An unexpected pleasure to show up as a veiled presence in quality autofiction. Perhaps one day I'll be immortalized like a minor character at the Verdurin salon, in the style of Professor Cottard or Ski the sculptor. The pseudonymous academic Substacker who shows up at parties and is always turning the conversation to Hegel...
It was a memorable evening, the dumpster-diving Russian bookstore owners break the flow of your narrative because they sound made up. I'm regret that my commitment to waiting for the paper copy kept me from reading your novel before meeting you. I'm really enjoying it and promise to write something about it soon.
Thank you, it was great to meet you! Don't worry about the novel, and sorry if I used you as a "character" in the rooftop moment; I was not offended in the slightest but needed some "drama" in the written narrative. (I don't know how people write memoirs all the time; it seems borderline unethical.) Having been in the Russians' bookstore, I can say they actually would stock your book, just as they told you! It's a small but heady selection.
An enjoyable travelogue! I listened to it on the audio feature on the Substack app driving around after Mass, and listened to the last few minutes while sitting in the parking lot of the local island of the Whole Foods archipelago.
I like to think of myself as somewhat literary, or at least, aspirationally literary, but I have read little of the theory that dominates a lot of the conversation hereabouts. My own reading is actual fiction, in recent years, but mostly history. I hope that a minimal exposure to Hegel, which I have no intention of rectifying, will not completely disqualify me from participating in these conversations.
I mildly disagree with the comment in the New Yorker about the chapters of Major Arcana. I like the fact that each one seems self-contained without a strong sense of flow between them. That’s a positive. We use the expression “closing a chapter” meaning that some major episode in life has ended. That’s what happens in the book. It’s fine, it works. I am about 2/3 finished with it, very much enjoying it, and will not look at anything that could have a spoiler!
Thank you! I spent a lot of time moving in the theory world, and still find myself back there in spite of myself, as you can see, but have never properly understood it, as some people would be happy to tell you. I hope you like the rest of the book!
Amazing recap. Grateful this was all put into words. What's funny is I remember yelling that out to you about walking in the rain but I was also a few sheets to the wind, as they say. I am grateful you stayed outside to learn more about the Russians and went to their bookstore. By then, I had ducked into the bar. Reading this is like watching a film with multiple perspectives; I have my recollection of the night, but here's this entirely different angle, one I missed, and now it's captured for all time. The miracle of writing!
An unexpected pleasure to show up as a veiled presence in quality autofiction. Perhaps one day I'll be immortalized like a minor character at the Verdurin salon, in the style of Professor Cottard or Ski the sculptor. The pseudonymous academic Substacker who shows up at parties and is always turning the conversation to Hegel...
It was a memorable evening, the dumpster-diving Russian bookstore owners break the flow of your narrative because they sound made up. I'm regret that my commitment to waiting for the paper copy kept me from reading your novel before meeting you. I'm really enjoying it and promise to write something about it soon.
Thank you, it was great to meet you! Don't worry about the novel, and sorry if I used you as a "character" in the rooftop moment; I was not offended in the slightest but needed some "drama" in the written narrative. (I don't know how people write memoirs all the time; it seems borderline unethical.) Having been in the Russians' bookstore, I can say they actually would stock your book, just as they told you! It's a small but heady selection.
If Secret Squirrel were to end up in the follow up to Major Arcana, he'd obviously need to be called Clandestine Chipmunk.
Yes! Maybe if I outlive the copyright—and even if I don't, maybe I'll put it in my will—I'll change everything in MA back to Superman and Batman!
I wish I could write this well about my daily experiences. Good stuff, thanks for sharing!! :)
An enjoyable travelogue! I listened to it on the audio feature on the Substack app driving around after Mass, and listened to the last few minutes while sitting in the parking lot of the local island of the Whole Foods archipelago.
I like to think of myself as somewhat literary, or at least, aspirationally literary, but I have read little of the theory that dominates a lot of the conversation hereabouts. My own reading is actual fiction, in recent years, but mostly history. I hope that a minimal exposure to Hegel, which I have no intention of rectifying, will not completely disqualify me from participating in these conversations.
I mildly disagree with the comment in the New Yorker about the chapters of Major Arcana. I like the fact that each one seems self-contained without a strong sense of flow between them. That’s a positive. We use the expression “closing a chapter” meaning that some major episode in life has ended. That’s what happens in the book. It’s fine, it works. I am about 2/3 finished with it, very much enjoying it, and will not look at anything that could have a spoiler!
Thank you! I spent a lot of time moving in the theory world, and still find myself back there in spite of myself, as you can see, but have never properly understood it, as some people would be happy to tell you. I hope you like the rest of the book!
Amazing recap. Grateful this was all put into words. What's funny is I remember yelling that out to you about walking in the rain but I was also a few sheets to the wind, as they say. I am grateful you stayed outside to learn more about the Russians and went to their bookstore. By then, I had ducked into the bar. Reading this is like watching a film with multiple perspectives; I have my recollection of the night, but here's this entirely different angle, one I missed, and now it's captured for all time. The miracle of writing!
Thanks! Ironically, I think you were the one who approached the Russians in the first place. It was a very fun night!
Yes, I definitely did
Learning more about the Russians or ducking into a bar. We know where we would be.
I hope the novel is half as good as this! My copy is arriving soon :)
Thank you—hope you enjoy it!
This was fun. Glad to hear the meet-up with the dumpster-diving Russians worked out!
Yes, turned out really well, and it was great to see you!
This was so good, just delightful to read.
Thank you!