life challenges. He describes many of the literary figures he has met and worked with. Life on Eagle Pond Farm has been a productive one for him. There are no regrets about leaving the tenured professorship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for life in the country on an ancestral homestead.

The Readers’ Advisory Matrix

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

         Highly narrative (reads like fiction)

2. What is the Subject of the book? 

         The life of Donald Hall: family of origin, marriage, love interests, literary figures, travels abroad, illness and old age.

3. What type of book is it? Memoir. Personal essays.

4. Articulate appeal: 

Autobiography, Leisurely, Engaging, Richly Detailed, and Strong sense of place. 

What is the pacing of the book? Leisurely

Describe the characters of the book.  

Donald Hall is the author and main actor.  He describes his family of origin, two wives and subsequent love interests, his work, and his experiences with illnesses and old age. 

How does the story feel?  

Personal. Candid.

What is the intent of the author?  

Hall wants to write about himself.

What is the focus of the story?  

Hall focuses on his relationships, personal experiences and what it means to live on an ancestral homestead.

Does the language matter?  

Yes.  His essays are a delight to read.

Is the setting important and well informed?  

Yes, the setting and relationships are integral to his life and story.

Are there details and, if so, of what?  

He gives details of his personal and professional life.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials?  Are they useful and clear?  There are no pictures, illustrations, or charts. 

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?  Yes.

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?

1. Learning and Experience

2. Detail

3. Leisurely paced