ondaatje051108.bar
Home | Entertainment | Books
Excerpt from 'Divisadero'
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on newsvine
Share on DiggMore from Books
Now and then our father embraced us as any father would. This happened only if you were able to catch him in that no-man's-land between tiredness and sleep, when he seemed wayward to himself. I joined him on the old covered sofa, and I would lie like a slim dog in his arms, imitating his state of weariness -- too much sun, perhaps, or too hard a day's work.
Claire would also be there sometimes, if she did not want to be left out, or if there was a storm. But I simply wished to have my face against his checkered shirt and pretend to be asleep. As if inhaling the flesh of an adult was a sin and also a glory, a right in any case. To do such a thing during daylight would have been unthinkable, he'd have pushed us aside. He was not a modern parent, he had been raised with a few male rules, and he no longer had a wife to qualify or compromise his beliefs. So you had to catch him in that twilight state, when he had ceded control on the tartan sofa, his girls enclosed, one in each of his arms. I would watch the flicker under his eyelid, the tremble within that covering skin that signalled his tiredness, as if he were being tugged in mid-river by a rope to some other place. And then I too would sleep, descending into the layer that was closest to him. A father who allows you that should protect you all of your days, I think.
-- FROM "DIVISADERO," BY Michael Ondaatje (Vintage, 288 Pages, $13.95)
Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.
- WOMEN RULE WRITER An Irish writer's take on writing, reading, literary competitions and workshops in Ireland.
- Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
- Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
- Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
- The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
- Trashionista A Website devoted to chick lit and mommy books.
- A.Word.A.Day Go here to learn a new word every day.
- World Wide Words Michael Quinion answers your language questions and writes about English from a British point of view.
- bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
  Buy Foreclosed PropertiesSearch 8500 pre-foreclosure, auction and bank-owned properties in the metro area. Start now! |
Comment on this story | Read all 0 comments | Hide reader comments