Linda Watanabe McFerrin reads “On Pleasures Oral”
McFerrin’s writing is strong and beautiful, almost like poetry, and the result is provocative, sometimes humorous, and always colorful. Library Journal
Yesterday we explored the playful and experimental side of Linda Watanabe McFerrin’s vivacious poetry with “Speaking in Tongues.” Today we move on through her literary abîmes into territory quite different, not for lack of lyrical wordplay, but because as you will hear, feel, taste, and smell, “On Pleasures Oral” is a veritable feast of vivid, sensual description. The subtleties exist here in the relationship between Monica’s flirtations with the waiter and the literal spread of the table: all the flavors, hints, playful background textures and eye-drawing presentations. “On Pleasures Oral” typifies a very specific narrative thread that runs through Linda’s travel writing: the importance of minutiae. Rather than generous reviews of 5-star hotels, or poetics about the slope of terraced gardens, Linda focuses on narrative; these are the stories she, as a traveler, walks in on, small tensions and relaxations, little tells that betray the uniqueness of a place and people. Linda, Lawrence, and Monica will show up again as traveling companions, each time with increased depth, each time challenged in one way or another by the novelty of place.
Linda’s new Legacy book with ASP is due out in the fall of 2019. Check out the announcement page here! Learn more about our Legacy Series here!
Hear Linda Read “On Pleasures Oral”
Listen to Linda on the ASP Podcast