Sunday, December 17, 2023

March: Enchantments of the Mississippi by Thomas Becknell

 I'm picking "Enchantments of the Mississippi River" by Thomas Becknell for my March pick. I've been wanting to sit by the river and read it - and spring seems like a great time to do that. There are copies at the library. The author is a former professor of mine at Bethel and led by England Term semester my last year of college.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a time of desolation, Thomas Becknell is drawn to the Mississippi River, then caught by its powers of enchantment. He sets out to learn about the river’s great allure, to be near it and to ponder what it might show him. 
          Enchantments of the Mississippi takes you on a contemplative journey of time and place. It does not follow a linear path from source to sea. Rather, its chapters are shaped by topography and memory. Its sequence is the mystery of the river’s unfolding. It tells a story of falling in love with the currents of time, the beauty of life, and the consolation of spirit. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Becknell grew up on the plains and prairies of Wyoming and Nebraska. He received his PhD from the University of Iowa and taught literature and writing in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for thirty-five years. His early love of stories, creeks, and streams led to a later fascination with the Mississippi River, and to the writing of this book.

https://www.thomasbecknell.com/the-memior

Here's a link to the story the Messenger ran on the book: https://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/stories/enchanted-by-the-mississippi,22121?