76 - Painting with Words: Kristy Cambron on Journaling and Preserving the Moment

This collection, curated by Mary Oliver herself, includes poems from her entire career, from her first book 'No Voyage and Other Poems' (1963) to her most recent collection 'Felicity' (2015). The poems showcase Oliver's observations of the natural world, her spiritual reflections, and her exploration of themes such as happiness, prayer, and the preciousness of life. The book is arranged in reverse chronological order and offers a spiritual road map through Oliver's work, highlighting her exuberant dog poems, selections from 'American Primitive,' and 'Dream Work,' among others.

The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, and later her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she falls in love with her enigmatic employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester, but discovers a dark secret about his past that forces her to make a difficult choice. The novel explores themes of love, independence, and social justice, and is known for its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman during the Victorian era.

The Dressmaker is a Gothic novel that follows Tilly Dunnage, a skilled dressmaker trained in Paris, as she returns to her hometown of Dungatar in 1950s Australia. Tilly's return is met with hostility from the townspeople, who still blame her for a childhood tragedy. Despite this, her exquisite dresses attract the attention of the local women, while she navigates her complicated past and seeks revenge against those who wronged her. The novel delves into the darker aspects of small-town life, including suspicion, judgment, and gossip, and is inspired by the author's mother's life as a dressmaker in a small country town.