This is a brilliant piece, and I just upgraded to a paid subscription--long overdue. So many spot-on insights, especially "[H]e’s not interested in her. He’s interested in her interest in him and what she makes him feel."
I'll be reading the book based on your review. I enjoyed your work for the Village Voice, but I especially love and get so much from your current writing on Substack. Thank you.
You have given her the analysis she deserves. A few hours ago I read a completely stupid review of her book in either the NYT or the WashPost in which the reviewer, ten years younger than Prose, refuses to understand what she was trying to do, and is too stupid to understand the difference between creative non-fiction and newspaper reporting. Can you get your review to Prose herself somehow? she is probably feeling quite wounded today. Though the comments in the comment section of the digital paper show that many of the readers of the review are way smarter than the reviewer, who couldn't believe that Prose had "remembered" page after page of dialogue from 1974. Also, the reviewer was mad that she had to wait for the acknowledgements in the back of the book to find that Prose addresses this. I was so annoyed at that review. thank you for being SO much smarter.
I love the contextualization of the pentagon papers and the US bombing north Vietnam—80% civilians—because it’s the same reason Biden et al are supporting Israel to bomb 37,000+ civilians to death and the USA in power is unmoved by the possibility of the Palestinians, just the way the USA dehumanized and murdered the Vietnamese. I know also we want access to the land for our own military purposes too.
I know our govt thru the cia has always supported or been the villains in proxy wars, but I am reminded when I say How could they, that they (and therefore we) have done this since WW2. The difference there is we were part of a collective and greatly needed—and, if you consider the Nazis playing Madison garden in 1939, we weren’t on the right side until the USA realized both the jingoism and “good will” afforded by stepping up.
Anyway, the stark parallel of Vietnam and Palestine has me thinking. Its not that we have US soldiers dying in Palestine, but the billions we send with weapons (fewer soldiers needed anyway) is another example of why the people’s collective outrage at this obvious genocide we are enabling can barely catch the ear of our government and have been unable to halt it. Not even to get medical and food aid into dying civilians, let alone a ceasefire.
And thank you for your subscription offer, you made it easy to say yes to your excellent and visceral prose. Lots of people can aggregate facts and make connections, but you fucking WRITE and take us with you.
I remain in awe. I need more people in my life reading you. I’ll get on that.
Nothing much happens unless American boys are coming home in body bags. Only then does it catch an ear. Otherwise, hey, it's only money!
My brother got a heaping dose of agent orange which eventually killed him. I, OTOH, lucked out of the whole thing. I won the draft lottery, the lottery you won by losing. I was 24 in 1974. We thought we would change the world and we did, but it wasn't what we expected. It's never what you expect. As a long-term result of stuff like the Endangered Species Act*, which told rural people they were less than animals, the guy who will almost certainly be the next prez is openly boasting about how he will jail his political opponents.
My brother gets to rest in peace. He did not have to live to see this wrekage of the country he served.** He sure as fuck had a rough, years-long passage though. And here I am going on about it 3 years later. It's true what they say. When a sibling dies they take a piece of you with them.
i was six in 1974 so my 1974 wasnt this 1974. but i didnt want this essay to end. i can say that. and i definitely want to read the book (if i can ever put my phone down). i can say that. is it enough to simply BUY the book? have it on my nightstand while i scroll. would that be enough? probably not. but it would be something.
my problem with substack is that it leads me to more screenshots of books i want to read than i could (ever) actually read. in the time given. at the pace im going. which is slow. and slower. i think im more of a plodder than a plotter. i lack strategy. other than relying on happenstance to save me from alternate fates uncertain.
I drifted off on a thought while reading this: No wonder, in 1974, ten-year-old me was confused by the barrage of sex messages I received growing up in overly sexualized seventies San Francisco--sex emporiums, porn on my parent's book shelves, lots of "informing" kids about the hows without the whys... or whens or what-if I don't want to? The young women were still figuring it out, as Prose seemed to be.
"She enters a relationship with Tony Russo that is basically a Bob Dylan song, where the girl arouses a set of needs or emotions in the singer—it could be sexual interest or scorn—but we don’t know anything about the girl because he’s not interested in her. He’s interested in her interest in him and what she makes him feel." An extremely impressive assessment of Dylan's early work: "You just wasted '*my* precious time. ... I'm not the one you want, babe." "[T]o Tony she isn’t distinct."
The 70s, yes: "It was all sex and all please make life better for more people." Re this: "well-regarded male fiction writers who hit on anything that moves": Did these w-r.m.f.w.'s assume the hitting-on was mutual?
"Nor did the revelations arouse the public to free themselves at last from governments that lie on behalf of profiteers ... They undermined belief there could be *any* truth in government." But they also generated Freedom of Information laws, and a movement to increase public access to government information, a never-ending battle that continues.
I bought the book on the strength of your review.. Prose is a great writer; she was well served by your ability as a writer and as a contemporary to connect with "1974."
Thanks for this insightful piece inspired by the latest work of the prolific Francine Prose. What's in a name, right? My favorite writing how-to is her Reading Like a Writer.
always spot on Laurie. i was a sheltered 15 year old in 1974, but no longer. i never take at face value what i am told by a government entity regarding foreign affairs. as someone i follow says, "foreign policy is a poker game and everyone at the table is cheating."
I had an idea for a novel - what if a certain president had never been elected. But reading your review of 1974 (and a wise friend) made me despair that special interests would have prevailed and we’d be right here where we are anyway… Also, I’m psyched to read the book and rsvp for your zoom (emailing forthwith)….
damn, this is one hell of a brilliant review. oy, have i been there too, from both sides of that fantasy you succinctly describe, which is kind of a bummer even in hindsight, but not as much as this truth:
"To me, part of the pain of our moment is its unfathomable nature, and I truly loathe those smug, hands-in-pockets and oily-smile theories of how it all happened and who is to blame." the world keeps turning on its same axis and i am trying not to sink into despair.
This is a brilliant piece, and I just upgraded to a paid subscription--long overdue. So many spot-on insights, especially "[H]e’s not interested in her. He’s interested in her interest in him and what she makes him feel."
I'll be reading the book based on your review. I enjoyed your work for the Village Voice, but I especially love and get so much from your current writing on Substack. Thank you.
Wonderful to hear, many thanks, Laurie
You have given her the analysis she deserves. A few hours ago I read a completely stupid review of her book in either the NYT or the WashPost in which the reviewer, ten years younger than Prose, refuses to understand what she was trying to do, and is too stupid to understand the difference between creative non-fiction and newspaper reporting. Can you get your review to Prose herself somehow? she is probably feeling quite wounded today. Though the comments in the comment section of the digital paper show that many of the readers of the review are way smarter than the reviewer, who couldn't believe that Prose had "remembered" page after page of dialogue from 1974. Also, the reviewer was mad that she had to wait for the acknowledgements in the back of the book to find that Prose addresses this. I was so annoyed at that review. thank you for being SO much smarter.
Yes, Francine will read this, and I have been promoting her book in social media while preparing to write this, and she has read those earlier notes.
I love this, author to author “seeing” of intentions. Being “got” is a great and generous gift you bestow.
Many thanks for your comment and appreciation of Prose . . . and me.
FWIW I just sent out an email to 40 people I love and adore with your post today, and considering your generous offer. If they join, good for them!
Yeah!
Great comment.
A woman in a Bob Dylan song.
Wow. I saw so many of us, but especially me.
Especially before feminism and often after. xxL
Really insightful and your writing just flows
I love the contextualization of the pentagon papers and the US bombing north Vietnam—80% civilians—because it’s the same reason Biden et al are supporting Israel to bomb 37,000+ civilians to death and the USA in power is unmoved by the possibility of the Palestinians, just the way the USA dehumanized and murdered the Vietnamese. I know also we want access to the land for our own military purposes too.
I know our govt thru the cia has always supported or been the villains in proxy wars, but I am reminded when I say How could they, that they (and therefore we) have done this since WW2. The difference there is we were part of a collective and greatly needed—and, if you consider the Nazis playing Madison garden in 1939, we weren’t on the right side until the USA realized both the jingoism and “good will” afforded by stepping up.
Anyway, the stark parallel of Vietnam and Palestine has me thinking. Its not that we have US soldiers dying in Palestine, but the billions we send with weapons (fewer soldiers needed anyway) is another example of why the people’s collective outrage at this obvious genocide we are enabling can barely catch the ear of our government and have been unable to halt it. Not even to get medical and food aid into dying civilians, let alone a ceasefire.
And thank you for your subscription offer, you made it easy to say yes to your excellent and visceral prose. Lots of people can aggregate facts and make connections, but you fucking WRITE and take us with you.
I remain in awe. I need more people in my life reading you. I’ll get on that.
Thanks so much!
Ditto: "Lots of people can aggregate facts and make connections, but you fucking WRITE and take us with you.
I remain in awe. "
Nothing much happens unless American boys are coming home in body bags. Only then does it catch an ear. Otherwise, hey, it's only money!
My brother got a heaping dose of agent orange which eventually killed him. I, OTOH, lucked out of the whole thing. I won the draft lottery, the lottery you won by losing. I was 24 in 1974. We thought we would change the world and we did, but it wasn't what we expected. It's never what you expect. As a long-term result of stuff like the Endangered Species Act*, which told rural people they were less than animals, the guy who will almost certainly be the next prez is openly boasting about how he will jail his political opponents.
My brother gets to rest in peace. He did not have to live to see this wrekage of the country he served.** He sure as fuck had a rough, years-long passage though. And here I am going on about it 3 years later. It's true what they say. When a sibling dies they take a piece of you with them.
Please accept my apologies for all this rambling.
*I thought it was a good idea too.
**Yet it was all a lie.
i was six in 1974 so my 1974 wasnt this 1974. but i didnt want this essay to end. i can say that. and i definitely want to read the book (if i can ever put my phone down). i can say that. is it enough to simply BUY the book? have it on my nightstand while i scroll. would that be enough? probably not. but it would be something.
my problem with substack is that it leads me to more screenshots of books i want to read than i could (ever) actually read. in the time given. at the pace im going. which is slow. and slower. i think im more of a plodder than a plotter. i lack strategy. other than relying on happenstance to save me from alternate fates uncertain.
i can say that.
so nicely frickin done, laurie
i (absolutely) say that 💙
I am a year or two older than Prose, and with this exacting review, I cannot wait to read about such a tumultuous time...thank you Laurie
I drifted off on a thought while reading this: No wonder, in 1974, ten-year-old me was confused by the barrage of sex messages I received growing up in overly sexualized seventies San Francisco--sex emporiums, porn on my parent's book shelves, lots of "informing" kids about the hows without the whys... or whens or what-if I don't want to? The young women were still figuring it out, as Prose seemed to be.
We liked sexual freedom, and I still do, for all humans in every culture.
"She enters a relationship with Tony Russo that is basically a Bob Dylan song, where the girl arouses a set of needs or emotions in the singer—it could be sexual interest or scorn—but we don’t know anything about the girl because he’s not interested in her. He’s interested in her interest in him and what she makes him feel." An extremely impressive assessment of Dylan's early work: "You just wasted '*my* precious time. ... I'm not the one you want, babe." "[T]o Tony she isn’t distinct."
The 70s, yes: "It was all sex and all please make life better for more people." Re this: "well-regarded male fiction writers who hit on anything that moves": Did these w-r.m.f.w.'s assume the hitting-on was mutual?
"Nor did the revelations arouse the public to free themselves at last from governments that lie on behalf of profiteers ... They undermined belief there could be *any* truth in government." But they also generated Freedom of Information laws, and a movement to increase public access to government information, a never-ending battle that continues.
I bought the book on the strength of your review.. Prose is a great writer; she was well served by your ability as a writer and as a contemporary to connect with "1974."
Wow. What a great review and what an amazing book! And I totally get those reflections of those times and aspirations!
Thanks for this insightful piece inspired by the latest work of the prolific Francine Prose. What's in a name, right? My favorite writing how-to is her Reading Like a Writer.
always spot on Laurie. i was a sheltered 15 year old in 1974, but no longer. i never take at face value what i am told by a government entity regarding foreign affairs. as someone i follow says, "foreign policy is a poker game and everyone at the table is cheating."
oh, and i never enjoyed bob dylan songs.
I had an idea for a novel - what if a certain president had never been elected. But reading your review of 1974 (and a wise friend) made me despair that special interests would have prevailed and we’d be right here where we are anyway… Also, I’m psyched to read the book and rsvp for your zoom (emailing forthwith)….
damn, this is one hell of a brilliant review. oy, have i been there too, from both sides of that fantasy you succinctly describe, which is kind of a bummer even in hindsight, but not as much as this truth:
"To me, part of the pain of our moment is its unfathomable nature, and I truly loathe those smug, hands-in-pockets and oily-smile theories of how it all happened and who is to blame." the world keeps turning on its same axis and i am trying not to sink into despair.
Loved this!!!!