Clarice Lispector's A Breath of Life with postcard by Emma Swearengin

A Breath of Life
by Clarice Lispector
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. It's going to be quite the package.

In an exchange between Benjamin Moser and Spanish filmmaker 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; it's almost impossible for you not to.

If that's 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 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.