After the flood

A few quick notes, plus my weekly shareables:

It’s an abbreviated newsletter this morning for three reasons:

• In just a few hours (at 2 p.m.) I’m in conversation with Wright Thompson at Park Road Books here in Charlotte. We’ll be talking about his stunning book THE BARN, which centers on the spot where Emmett Till was murdered in 1955. I expect a deep and wide-ranging talk on truth, tragedy, history, and light.

• I stayed up late last night watching one of the best college football games I’ll ever see, and I say that even though my team lost. Alabama 41, Georgia 34: I’ll be watching the highlight reel a few times. Especially the second half.

• Finally, we are still getting recombobulated after Helene passed through on Friday. We were without power for a day—a minor inconvenience compared to so many lives that were upturned or shattered, especially in the North Carolina mountains. Here’s a list of organizations where you can make donations to help folks up there. There are others in need from Florida all the way through Kentucky. Please help if you can.

Now, as Casey Kasem used to say, on with the countdown:

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10 things I wanted to share this week:

1. I was thrilled to be a guest on the Chatter on Books podcast, hosted by Torie Clarke and a great crew including my dear former newspaper colleague Liz Clarke. We had a lively talk about DOGLAND and how dogs find their way into our souls.

2. This week’s guest on SouthBound was ESPN’s David Hale, who has not just a deep understanding of the forces transforming college football, but a deep appreciation for the joy and weirdness of the sport. Plus we discuss his favorite four-letter words: Dabo and Wawa.

3. My weekly for WFAE was about Mark Robinson, who finally got what he desired—unfortunately for him, and for us.

4. If you can’t make it to my event with Wright, or if you want some pregame reading, his interview with John T. Edge in SALVATION SOUTH is essential.

5. Inspirational story of the week: A woman broke her leg while at the top of a mountain. A stranger (with help from some friends) carried her all the way down. (Washington Post)

6. My friend Lisa Rab writes about having the procedure that could have saved Amber Thurman, and the fine line between “pregnant” and “not pregnant.” (Overdue)

7. The Chicago White Sox had the worst season in major league baseball history. The NYT sent Sam Anderson to cover it. Match made in heaven. (NYT Magazine)

8. How to dance like the Charlie Brown dancers. (Nora Côté on Instagram)

9. Bruce Springsteen turned 75 this past Monday. My favorite song of his is probably “The River,” but my favorite song of his in concert is definitely “Out In the Street.” Here it is, live in New York City.
   

10. The song I thought the most of this week, for obvious reasons, was “After the Flood” by Lone Justice. I think I’ve mentioned them in the newsletter before—they were my favorite band for a couple of years in the ‘80s, made two fantastic albums, and then faded away. Maria McKee’s voice still rings in my head. Especially this week. After the flood, after the flood / the land that washed away felt like my flesh and blood …
    

    Have a great week, everybody.

—TT