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Rating: 
Summary: For Staggerford fans only
Review: "What is any artist but the dregs of his work?" the author William Gaddis said, and one wishes Jon Hassler had remembered that before publishing "My Staggerford Journal," the tearings from his diary he kept in 1975 when he took a sabbatical from his English professorship to write his first novel. While the book is only 100 pages long, there is very little that is of interest to anyone but fans of his work. Those interested in the artistic process will find little here of interest. Hassler recounts the decisions underlying the writing of "Staggerford" in the fashion of a carpenter building a chair ("Coach Gibbon will talk about sports. Stella about the press box and her dentist. Imogene? Knowledge."). The best parts of the book are things that have nothing to do with writing. He visits Emily Dickenson's home in New England, and spends three weeks in Great Britain and Ireland. He recounts a vacuous committee meeting at the community college where he taught. After a week writing alone, he goes out into the Minnesota snow seeking any kind of social connection. When he book is accepted by Atheneum, he worries that he doesn't know how to pronounce the name. But overall, the best part of Hassler is found in his novels.
Rating:
Summary: For Staggerford fans only
Review: "What is any artist but the dregs of his work?" the author William Gaddis said, and one wishes Jon Hassler had remembered that before publishing "My Staggerford Journal," the tearings from his diary he kept in 1975 when he took a sabbatical from his English professorship to write his first novel. While the book is only 100 pages long, there is very little that is of interest to anyone but fans of his work. Those interested in the artistic process will find little here of interest. Hassler recounts the decisions underlying the writing of "Staggerford" in the fashion of a carpenter building a chair ("Coach Gibbon will talk about sports. Stella about the press box and her dentist. Imogene? Knowledge."). The best parts of the book are things that have nothing to do with writing. He visits Emily Dickenson's home in New England, and spends three weeks in Great Britain and Ireland. He recounts a vacuous committee meeting at the community college where he taught. After a week writing alone, he goes out into the Minnesota snow seeking any kind of social connection. When he book is accepted by Atheneum, he worries that he doesn't know how to pronounce the name. But overall, the best part of Hassler is found in his novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Novice Writers' How-to Book
Review: 'Loved reading this book; 100-pages that are worthy of gifting to others who love to read and write. With great clarity, Hassler expresses his joy as well as his struggle in capturing thoughts for the reader's enjoyment. And he sprinkles the copy with his down home, chuckle-invoking humor. His Staggerford Journal is as enjoyable as Staggerford itself. Thank you for yet another gift, Jon Hassler!
Rating:
Summary: Novice Writers' How-to Book
Review: 'Loved reading this book; 100-pages that are worthy of gifting to others who love to read and write. With great clarity, Hassler expresses his joy as well as his struggle in capturing thoughts for the reader's enjoyment. And he sprinkles the copy with his down home, chuckle-invoking humor. His Staggerford Journal is as enjoyable as Staggerford itself. Thank you for yet another gift, Jon Hassler!
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