In Dani Shapiro's Devotion she describes the yogic idea of samskara, which describes "the knots of energy that are locked in the hips, the heart, the jaw, the lungs. Each knot tells a story—a narrative rich with emotional detail. Release a samskara and you release a story." It makes for a potent, poetic image, as … Continue reading Notions, early July edition
Dani Shapiro
Inescapable Inheritance: On Dani Shapiro and Complicated Fathers
This post contains spoilers for Dani Shapiro’s memoir Inheritance. “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." — Leo Tolstoy My father filled my childhood with music. An accomplished guitar player, he performed during church worship services and parties, led his brothers in singing around campfires, provided an instrumental constant throughout evenings at … Continue reading Inescapable Inheritance: On Dani Shapiro and Complicated Fathers
