i read apollo's song in a few hours, half on pebble beach and half on the couch. it was easy, graphic. i started after lives, set it down for later, picked up under the neomoon, picked up shirley hazzard a writing life. i wondered if i had read shirley hazzard, then realized i read the great fire. everything i read goes through me like water. i hope i have the essence. even saturated, i have the thirst. it's always about the next book, and the one after that.