Living by the Word: Selected Writings, 1973-1987

It was very interesting reading the journal and short speeches, etc. of Alice Walker, who has been one of my favorite writers for a long time. Her writings invoke a time many years ago when politics and reaction to government were somewhat more subject to active response on the part of the people. It was also insightful into her as a person, rather than just an author.

"Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-1987" is an excellent collection from prolific author Alice Walker. In this collection of essays and journal entries, Walker demonstrates the essential union of her political, spiritual, and artistic "selves."Walker writes about many topics: animal rights, her daughter's smoking habit, her father, the problematic legacy of Joel Chandler Harris, pioneering African-American thinker Benjamin Banneker, vegetarianism, Reggae legend Bob Marley, her own 1983 trip to China, and more. Particularly fascinating are her thoughts on the controversies surrounding her great novel "The Color Purple."Although the "New Age" vibe of much of the book may be too much for some readers, I found the book to be well-written and consistently interesting. Walker is a writer who has created a remarkable body of work, and "Living by the Word" is an excellent example of her passion and insight.

I love this book. Full disclosure time: I love the writing of Alice Walker, so I'd probably read her grocery lists if she published a compilation of them. But truly, this book is in my list of Top 20 Favorites of All Time. I found it in a bookstore on a bad day in a bad part of town during a bad period of a bad (back then) life. Reading this book every morning before going off to my bad job kept me sane. I loved it so much I didn't read the last few pages for a long, long time because I just didn't want to finish it. Walker sees the poetic truth of life and renders it in brilliant prose. She is absolutely a writer's writer. I love this book. (I know, I said that already... just... for emphasis.)

How could I not give it 5 stars?? All the emotion that is evoked coming from her soul & compassion for all living beings truly make for a beautiful compilation. Each new story is precious & makes one feel the need to pass this book around to all friends & acquaintances...

An incredible and thought-provoking collection of essays, speeches and journal entries. Even the happy and cheerful accounts offer some insights into related issues and their sources. A book I always keep close-at-hand and have read extracts of to my 80-something granny – who has also come to love Alice Walker’s writing and perspectives on the world. Good to also see her centring the perspectives of Native people and their struggles against ongoing colonisation and genocide on Turtle Island – including teaching her readers a little of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations/Iroquois’ (coloniser’s name) confederacy’s important model for democracy. Life-affirming and eye-opening. One of my favourite books from Alice Walker. Read everything you can by her.

Studied this for A level literature over 20 years ago. Much of these writing are as pertinent now as their were then...probably more.