Austin Kleon — "Mr. Ebert writes as if it were a matter of life...

From Janet Maslin’s review of Roger Ebert’s memoir, Life Itself:

When health problems and radical facial surgery took away his voice in 2006, Mr. Ebert turned to blogging as a substitute. That transition clearly influences this book. “Life Itself” is made up of short chapters that have the vitality of blog entries without the sloppiness that often goes with them.

I’ve always thought that what makes Ebert such a brilliant blogger is that he’s doing it wrong—in the age of reblogs and retweets and “short is more,” he’s writing long, writing hard, writing deep. Using his blog as a real way to connect with people. “On the web, my real voice finds expression.” Man loses voice and finds his voice. “When I am writing my problems become invisible and I am the same person I always was. All is well. I am as I should be.” Blogging because you need to blog—because it’s a matter of existing, being heard, or not existing…not being heard. It’s almost as if Ebert had to become that living metaphor to show us how it’s supposed to be done.

Anyways, God bless him. Can’t wait to read this book.