1003 ratings | 277 reviews | avg rating:3.98

more photos (1)

Michael’s Year In Books

Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Michael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Michael Neal Morris’s Followers (16)

Michael’s Bookshelves

to-read (737)
currently-reading (3)
read (1026)
about-writing (12)
anthology (17)
arcs (2)
art (7)
audiobooks (255)
biography (25)
book-sets (1)
See all bookshelves »

Michael’s Friends (102)

Charlie Hasler

470 books | 889 friends

Melissa Stoddart

526 books | 68 friends

Tara

1,280 books | 1,952 friends

Angela Piper

957 books | 341 friends

Nina

2,719 books | 68 friends

Tonya Morris

844 books | 28 friends

Joanne Merriam

549 books | 548 friends

Pebble

1,045 books | 94 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Michael Morris has read 16 of 115 books.

14%

Michael Neal Morris

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://bluemonkwrites.tumblr.com/

Twitter

bluemonk63

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction

Member Since

July 2010

edit data

Michael Neal Morris if the author of Based on Imaginary Events, Is It I, Rabbi, In Domestic News and Music for Arguments. He has published online and in print in a number of venues. He lives with his family outside the Dallas area, and teaches at the Eastfield campus of Dallas College. He posts at This Blue Monk and Two Cents On.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Michael Neal Morris questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Michael Neal Morris’s books

Average rating: 4.56 · 61 ratings · 4 reviews · 28 distinct works

	Don't Hang On 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Haiku, Etc it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Die Laughing liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Notes in the Margin liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Making Rounds it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Quick it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	They Live With You it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Three Laments it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Walking in Circles it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Recital Notes, Volume 1: The Paper Sessions it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Neal Morris…

218 posts
Michael Neal Morris's Blog

How Students (and Teachers) Can Use Feedback

Every semester, usually just after midterm, I get an email or have an office visit from a student that includes one of the following questions:

“Why do I keep making Cs on my papers?”
“What am I doing wrong?”
“How can I improve my grades?”

In nearly every case, I have to return a question for a question: Have you read the feedback? Almost all say they have, but the ensuing discussion usually demonstra

Series by Michael Neal Morris

Recital Notes (2 books)
by

Michael Neal Morris (Goodreads Author)

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating

Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Morris is currently reading

Not a Very Good Murderer

by Ronan Farrow

bookshelves: currently-reading, audiobooks, crime, non-fiction

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Mar 09, 2026 04:50PM

Michael Morris is currently reading

A Different Kind of Fast: Feeding Our True Hungers in Lent (Journeys of Breath, 2)

by Christine Valters Paintner (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, non-fiction, religious

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 04, 2026 07:00PM

Michael Morris is currently reading

Fabrications: New and Selected Stories (Johns Hopkins: Poetry and Fiction)

by Pamela Painter

bookshelves: collection-collected-selected, fiction, short-stories, currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 27, 2026 05:10PM

rss
Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Morris is currently reading Not a Very Good Murderer by Ronan Farrow	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 09, 2026 04:50PM · like
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing Essential Cheever: The Enormous Radio and The Swimmer by John Cheever	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 09, 2026 04:49PM · like
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture by Dr. Franziska Kohlt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 06, 2026 08:56AM · like
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it 400 Years of Drinking in America by Susan Cheever	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 03, 2026 10:52AM · like
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it Vigil by George Saunders	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 03, 2026 10:48AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Vigil by George Saunders. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Vigil by George Saunders <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource by Christopher L. Hayes	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 19, 2026 04:51PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Sirens' Call by Christopher L. Hayes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Sirens' Call by Christopher L. Hayes <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it The Double - Dostoevsky (Great Works of Fyodor Dostoevsky) by Fyodor Dostoevsky	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 17, 2026 09:15AM · like
Michael Morris entered a giveaway The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (Goodreads Author) 10 copies available, ends on March 16, 2026 Enter to win »
Feb 16, 2026 03:29PM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris has read The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource by Christopher L. Hayes	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 09, 2026 06:54PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Sirens' Call by Christopher L. Hayes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Sirens' Call by Christopher L. Hayes <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing A Psychologist Goes to the Movies by Alex Swan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 09, 2026 06:51PM · like

More of Michael's books…

Michael’s Quotes

“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.”
― Pablo Picasso

5077 likes

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
― Madeleine L'Engle

tags: books, children, difficult, grown-ups, write, writers, writing

16944 likes

“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

tags: books, reading

27742 likes

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

tags: future, life, past, reflection, understanding

9036 likes

“... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

tags: books, mind

16632 likes

More of Michael’s quotes…

recent posts
Michael’s Groups

¡ POETRY ! — 22550 members — last activity Mar 04, 2026 01:17PM
No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read it!) Goodreads honors wordsmiths: poets and poetry promoted and prompted here. ~~~ "Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits." -- Carl Sandburg “God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer.” —Anne Sexton On Clouds – “…what primitive tastes the ancients must have had if their poets were inspired by those absurd, untidy clumps of mist, idiotically jostling one another about…” —Yevgeny Zamyatin “If the poet wants to be a poet, the poet must force the poet to revise. If the poet doesn’t wish to revise, let the poet abandon poetry and take up stamp-collecting or real estate.” —Donald Hall “Poetry is a rich, full-bodied whistle, cracked ice crunching in pails, the night that numbs the leaf, the duel of two nightingales, the sweet pea that has run wild, Creation’s tears in shoulder blades.” —Boris Pasternak “Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket.” —Charles Simic “Language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to, while all the time we long to move the stars to pity.” —Gustave Flaubert “Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It’s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that’s what the poet does.” —Allen Ginsberg. ~~~~~ Amy King, Moderator Amy King is the recipient of the 2015 Winner of the WNBA Award (Women’s National Book Association). Her latest collection, The Missing Museum, is a winner of the 2015 Tarpaulin Sky Book Prize. She serves on the executive board of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts and is co-editing with Heidi Lynn Staples the anthology, Big Energy Poets of the Anthropocene: When Ecopoets Think Climate Change. She is also co-editing the anthology, Bettering American Poetry 2015, and is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at SUNY Nassau Community College. ...more

Books, Blogs, Authors and More — 3715 members — last activity Jan 28, 2026 09:12AM
Need a place to advertise your blog? You can do that here. Need a place to advertise your book? You can do that here. Need a place to discuss books? Y ...more

Flash Fiction — 311 members — last activity Feb 22, 2023 07:56AM
Flash is a short-short story characterized by brevity and intensity of the language. It borderlines poetry and some people call it “prose poem.” Howev ...more

Contemporary American Poetry — 72 members — last activity Jul 22, 2023 07:20PM
A group for those who are reading and writing contemporary American poetry. Feel free to talk about what you're reading, why we should or shouldn't re ...more

Short Story Connect — 1476 members — last activity Jan 31, 2026 07:11AM
Short Stories: Small word count, BIG impact. Short Story authors and readers need a hub strong enough to support the power of the short story. Help us ...more

SIA Showcase for Readers and Writers — 1106 members — last activity Nov 28, 2025 06:26AM
From the group that coined the term bookwhack*, here is the official bookwhack group! In all seriousness, we at Support Indie Authors understand how ...more

Goodreads Librarians Group — 315782 members — last activity 1 minute ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more

Imprinted Life — 134 members — last activity Feb 21, 2026 09:26PM
Exploring nonfiction: "To merge on the road you are meant to travel, means making a choice and then taking action.” ― C. Toni Graham [Goodreads Quote ...more

A Summer of Spiritual Adventure — 7 members — last activity Jun 06, 2014 02:02PM
This is a place to meet your soul friend at a free summer book club reading the award-winning novel Keepers of the Field. Starting Online Tuesday, Ju ...more

Support for Indie Authors — 16638 members — last activity Mar 07, 2026 04:19AM
Officially 15k Members Strong & Climbing!! Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and le ...more

More of Michael’s groups…