A Permeable Life: Poems & Essays

I'm a longtime fan of singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer, so I was delighted to see she had published a book of poems and essays, and it does not disappoint. There are no throw-away lines in her songs--she always seems to be speaking her truth, and I have envied her seeming serenity more than once. "How does she stay so centered?" (When I found out she was a Quaker, I actually investigated that a bit, before deciding it wasn't for me.) I saw her perform live once, at a concert that was a bit hastily scheduled, and not well-publicized, and there were only 25-30 of us in the audience. She had us all move forward to be close to her, and for two hours she sang and talked to us as if we were old friends she had invited into her living room for an evening. It was magical, and so is this little book. Fans of her songwriting will be pleased that she makes notes of which poems and essays were starting points for particular songs. It's a small book, but it's a gem.

This book provides a gateway into a grateful way to begin and live each day. These are gentle words, yet strong, carrying me with peaceful power and grace.

Read the book and listen to her music. The book adds a dimension. I recommend it if you are into the contemplative life and a life of greater simplicity.

I've only recently discovered Carrie Newcomer, though she has been an active artist for a number of years. She writes songs, poems and essays with what Krista Tippett called an "embodied spirituality". Kindness and insight and affection come forth -- not from an overly optimistic outlook, but from a sense of gratitude for the life we have been given.

Carrie Newcomer is a fine singer-songwriter, poet, and essayist. Her work hums with depth and a spirited appreciation for life in all its manifestations. Her capacity for lifting up the commonplace in new ways is a delight. I look forward to her next publication.

The author is a song writer with a gift for language. I enjoyed Newcomer's poetry...love the book's cover.

This book was used at a Writer's Conference as the basis for one of the speakers presentations. For our purposes, it was well received. Also, the books arrived in good shape at the location of our conference and in plenty of time for our meeting.

I first became acquainted with her by her music. Learning about this book was a nice surprise.