A Few Words about Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light You Cannot See and his private school in Cleveland

Here I am in the early hours of the brand new day looking up the author of the book I'm currently reading.

I was curious about his being raised in Cleveland.

He attended University School, a private boys school with two campuses.

Here's their lovely website.

Their commencement speaker this year was Michael Hingson....

This morning’s 14th Annual Spencer Lecture Series featured Michael Hingson as the keynote speaker. Blind since birth and an entrepreneur and internationally acclaimed speaker, Mr. Hingson survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog, Roselle.

The story is captured in his book, Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog & the Triumph of Trust.

In his speech – Turning the Tales on Terrorism: Lessons from the Twin Towers – Mr. Hingson shared his personal tale of heroism and teamwork in escaping the North Tower and explored the broader lessons of his life and experiences as a blind person. His lecture was extremely personal and highlighted to the boys some of the misperceptions that still exist today about blind people.

Mr. Hingson spent the remainder of the morning visiting classes and talking with students and faculty.

The Spencer Lecture Series is named in honor of George “Twig” Spencer III ’69, the only known University School alumnus to perish in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

***
Anthony Doerr - here's his website - has been widely interviewed about his Pulitzer-prizewinning fiction book All the Light. Since I haven't finished the book, I mustn't read any of the interviews.

Born in 1973, he's only in his early forties and is so accomplished. He, his wife and twin sons live in Boise, Idaho.

The final resting place of Ernest Hemingway was in Ketcham, Idaho, where he died at age 61 of a gunshot wound.

***

While I'm up in the night reading or watching Joel Fuhrman, I often feel hungry. Tonight I have won the hunger battle and may indeed write a series called The Hunger Games.

What? you say. It's already been written?

And now, wearing my boot, sweatpants, a WXPN T-shirt and warm polka-dot PJ top, I'll stride right back into bed and pick up the book again.

It's one helluva glum read.