Happy new day, happy new old life. I love this - now I can say why I hate Sophie in S's Choice. I knew she was fake. When the book came out, I threw it across the room. No woman would make such a choice. She'd go down with both kids in a world so cruel. If she's a monster, she'll make the choice, but it won't haunt her. She has no heart. Ditto Madame Bovary and Anna. It's time women rewrote those stories! Well, to be honest, Mme B is the realest to me. Horrible woman. But I think I know her.
Damn. , that went out while I was correcting it. When we built our house, we put nylon screening in the in the vents., and the squirrels would go in and out. One of our great stories over time was when Blair bought a a pellet gun, which was a whole story onto itself, because this is Canada after all. And he had a plaid shirt.
Every morning after his coffee, he’d say “before I get to work, I’m going to get a squirrel”. It was the middle of winter . So he would open the window a little bit and stick the gun out., in his plaid shirt.
This went on for a week or two , and he never did shoot a squirrel, but it became a great family story.
So that’s what I think about plaid shirts, and men . But because he was a city, graphic designer..
Clare Danes is able to do what Judy Davis did in the movie High Tide directed by Gillian Armstrong. Show the conflicted emotions of a woman defying convention. Past defying really. Living in that zone of defiance alone.
thanks for writing about constructing a nervous system. I tried to read it when it came out but couldn't get very far, because of its strangeness, I think. Just ordered it from library. Will try again. Happy New Year and Happy marriage. See you tomorrow.
I think it might be interesting to talk tomorrow about encountering the strangeness in a new form of writing. Pease mention it tomorrow if you are inclined. I feel a great kinship as a writer to what Margo is doing. I have been reading her for as long as she has been publishing, and I feel this book is crackling out formally in ways the narrator is cracking out of personal confines. It's difficult to make this work, I grant you.
Thinking also about books like The Bee Sting by Paul Murray where segments are just like run together sentences, particularly the one where the mom narrates or Milkman by Anna Burns which is just one long hallucinatory sentence. Gotta go. My gardening partner has arrived. Later
I took a few notes during the part of your zoom I could attend, and from the info in those notes I wrote a short piece that I'm happy with. You had said something about the thing you see being a prompt--you mentioned a sandwich as an example. And then you create a list from that, some categories, some associations. And then you write using those categories. Really fun and interesting way to write and I thank you for it. Not sure if I managed to get your instructions down correctly, but it all worked out anyway.
My, what a great start to my morning,reading your column and then reading the comments. I loved everything. The plaid shirt bit is pretty funny., because when my husband and I moved to the country north of Toronto, we had a problem with squirrels in our attics,and we had them because in the vents in the attic we had put nylon screening instead of metal screening because we were city people and didn’t have a clue. Of course the squirrel got in, and we eventually put behind the metal screening behind.
I want to say yes, but…. And find the exception. But we live in a world where Donald Trump beats both of the women he runs against. He only loses to another white man. So I guess it’s expecting too much.
Margo Jefferson's book has been on my TBR shelf for a while. This -- "we move through life misidentified." -- may be enuf for me to R it at last.
Caution: If you're disagreeing about plaid shirts on day 10, you may have hit a rocky plateau. Of course, Minnesota vs. Hudson winters may be a factor.
Oh, and it's "corduroy." And I miss this folk etymology: the idea that it was derived from the French “corde du roi” (king's cords) has been discredited.
Happy new day, happy new old life. I love this - now I can say why I hate Sophie in S's Choice. I knew she was fake. When the book came out, I threw it across the room. No woman would make such a choice. She'd go down with both kids in a world so cruel. If she's a monster, she'll make the choice, but it won't haunt her. She has no heart. Ditto Madame Bovary and Anna. It's time women rewrote those stories! Well, to be honest, Mme B is the realest to me. Horrible woman. But I think I know her.
Yes to all. Sophie's Choice, the movie, is unwatchable.
Picking up "Constucting a Nervous System" at the library today. Thanks for the hearty recommendation!
I will be interested to know what you think!
BTW, have you watched "The Andy Warhol Diaries" on Netflix? You might enjoy it...
Started, got tired before the end.
Damn. , that went out while I was correcting it. When we built our house, we put nylon screening in the in the vents., and the squirrels would go in and out. One of our great stories over time was when Blair bought a a pellet gun, which was a whole story onto itself, because this is Canada after all. And he had a plaid shirt.
Every morning after his coffee, he’d say “before I get to work, I’m going to get a squirrel”. It was the middle of winter . So he would open the window a little bit and stick the gun out., in his plaid shirt.
This went on for a week or two , and he never did shoot a squirrel, but it became a great family story.
So that’s what I think about plaid shirts, and men . But because he was a city, graphic designer..
I love reading you .
Thank you. xxL
Clare Danes is able to do what Judy Davis did in the movie High Tide directed by Gillian Armstrong. Show the conflicted emotions of a woman defying convention. Past defying really. Living in that zone of defiance alone.
thanks for writing about constructing a nervous system. I tried to read it when it came out but couldn't get very far, because of its strangeness, I think. Just ordered it from library. Will try again. Happy New Year and Happy marriage. See you tomorrow.
I think it might be interesting to talk tomorrow about encountering the strangeness in a new form of writing. Pease mention it tomorrow if you are inclined. I feel a great kinship as a writer to what Margo is doing. I have been reading her for as long as she has been publishing, and I feel this book is crackling out formally in ways the narrator is cracking out of personal confines. It's difficult to make this work, I grant you.
Try Nick Flynn's Stay. Fabulous. Weird.
Thinking also about books like The Bee Sting by Paul Murray where segments are just like run together sentences, particularly the one where the mom narrates or Milkman by Anna Burns which is just one long hallucinatory sentence. Gotta go. My gardening partner has arrived. Later
Love your observations about these two dynamic women.
Thanks, love. Happy new year! xxL
I took a few notes during the part of your zoom I could attend, and from the info in those notes I wrote a short piece that I'm happy with. You had said something about the thing you see being a prompt--you mentioned a sandwich as an example. And then you create a list from that, some categories, some associations. And then you write using those categories. Really fun and interesting way to write and I thank you for it. Not sure if I managed to get your instructions down correctly, but it all worked out anyway.
Sounds great!
I must buy the book NOW!!
taking risks in form and content sounds like a fantastic topic. And wonderful book recommendation too -- it's on the list x
Glad you like it!
“Mistaken identity is going to run your life. There’s no way out. That’s why it’s a comedy.” I love this. It’s brilliant.
My, what a great start to my morning,reading your column and then reading the comments. I loved everything. The plaid shirt bit is pretty funny., because when my husband and I moved to the country north of Toronto, we had a problem with squirrels in our attics,and we had them because in the vents in the attic we had put nylon screening instead of metal screening because we were city people and didn’t have a clue. Of course the squirrel got in, and we eventually put behind the metal screening behind.
Canadian squirrels just wear fleece
But were the squirrels wearing plaid? xxL
Plaid fleece, of course!!
With Maple leaves
Today is the day. Subscribe. Which means I turn on the laptop, to pay; thank you again. The puppies say hello to the Substackians.
Happy end of 2024.
Oh, love, that would make me so happy and feel encouraged to keep doing this. xxL
Darling, We will both/all be encouraged!
And blessings on your new journey.
XB
I want to say yes, but…. And find the exception. But we live in a world where Donald Trump beats both of the women he runs against. He only loses to another white man. So I guess it’s expecting too much.
Margo Jefferson's book has been on my TBR shelf for a while. This -- "we move through life misidentified." -- may be enuf for me to R it at last.
Caution: If you're disagreeing about plaid shirts on day 10, you may have hit a rocky plateau. Of course, Minnesota vs. Hudson winters may be a factor.
Oh, and it's "corduroy." And I miss this folk etymology: the idea that it was derived from the French “corde du roi” (king's cords) has been discredited.
fixed, thanks . . . I'm always surprised when people think what I've written reflects real life happening in real time. It's writing. Never life.
This is why I'm a subscriber. For comments such as this one.
Thanks, love.