Reviews

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America by Natalie Goldberg

joncav07's review against another edition

5.0

Interesting memoir about the Jewish writer becoming a Buddhist. There were many poignant and touching moments throughout.

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

Goldberg's a funny one; I bet more people have read her writings about her writing process than her actual writing (fiction, short stories, etc.). This one is much more memoirish; a long conversation about her Buddhist practices and her relationship with Katagiri Roshi. The writing is lovely, and it's a timely reminder for me about being present and staying with writing practice even when I least want to. But (perhaps fitting for a book written by a Zen Buddhist) it is itself impermanent: I found it thought-provoking and profound while I was reading it, but its impact faded as soon as I set it down.

arielkirst's review against another edition

5.0

My mom got this for me, shoved it in my hands, told me to read it. I'm glad she did. Damn good book. Goldberg is an amazing writer.

pitterpainter's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

inkletter7's review against another edition

3.0

Full of wonderful tidbits about writing, and being, and letting go. While not something I might re-read in full, parts are worth revisiting from time to time. A good reminder to be present, which is something I struggle with everyday.

kellyd's review

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

I've learned so much through Natalie Goldberg's work and I'm slowly reading all of her books. 

willwrite4chocolate's review

5.0

I believe this is, by far, Nat's best book. I love the structure (she starts with her teachers and leads us gently to Katagiri Roshi). And along the way we get to learn about writing, her life in New Mexico and lots of other good stuff too, especially about how writing practice evolved. Writing Down the Bones is the bible, but this is next best to me in the Nat collection.

alicetragedy's review

5.0

Where do I start? I read “Writing down the bones” in high school and got a copy of “Long Quiet Highway” back then as well. I vaguely remember starting it and then somehow putting it aside and not picking it up again until 15 years later.
“Long quiet highway” is a beautiful memoir that mainly focuses on Natalie Goldberg’s practice of zazen and daily writing and her relationship with her Zen master Katagiri Roshi. It might not be exceptional or extraordinary, but I loved the style of writing and what it evokes: calm and quiet contemplation. It feels like an important book to me right now because I understand and can relate so deeply to that student-teacher dynamic she goes back to again and again in the book.
It’s weird to be an adult and be a student so deeply, to have someone you rely on give you guidance (to the extent you maybe look to them for other answers) and it’s something that I embrace but which this book also made me even more aware of.

tam's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

5.0

I loved this book. It follows the author as she discovers zen practice, finds a teacher, and how she incorporates zen into her daily writing practice. Her style of writing is thoughtful, slow, beautiful, rhythmic. I found myself thinking at this pace, and in this way, after finishing each section. Reading this book is in a way like a meditation itself. I think I will come back to it again often.