Meditations from a Movable Chair

13 years ago, in 1987, I met Mr. Dubus at Charles Hotel, Boston. I was 27 years old and stayed at Bradford College as an international student. After coming back home, I approached several publishers to issue Mr. Dubus' excellent books in Japanese. In 1992, I could accomplish to publish his beatiful novellas and stories in three books. I was so happy to introduce his work for Japanese readers. Mr. Dubus was happy too, and wrote to me about his impressions. Time has gone.I heard the news of his death just two days ago. Beyond grief, I'm going to read deeply this book and translate from English to Japanese, and then introduce his works to Japanese readers more, certainly.I would like to visit Haverhill at the anniversary of his death. I pray for the repose of Mr. Dubus' soul.

To enter the world of another mind is to discover we are all of one mind. Andre Dubus makes this possible by minding the business of living. Each grief, loss, and puzzlement he experiences is faced full on, letting us see how the prosaic details speak larger meanings when veiwed from the perspective of faith: life has meaning when I accept as a gift what I don't understand.

Andre and I were in the Writer's Workshop at the University of Iowa at the same time. We lived on Brown Street, neighbors and friends. I noted his dedication, his sincerity, his love of language. Those qualitites continued to grow in his writing over the years. He produced some amazing works. I mourn his death and and applaud his writing. I recommend it to anyone seeking excellence in the written word. Douglas Kent Hall

Although he always wrote pencil to paper, I do not think he would object to a tribute on the net.Andre Dubus was my friend. I attended his wake, funeral and "time" this past weekend. We were buddies that shared a common living space...the campus of Bradford College. He lived in a townhouse out back, I was the dorm director for Academy Hall.. We went to the Red Sox together, we walked down the placid evening summer street to Ronnie D's on more than one occasion...oh, the tranquil nights, the botanical paradise where we stopped to sniff the lucious bushes and trees and shrubs that Dick Broadhurst had taught us to appreciate...My heart is broken, I cannot imagine Andre not walking this planet, I cannot do without the wisdom and grace that made ME important because he was my friend.The funeral, a simple Catholic mass, was missing the most important ingredient...I remember the many occasions when Andre was elected to be the speaker, to put our grief into eloquent words... Carolina Arria, the beautiful flower of Argentina was remembered as a cara mia...Jim Valhouli, the man who emphasized Andre's grace was his treaure...Tony DeLuca the frog sandwich...no one escaped his discerning eye. I sit here and weep at 5"00 a.m. not knowing how to put this behind me. As a member of alcoholics anonimous Iam taught to let go and let god... why is it so difficult for me and the hundreds of people at that church who wept as Rebecca Paris sang "The Lush Life" to let go?We are all a product of his munificence...I will write a letter to the kids and his beautiful sisters that I know they will understand...I will contribute to the Homeless Shelter for veterans because my husband is a Vietnam combat Marine who persuaded Andre to don his Combat Cover one wonderful night last November...Andre, I miss deep sea fishing with you...the drive past Brown's (full of penanace)...the revolution and moratorium...the fish you brought over to Inge's house that night...we were little devils and then you reformed.Hail Mary, full of Grace...now and at the hour of our death...I wish this was not so spontaneous, you deserve a more fitting tribute.Excelsior Andre! Love, Mary P.P.S. I encourage the friends and admirers of Andre to write and comfort me, to share their thoughts and keep the church going. [email protected]

Many of these pieces have appeared in different places and they are worth reading all at once. If you have not read Andre Dubus, put down your Wally Lamb and run to your nearest bookstore. If you read Andre, you will not be dissapointed.His writing has a compassion and thoughtfulness that is lost in a lot of writing. The sentiment and hopefulness is always hovering there amidst trying times. The question "how did things get this bad" is always overshadowed with "how did things once so bad change or deepen us?"He is quite frankly the most important writer alive. (Sorry Phillip Roth) He is someone who knows not and writes not of corporate sponsorship, the Internet, and spin doctors. He concentrates on people, hopeful and desparate people. Dream-seeking people. In-person, non-virtual people.