Sendb00ks February 2020 (Archive).
Clarice Lispectors' A Breath of Life.
with postcard by Emma Swearengin.
This book has been chosen by Emma Swearengin who is in Texas when I call, she tells me she is 'deep into James Agee and Clarice Lispector'. I am reading her choices now and am extremely grateful. Emma, who takes inspiration from the authors and paints with oil onto cotton, will design a postcard that can be found within the pages. Its going to be quite the package. https://emma-swearengin.com/Sadie-Halie
In an exchange between Benjamin Moser and Spanish Filmaker Pedro Almodovar the book is introduced where Moser asks Almodovar to write a prologue.
"The people I love, in my experience, always end up loving one another. At least I hope that you too will fall for Clarice, even in this unfinished and hieratic book. In fact I have no doubt; its almost impossible for you not too.
If thats the case, a word from you would help the great Clarice reach many more people"..."Excuse this long letter: but I get excited when I talk about her."
A few phrases from his reply:
"I have so much so much respect for great literature and, especially with books that excite me, I always feel I am not up to the task, that a few words of mine wouldn't help the book be better understood."... "Each phrase accumulates such a quantity of meanings; it is so dense, rotund, and rich that I halt before it as before a wall."
I don't think any more of an introduction is necessary, except perhaps that I stayed up all night reading.