Dar Williams

Dar is a master at her crafts-- all of them. Singing, writing, teaching, and explaining the creative process. This is absolutely invaluable for any writer. She is a generous sharer of her wisdom-- and actively works to make the world, including our own imaginative worlds-- a better place. Reading this book feels like sitting with her in her living room as she shares her creative secrets.

I’m not really planning on writing any songs, but this was a fun listen to understand more of the process; I think I could liken it to poetry writing advice for those without instruments. But mostly I wanted to read this because I’ve been listening to The Honesty Room album for over twenty years, and the songs are embedded in my bones.

Sequel to Amalee. I thought the simplicity of the first book was its charm. This book was a bit more detailed. Amalee inherits an unusual gift from a grandmother she didn't know. She uses the money to buy camera equipment and writes and produces a film about ecological diversity and why we need to be careful of the impact we make on our environment. It was a nice story, but a bit lengthy.

Williams is better known as a singer/songwriter than as an author, but she's begun very well. Amalee is an engaging 11-year-old girl who is trying to find herself among a crowd of sixth-graders, not to mention her dad's family-like web of dear friends. And then her dad gets sick, and the book really takes wing.