101 Books, Number 18

Favorite Books Throughout My Life

18: The Echo Maker, 2006, by Richard Powers (1957–)

It was plain serendipity,

This artful new discovery—

At least, of course, it was to me.

I pulled it from a bookstore shelf—

Had I been aided by some elf

Who knew how I could help myself?

I loved this book—just gulped it down.

And, later, it would earn renown*

In U S. countryside and town.

I bought more Powers—started through

His canon (this is what I do)—

But didn’t end the avenue.

Some other writers caught my eye—

And I can be a fickle guy—

And so I left him (with a sigh).

But now it’s time for a return!

It’s not as if he’s had to earn

My loyalty—oh, I discern

His stunning talent very well.

So I will hear what he will tell—

And once again be in his spell.

*National Book Award for Fiction (2006)—also a Pulitzer Prize finalist