Eggers, Hercules, Outlaws

Dave Eggers has been honoured for his work with 826 - which is exactly as it should be. Story here.

And from the 826 National site:

826 National is a nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization with locations in seven cities across the country. Our goal is to assist students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to help teachers get their classes excited about writing. Our work is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

Just this weekend, I read the David Sedaris edited collection of short fiction, Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules which you should buy if you care anything about short fiction. (Note: despite the mention of children in the title this is not a children's book). Some of the most heart-rendering (as Anne Shirley would have it) stories in the universe are in this anthology, including Lorrie Moore's "People Like That Are the Only People Here" and Amy Hempel's "In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried" - two stories that I would steal and call my own if I could possibly get away with it. And, if you need are still in need of convincing, by buying this book you will be supporting 826 and that is a very good thing. And as long as you're doing good, go ahead and order a copy of Noisy Outlaws as well. You won't regret it. And it is a children's book - which brings things neatly around to the avowed subject matter of this blog.

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