Let's make this birthday one to remember.

85 years old (Born on March 28, 1940)

Happy Birthday, Russell Banks! May your day be filled with more joy than the characters in "Affliction" and fewer misadventures than those found in "Rule of the Bone." Your novels have taken us on unforgettable journeys—sometimes gritty, often profound—but always captivating. Here's hoping today brings you laughter warmer than a scene from “Continental Drift” and celebrations that never leave you “Waiting to Freeze.”

Your poetry collection "Snow" reminds us beautifully how even chilly moments can warm our hearts. So here's wishing you another year full of literary triumphs—and perhaps slightly less snow shoveling. Cheers to many more chapters ahead!