Benjamin Obler's debut novel Javascotia is out now in the UK and coming soon to North America.For the Guardian, he named "his favourite significant appearances of coffee in literature."
One title on the list:
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale HurstonRead about the other nine work's on Obler's list.Janie went down and the landlady made her drink some coffee with her because she said her husband was dead and it was bad to be having your morning coffee by yourself.
So clearly coffee is about companionship, and promotes healing. Coffee has a chameleon-like nature: though it's the consummate non-prescription upper, it's also a balm, a salve. It fosters community and the repair of sorrow. It is a bridge between the despairing and the hopeful. (This scene also contains, later on the page, the brilliant "sankled", a combination of ambled and sank: "Janie sankled back to her room.")
Visit Benjamin Obler's website and blog.
--Marshal Zeringue
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