The Day that Changed Long Island by Lou Sabatini recounts the impact of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island, New York, in 2012. In order to convey this story, the author creates for his readers the characters of Lucas and Sybil, a typical Long Island couple who must undergo the storm and its aftermath. Drawing from firsthand experience, Sabatini describes the physical devastation caused by the storm, including the destruction of homes and businesses, as well as the emotional trauma suffered by those affected.

Sabatini provides a vivid and compelling account of the events of Hurricane Sandy, and does so through the eyes of two relatable characters. With realistic detail he describes the physical damage caused by the storm and the emotional impact on those affected. The book also provides an interesting look at the challenges faced by the residents of Long Island in the aftermath of the storm, including the difficulties of rebuilding homes and businesses.

Overall, The Day that Changed Long Island is a personal and moving book that provides a valuable insight into the impact of natural disasters on individuals and communities. I’d recommend this book for anyone interested in the topic of natural disasters or those who want to learn more about the effects of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island.

A very merry Grinching Christmas to all of you, readers!

And remember the number one lesson learned in The Grinch:

It is perfectly acceptable to shave a politician’s head in public.

Happy New Year!

Readers, I’ve got some news.

McSweeney’s Internet Tendency has published a humor piece of mine, FOR YOUR CRIMES YOU HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO A BEACH VACATION.

This is my first appearance in McSweeney’s. I actually wrote the piece while at the beach, so the authenticity rings true.

Enjoy.

The blog, like myself, has taken a vacation. See you in two weeks!

My latest poem, “Behold,” is out now in the latest issue of North Dakota Quarterly!

You can go here to either order a print copy or check it out for free!

Second tough year in a row? Well, at least you can take comfort in knowing you had some good posts to read.

Here are the top 5 blog posts from 2021, according to viewership:

My review of Spider-Man: No Way Home

What Clint Smith and Frederick Douglas Taught Me About Critical Race Theory

I Was Wrong About Starbucks

My Review of The Circles Around Us by Brad and Kristie Montague

Where Have All the Gargoyles Gone? An Open Letter to FHU Students about Makin’ Music

It’s always something, isn’t it?
Sometimes what makes it hard to lose someone is that you lose them slowly over time. Their health and their memory are taken long before they are. Lyn Shrader was a man with such a strong and vibrant soul that even as his mind faded in his last years, the memory of the man he was persists loudly today.

Continue reading →

“No one wants to be married to the guy who thinks he’s going to save the world.”

I bought a book on my Kindle after hearing an interview with the author on NPR, and it may have been the first time I’ve done that. I know nothing about the world of startups, but being one of billions of people hooked up to them, I catch a whiff of that culture all the time. It seeps into anything and everything. Just one passage intrigued me enough to read it through. That book is The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam. Continue reading →

Happy Monday, readers!

This week two of my poems are appearing in Modern Poetry Quarterly Review:

“Amazzacaffè”

and

“Cobbler Gnomes”

You can read them, and other poetry, by clicking here.

It’s not hard to believe that twenty years ago I walked into my high school German class to hear a classmate tell me that a guy flew a plane into the twin towers. I’m not hard on myself for laughing at first, because I instantly thought he meant some idiot who couldn’t fly steered his tiny plane into the building—it’s sad, but the kind of story we might chuckle at. Then they told me the rest of the story. This was no accident, and there were many deaths, and more to come in the following hours. To be honest, I didn’t feel furious or scared or heartbroken. Just shocked. What? This? Why? Continue reading →