Author David Leavitt On Crossword Puzzles, Grief And Ritual

The transcript explores the speaker's compulsion to solve the New York Times crossword, influenced by their mother, an avid crossword enthusiast. The narrative delves into the emotional connection between crosswords and grief, particularly after the mother's passing. The speaker reflects on the unfinished crossword left by their mother, pondering its symbolic meaning in understanding grief, which is likened to an unsolvable puzzle.

What does the speaker describe as a compulsion in their life?

• Reading the New York Times

• Completing the New York Times crossword

• Writing in a journal

• Watching the news

How did the speaker's mother approach solving crosswords?

• She never completed a crossword.

• She used a pencil and often erased mistakes.

• She completed them in pen without looking at down clues.

• She preferred to solve them on a computer.

What significant event occurred in the speaker's life related to their mother?

• Their mother passed away suddenly.

• Their mother won a crossword competition.

• Their mother stopped doing crosswords.

• Their mother moved to a different country.

How does the speaker compare grief to a puzzle?

• Grief is like a simple crossword.

• Grief is like a Sudoku puzzle.

• Grief is like a word search.

• Grief is like a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

What does the speaker speculate about the half-finished crossword left by their mother?

• It was a mistake.

• It was meant to be completed by someone else.

• It was a sign of her giving up.

• It was a message about the nature of grief.