>Circularity

>For a graduate school seminar on James Joyce a long, long time ago, I wrote a paper about reflexivity in Ulysses. I had no idea what I was talking about, I assure you. Something about symbols of whirlpools and things turning in on themselves and looking in mirrors. I bet I still have it; I should try to read it and see if there was anything sensible in it at all.

But the point is this: in a post on the day of Arthur Miller’s death I quoted from his work. Shiela Lennon of the Providence Journal quoted me (and me quoting Miller) in her column, and included a link to this blog. When I learned of that I quoted her quoting me quoting him. And we corresponded a bit and she explored this site a little more, and now I am flattered to have had my own work mentioned in her column.

I think that’s what I was trying to explore in that Joyce paper a quarter of a century ago. But I’m not sure.

About the author

I am the author of three novels--THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE, OLIVER'S TRAVELS, and THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY--and three story collections--IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY, HOUSE OF THE ANCIENTS AND OTHER STORIES, and WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW, winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction. I am also the co-founder and former editor of Prime Number Magazine and the editor of the award-winning anthology series EVERYWHERE STORIES: SHORT FICTION FROM A SMALL PLANET.

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