I Have Words to Spend: Confessions of a Small-Town Editor

by Robert Cormier

Presents the author's reflections on small-town America, current affairs, and insights and anecdotes from his personal life

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925–November 2, 2000) was an American author, columnist and reporter, known for his deeply pessimistic, downbeat literature. His most popular works include I Am the Cheese, After the First Death, We All Fall Down and The Chocolate War, all of which have won awards. The Chocolate War was challenged in multiple libraries. His books often are concerned with themes such as abuse, mental illness, violence, revenge, betrayal and conspiracy. In most of his novels, the protagonists do not win.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've been puttering through this comfort read for years now, and i'm sad to have finally finished it. cormier's sweet sentimentality is always lovely. rtc!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be Cormier's memoir, but it was really just a collection of the different newspaper columns he wrote over a couple of decades. That being said, by compiling them by theme, it does have a memoir-like feel to it at times. I thought the collection was brilliant. Cormier's writing is so upbeat and flowly compared to his novels. He is a well-read, observant, quirky, and funny person. I really appreciated that about him. I was able to glimpse into his mind and understand that he is confused by many of the same things that baffle me.

Cormier nails life's nuances and ironies spot-on while also putting his own spin on life. He is an incredibly positive person--which is odd considering the negative outlook of most of his books. I thought he imparted so much wisdom in the book: about life, family, love, books, and even writing. A must-read for Cormier fans or anyone who appreciates strong, thoughtful writing.

[Drew F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Robert Cormier's works when I began teaching 7th grade Language Arts over twenty years ago. I, like many others, started with titles such as I Am the Cheese, The Chocolate War, and We All Fall Down. Eventually I read Tunes for Bears to Dance To and Beyond the Chocolate War. Last year, after a rather lengthy hiatus, I picked up After the First Death, The Rag and Bone Shop, and Heroes. I had so much fun reacquainting myself with Cormier's tightly woven plot lines, ambiguous moral dilemmas, and ironic twists, I decided to make my 2018 the year of Cormier.

Over the last several months I have moved toward completing all of his works, including his early writings geared more toward an older audience rather than the young adult crowd. While I thoroughly enjoy his suspenseful novels which delve into the psyches of some pretty devious characters, I have discovered that his earlier works are just as interesting, albeit for different reasons. The sense of sentimentality and nostalgia that he is able to evoke in such works as Now and at the Hour, Frenchtown Summer, and 8 Plus 1 is striking. I Have Words to Spend, a collection of various opinions and recollections that Cormier wrote while serving as a newspaper journalist, is just as poignant, humorous, and thought-provoking as his early fiction.

I highly recommend this collection of essays, reflections, and anecdotes to all of you who consider yourselves to be Cormier fans. While not a true memoir, I Have Words to Spend reflects bits and pieces of Cormier's life. As you read the various essays, you will gain insight into areas such as his family life, community, childhood, profession, and other assorted interests.

Last year I introduced my older daughter to Cormier through his novel We All Fall Down. She has since read three more of his works and is currently in the midst of Tenderness. During a recent conversation with her, she claimed that Robert Cormier is her favorite author. She is aware of my desire to read all of Cormier's works and is interested in eventually doing the same. This entire situation feels as if it could be the center of one of Cormier's vignettes encapsulated within I Have Words to Spend: a father and his daughter sharing their love of books and their love for each other.

[Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

These reflections are so beautiful they're life changing. And some of them are shockingly relevant for being written over 40 years ago. Cormier has been teaching me how to write stories for years, but this book is even more than that. These are lessons on how to live, and how to love. How to properly savor the people, places, and words in your life. Words like cellophane, said slowly. (cel-lo-phane)

[Maureen Neylon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series of columns and essays by a newspaper editor from Fitchburg. The book had been sitting on my bookshelf for decades. Finally picked it up but unfortunately I think the passing of so much time made them all feel so dated it was boring.

[Jesse Freedom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read newspapers, so I wasn't sure if I would like a book of newspaper columns, but I had liked a lot of Robert Cormeir's novels, so I thought I'd try it. It was a lot different from his novels, but I loved it. He had a lot of good ideas that are never presented in his novels. My favorite parts were when he wrote about growing up in Frenchtown and about his daughter, Reina (although I wish he would have wrote about his other three children a bit more, even though they were grown up by then).

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who expect this book to be Robert Cornier's autobiography will be dissapointed... at least sort of. It's a collection of colums Cornier wrote for different newspapers. As such it is very entertaining. What makes me really fond of this book is the fact that you can read one or two of the stories, then put away the book and start reading it again even a week or two later without having to think about what happened last, where did I stop or something like that.
The stories themselves vary. From joking to thoughtful you'll find all kind of thoughts in this book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of Cormier's contributions as a columnist. It really gave me a feel of knowing him better, his personal thoughts and experiences. It made me want all the more to sit down and meet him in person which, alas, can never be.

[Christopher Seifert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing for BYU's Daily Universe during the summer of 2003 taught me that columnists have the world's best job. Here is a collection of words from one of the masters.