Seven Minutes from Home: An American Daughter's Story (Personal/Public Scholarship)

"Book: An American Daughter’s Story is a collection of linked stories written chronologically from 1980–2015. They create a multifaceted narrative of how the public and the private, the past and present, the local and global, intersect. With earnest reflection, modesty and humor, Laurel Richardson introduces the reader to her Ohio neighborhoods, friends, family, writers and therapy dogs. She ages, retires and frets over her droopy eyebrow. Her town’s local stores close; police bust heroin dealers; September 11th happens; universities corporatize; poetry venues transform. All this and much more as Richardson honors the complexity and vibrancy of America, and her life within it. Richardson’s renowned book, Fields of Play (1997) is about constructing a life inside the academy; Seven Minutes from Home is about constructing a life outside the academy. This extraordinary example of literary sociology can be read for pleasure, adopted in book clubs, or used in courses in American Studies, communication, creative writing, narrative, qualitative research, sociology, cultural studies and women’s studies. An appendix offers discussion questions, research projects and creative writing exercises. “A tour de force, the penultimate statement from gifted writer Laurel Richardson. Here an American daughter’s story comes home.” – Norman Denzin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “The stories are riveting; you will not be able to stop reading.” – Carolyn Ellis, University of South Florida “An exemplar for how good social science should be written.” – Jessica Smartt Gullion, Texas Woman’s University “A love letter to a culture and a life well-lived.” – Anne Harris, Monash University “Highly recommended for courses in sociology, women’s studies and creative writing.” – Mary Margaret Fonow, Arizona State University Laurel Richardson, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, has received a Life-Time Achievement Award in Qualitative Research, a Cooley Book Award, and two Affirmative-Action awards. She writes daily. She is most proud of her therapy dogs’ work with special-needs children. " 'Seven Minutes from An American Daughters Story' is a collection of linked stories written chronologically from 19802015. They create a multifaceted narrative of how the public and the private, the past and present, the local and global, intersect. With earnest reflection, modesty and humor, Laurel Richardson introduces the reader to her Ohio neighborhoods, friends, family, writers and therapy dogs. She ages, retires and frets over her droopy eyebrow. Her towns local stores close; police bust heroin dealers; September 11th happens; universities corporatize; poetry venues transform. All this and much more as Richardson honors the complexity and vibrancy of America, and her life within it Richardsons renowned book, Fields of Play (1997) is about constructing a life inside the academy; Seven Minutes from Home is about constructing a life outside the academy. This extraordinary example of literary sociology can be read for pleasure, adopted in book clubs, or used in courses in American Studies, communication, creative writing, narrative, qualitative research, sociology, cultural studies and womens studies. An appendix offers discussion questions, research projects and creative writing exercises. A tour de force, the penultimate statement from gifted writer Laurel Richardson. Here an American daughters story comes home. Norman Denzin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The stories are riveting; you will not be able to stop reading. Carolyn Ellis, University of South Florida An exemplar for how good social science should be written. Jessica Smartt Gullion, Texas Womans University A love letter to a culture and a life well-lived. Anne Harris, Monash University Highly recommended for courses in sociology, womens studies and creative writing. Mary Margaret Fonow, Arizona State University Front Matter....Pages i-xv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Chicago Born....Pages 3-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 1980: Such a Yellow House....Pages 11-12 1985: Come Walk with Me....Pages 13-16 1986: Errands by Foot....Pages 17-19 1992: The Block Party....Pages 21-27 1996: Blue Wednesday....Pages 29-34 1997: Second Acts....Pages 35-43 1998: Home Alone....Pages 45-49 1998: Simply White....Pages 51-54 1999: New Year’s Eve....Pages 55-59 2000: New Year, New Century, New Millenial....Pages 61-61 Front Matter....Pages 63-63 2001: Our Small World....Pages 65-71 2001: What is Black & White & Red all Over?....Pages 73-73 2002: Memorial Day Parade....Pages 75-76 2002: Chez Provence....Pages 77-80 2002: The Dairy Queen....Pages 81-84 2003: Solstice Wrens....Pages 85-89 2003: Do Not Go-Lytely....Pages 91-97 2003: Third Acts....Pages 99-105 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 2004: Lincoln Park....Pages 109-112 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 2004: My Last Class....Pages 113-115 2004: Cut Loose....Pages 117-120 2005: Heavy Metal....Pages 121-125 2005: Blinders....Pages 127-132 2007: Jessica....Pages 133-134 2008: Secret Recipe....Pages 135-140 Front Matter....Pages 141-141 2009: The Stitching Post....Pages 143-148 2010: Bashi and Lily....Pages 149-154 2011: Kisses in the Dark....Pages 155-159 2012: Authentic Movement....Pages 161-161 2013: Curtain Call....Pages 163-165 Front Matter....Pages 167-167 2015: Errands by Car....Pages 169-171 2015: Midnight-Sky Blue....Pages 173-176 2015: Come Walk with Me, Again....Pages 177-184 Back Matter....Pages 185-199 Seven Minutes from Home: An American Daughter's Story is a collection of linked stories written chronologically from 1980—2015. They create a multifaceted narrative of how the public and the private, the past and present, the local and global, intersect. With earnest reflection, modesty and humor, Laurel Richardson introduces the reader to her Ohio neighborhoods, friends, family, writers and therapy dogs. She ages, retires and frets over her droopy eyebrow. Her town's local stores close; police bust heroin dealers; September 11th happens; universities corporatize; poetry venues transform. All this and much more as Richardson honors the complexity and vibrancy of America, and her life within it. Richardson's renowned book, Fields of Play (1997) is about constructing a life inside the academy; Seven Minutes from Home is about constructing a life outside the academy. This extraordinary example of literary sociology can be read for pleasure, adopted in book clubs, or used in courses in American Studies, communication, creative writing, narrative, qualitative research, sociology, cultural studies and women's studies. An appendix offers discussion questions, research projects and creative writing exercises. NOMINATED: USA BEST BOOK AWARD 2016 in the category of autobiography/memoirs NOMINATED: ICQI 2017 Outstanding Book Award "Seven Minutes from Home: An American Daughter's Story is a collection of linked stories written chronologically from 1980-2015. They create a multifaceted narrative of how the public and the private, the past and present, the local and global, intersect. With earnest reflection, modesty and humor, Laurel Richardson introduces the reader to her Ohio neighborhoods, friends, family, writers and therapy dogs. She ages, retires and frets over her droopy eyebrow. Her town's local stores close; police bust heroin dealers; September 11th happens; universities corporatize; poetry venues transform. All this and much more as Richardson honors the complexity and vibrancy of America, and her life within it Richardson's renowned book, Fields of Play (1997) is about constructing a life inside the academy; Seven Minutes from Home is about constructing a life outside the academy."--Back cover