Comments on: Paul Harding’s Magical ‘Tinkers’

By: Jeff C.

Jeff C. — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:32:25 +0000

Don’t forget Don DeLillo’s segment in “Underworld” where the Jesuit priest names the various parts of a shoe. Also a very nice passage!

By: Ted MacDonald

Ted MacDonald — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:43:35 +0000

Exceptional interview, in my book. Chris displays genuine delight in exploring Paul’s ideas and leaves Paul alone to fully meander through his very descriptive and enlightening responses. I am half way through the book now and am enjoying it a great deal, my wife having given it to me as a Christmas gift as a result of a very complimentary review in DownEast Magazine. Thank you Paul and Chris for a great interview!

What caught my attention about the book, and Paul, first was the mention in DownEast that Paul had frequented 1st West Branch Pond above Greenville, Maine…a favorite location of mine and the stomping ground of a beloved old Maine guide, now deceased, who personified an appreciation of the north woods of Maine…I get the sense in reading the book that Paul has drawn a good deal from his experience in that country.

By: Margot Soven

Margot Soven — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:20:53 +0000

Although very different in structure, Tinkers reminds me a bit of The Optimist’s Daughter/ I like Welty’s book better because the narrative interest is interwoven with memories–a richer text.

PS I met your office mate, Greg. in of all places, Israel!

By: Bryon

Bryon — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:27:41 +0000

I picked up a copy of Tinkers at the Bound Brook, NJ library in January, 2009….Since the initial run of the book was 3,500 copies I had to have been one of the first people in the country to read the book. Since then I’ve continued thinking about parts of the book and how impacting and haunting it was. I was thrilled when I read it had won the Pulitzer; I felt like I had been there from the beginning! Thanks, Paul!

By: jjw

jjw — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:51:57 +0000

…and now a Pulitzer winner. C.L. a year ahead of the rest of the world.

By: Saundra

Saundra — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:14:23 +0000

Loved the interview! I feel inspired to study the craft of writing more! Can’t wait to read the book!

By: Scott Ralph

Scott Ralph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:37:45 +0000

Loved the interview, and ordered the book moments after the podcast!

Missing my beloved Massachusetts and New England, hearing the lovely Maine descriptions made me pine.

By: jimmcdowell

jimmcdowell — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:55:30 +0000

Astounding podcast! Absolutely loved every minute! Have listened multiple times and I share Chris’ enthusiasm with Paul while hearing them interact and can’t wait to pick up the book. I hope he comes back soon.

In my mind, Paul joins Bloom, Jonah Lehrer, Bob Richardson, and the Coltrane gang, as my favorite interviews.

Jim McDowell

By: hurley

hurley — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:41:24 +0000

That was fun. I especially look forward to the matter of the clocks. There’s a wonderful strain in American literature of describing how things are made. Contemporary favorites Philip Roth’s description in American Pastoral of how to make a glove, and Cormac McCarthy’s wonderful set-piece in Outer Dark (I think), where a blacksmith gives a not very bright would-be apprentice a beautiful, painstakingly detailed three or four page lesson in how to make a knife, at the end of which he says,

“And that’s how you do it.”

“Do what?”

Or something like that. Grateful for other examples, and for the show.

By: zeke

zeke — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:10:43 +0000

I had the good fortune of hearing Paul Harding in Portsmouth, NH at our wonderful, local independent bookstore, Riverrun Books. He was engaging, informative and unassuming. It was clear that this is a book written to express things that are important to its author not to accomodate the marketplace. I hope it will find many readers.