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1070 ratings | 281 reviews | avg rating:3.99

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Michael Morris has read 96 of 115 books.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

Picture a Poem: Ekphrastic and Other Poems

by Caroline Giles Banks

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 25, 2026 09:53PM

Michael Morris is currently reading

To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul

by Tracy K. Smith

bookshelves: currently-reading, memoir, non-fiction

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Aug 04, 2026 02:35PM

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Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Morris entered a giveaway The Member of the Wedding: A Novel by Carson McCullers 25 copies available, ends on October 13, 2026 Enter to win »
Oct 01, 2026 06:45AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih (Goodreads Author)	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
Sep 30, 2026 05:33PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris started reading Picture a Poem: Ekphrastic and Other Poems by Caroline Giles Banks	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
Sep 25, 2026 09:53PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Picture a Poem by Caroline Giles Banks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Picture a Poem by Caroline Giles Banks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it The Heron by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	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
Sep 25, 2026 09:10PM · like
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it Pressing Matters: Haiku, Senryu and Haibun Poems by Caroline Giles Banks	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
Sep 25, 2026 09:09PM · like
Michael Morris is currently reading The Heron by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	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
Sep 13, 2026 12:29AM · like
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk	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
Sep 13, 2026 12:28AM · like
Michael Morris rated a book really liked it Dietrich by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	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
Sep 09, 2026 03:56PM · like
Michael Morris rated a book it was ok The Hangry Lion: A Funny Children's Picture Book for Picky Eaters by Mr Whiskers	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
Maybe, I'm hard on children's books, but I feel the verse should be memorable and feel unforced. Illustrations should not seem out of eighties cereal commercials. I just want better for my children and grandchildren. ...more
Sep 08, 2026 11:12AM · like · see review
Michael Morris rated a book it was amazing Downward Facing Doug by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author)	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
Aug 30, 2026 10:49AM · like

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Michael’s Quotes

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

5082 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

16962 likes

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

tags: books, reading

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

tags: future, life, past, reflection, understanding

9109 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

16663 likes

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Michael’s Groups

¡ POETRY ! — 22494 members — last activity Sep 21, 2026 02:04PM
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

Flash Fiction — 309 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 — 71 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 — 1486 members — last activity 7 hours, 43 min ago
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

Books, Blogs, Authors and More — 3734 members — last activity Sep 28, 2026 01:12PM
Need a place to advertise your blog, promote your books, or discuss books? You can do that here. Need a place to just relax and chat? You can do that ...more

SIA Showcase for Readers and Writers — 1134 members — last activity 12 hours, 23 min ago
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 — 342102 members — last activity 6 minutes 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 — 135 members — last activity Aug 20, 2026 11:09AM
Exploring nonfiction: "I tend not to read fiction - I'll read one novel a year during the summer - but I do read a lot of nonfiction." -- David Lammy ...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 — 16775 members — last activity Sep 29, 2026 05:57AM
Officially 15k Members Strong & Climbing!! Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and le ...more

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