This is Ivan Doig, my favorite author. I just read that he passed away today, and it breaks my heart. He wrote 15 books, his first one, This House of Sky, was his beautiful memoir. His 16th, Last Bus to Wisdom is scheduled for an August release. From the first page of the first Doig book I read, I fell in love with his writing style and his characters. Doig was a master of witty, one-of-a-kind descriptions that always made me stop and re-read, out of sheer awe. He had a way of developing characters, who within a page or two, became people you wish you could meet in real life. What a loss. I encourage you to check out Doig’s work. My recommendation is to start with The Whistling Season or English Creek.
Rest in peace, my friend, and thank you for your contribution to the literary world. You’ll be missed.
Sadly, we can’t write forever, but our words certainly can. Especially if they are as outstanding as Mr. Doig’s.
Couldn’t agree more. Besides characters, he was enormously good with landscape also. I’d start with English Creek, the first of his I read.