Nonfiction Roundup

I am not going to say these were all published super recently but some of them were.  It’s mostly about what I’ve read lately that I think is awesome.  Sometimes I go on these kicks where I hyperlink myself around reading essays and short stories and if I find something I LOVE, I’ll post it here.  Because sometimes what happens is I think to myself, “What was that one essay I read with the line about the dad calling upstairs to say the pancakes were ready?” and then I can’t find it.  So this is really just for me but by all means, please read these because I do know good things when I read them.

I Know Who You Raped Last Summer by Future Tense publisher and writer Kevin Sampsell.  This essay about Kevin’s good friend who was raped by an acquaintance he knew is unforgettable.  It is also fucking masterful.  Another writer may have fucked this up royally because it is such a landmine topic.  Please please read, I promise you won’t forget it.

The Birdhouse Builder, a flash essay in fwriction : review by Len Joy really moved me.  As in moved me to tears.  It’s a powerful yet understated story about his dad and a birdhouse and it will take you like five minutes to read so do it. DO IT.

I Know Who You Are by Amy Monticello, published in The Nervous Breakdown is great.  First love/sex and just connection.  It stuck with me, especially the part about running over a brick that was a symbolic cat.  It’s a hot and heavy piece, so read it when you know you’ll get some action in the near future.