How The Light Gets In: And Other Headlong Epiphanies

by Brian Doyle

A rich treasury of prose poems on matters theological, spiritual, mystical, and everyday, by award-winning author Brian Doyle

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Essays, Spirituality

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

Doyle's essays and poems have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, The American Scholar, Orion, Commonweal, and The Georgia Review, among other magazines and journals, and in The Times of London, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Kansas City Star, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Ottawa Citizen, and Newsday, among other newspapers. He was a book reviewer for The Oregonian and a contributing essayist to both Eureka Street magazine and The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.

Doyle's essays have also been reprinted in:

* the Best American Essays anthologies of 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2005;
* in Best Spiritual Writing 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005; and
* in Best Essays Northwest (2003);
* and in a dozen other anthologies and writing textbooks.

As for awards and honors, he had three startling children, an incomprehensible and fascinating marriage, and he was named to the 1983 Newton (Massachusetts) Men's Basketball League all-star team, and that was a really tough league.

Doyle delivered many dozens of peculiar and muttered speeches and lectures and rants about writing and stuttering grace at a variety of venues, among them Australian Catholic University and Xavier College (both in Melbourne, Australia), Aquinas Academy (in Sydney, Australia); Washington State, Seattle Pacific, Oregon, Utah State, Concordia, and Marylhurst universities; Boston, Lewis & Clark, and Linfield colleges; the universities of Utah, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and Portland; KBOO radio (Portland), ABC and 3AW radio (Australia); the College Theology Society; National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation," and in the PBS film Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero (2002).

Doyle was a native of New York, was fitfully educated at the University of Notre Dame, and was a magazine and newspaper journalist in Portland, Boston, and Chicago for more than twenty years. He was living in Portland, Oregon, with his family when died at age 60 from complications related to a brain tumor.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Doyle’s ‘prose poems’ as compared to his short essays, but they’re a delight! I intended to finish this book in 2022 but decided it needed to be savored. :)

[Jdshankles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book of poetry I've ever read. And I haven't read very much poetry.

I've often struggled to understand poetry, but I understand these poems. Or better yet, they understand me. Or even better, they understand us.

You should read this.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to review Brian Doyle poems, they make me smile, and cry, and want to be a better listener and kinder person, and make me remember small, beautiful things and appreciate other things that I don’t spend enough time appreciating, and what more could you ask for from your poets?

[Carrie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of my top 5 favourite books. It might be one that I take with me on trips. It made me want to write letters to people and to write, generally. It’s perfect.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Doyle is one of my favorite authors. Whether it’s his novels, poetry or essays, all of his work is impactful. His gift for humor and poignancy are such powerful tools when brought to the subject of common observances. This book of poetry is yet another of his works that I have savored and look forward to reading again and again.

[Brian White · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years when I would read the Christian Century the first thing I would turn to was the poem by Brian Doyle. I love his insights and his humor. Very powerful poems by a writer who died too young.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Doyle’s words are how the light gets in! Once you get the hang of his style there is no substitute. Perfectly poignant is his poem on death. But there are so many others that make you go.....yes!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gee, don't you just hate it when one of your favorite authors is dead? RIP, Brian Doyle. At first I thought the novelist Brian and you were too different people. Although there are more than two Brian Doyle writers, I finally googled the mystery to a conclusion. You are one!

[Anne Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful writer. Very accessible and yet so impactful and spiritual. I'm so glad I discovered this author.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this man’s writing so much!

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can be said about Brian Doyle? His work lives on to lighten the burdens of others. The insights, both common and deeply profound show us the way.

[Corrie Haffly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a surprise package in the mail from Terra McDaniel, who had curated a lovely collection of scented things and bookish things and relaxing things for our family. She included How the Light Gets In by Brian Doyle, and explained that she thought of Ben and all the people praying for him when she read “A Million Prayers,” which really was as wonderful a poem as she implied. I loved this book; I loved his perfectly chosen words, wry humor, poignant observations of people and loved ones.

And to find that the first thing that came to his mind when asked “If You Could Do Anything Else, What Would You Choose?” was “otter observer” —!!! Well. I’m obviously even a bigger fan.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't typically read poetry, but this was worth picking up. I enjoyed Doyle's humor.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Doyle's short essays. They are best read here and there, now and then.

[Liz VanDerwerken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Doyle does it again. His prose poems are wild and wonderful.

[Ginger Rue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Doyle is one of my new favorite writers. Beautiful poetry.