The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
In the New Yorker...
Jeff Wrangler:
Lawrence Wright's story in the July 6 & 13 issue about the efforts of five families to secure the release of their children, held hostage in the Middle East, is another sad, horrifying--but gripping--article that needs to be read--even if you recognize some of the names and know what's coming.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on July 13, 2015, 09:26:33 pm ---I haven't read the story and I kind of like magical realism, so I'll tackle it and let you know.
--- End quote ---
Looking forward to getting your opinion!
--- Quote ---How awkward that must have been interviewing her!
--- End quote ---
I was dreading asking about that tragedy/scandal (trandal? scagedy?), but the rest of the interview was interesting. The book she had just published features a priest who had appeared in one or more of her previous books. In this one, early on the priest starts disrobing for bed and turns out to be a woman. Louise claimed she herself did not realize the priest was a woman until she was writing the scene. That stretched my credulity a bit, but you never know -- many authors claim that their characters seem to have lives and wills of their own.
--- Quote ---Another amazing thing that happened was that a neighbor who has horses allowed us to put the boys on the horses and pet them. We were talking and she complemented me on the boys. I suddenly realized that she thought I was their mother!! I said I couldn't take the credit, it was due to my daughter, but thanks for the compliment! Okay, none of this has to do with anything in the New Yorker! Oh well!
--- End quote ---
But you've got to tell it somewhere! I've twice been mistaken for my own children's grandmother -- technically biologically possible since I was 36 and 37 when they were born, but not the most flattering assessment. Your mistaker was much nicer!
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on July 14, 2015, 04:02:39 pm ---Many authors claim that their characters seem to have lives and wills of their own.
--- End quote ---
Annie Proulx among them, IIRC.
--- Quote ---But you've got to tell it somewhere! I've twice been mistaken for my own children's grandmother -- technically biologically possible since I was 36 and 37 when they were born, but not the most flattering assessment. Your mistaker was much nicer!
--- End quote ---
Somebody once mistook me for my father's brother. Flattering to my dad, perhaps, but to me, not so much. :P
serious crayons:
If you haven't already, go immediately to your July 20 issue and read Kathryn Schulz's "The Really Big One." Then, when you are thoroughly freaked out and terrified, read Dave Eggers' "Hollister," which has a sort of serious point but iis light and funny much of the time.
I made the mistake of going in the opposite order. So now I've started reading George Packer's "Dark Hours: Violence in the age of the war on terror." So, you know, that should be realaxing.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on July 19, 2015, 04:28:19 pm ---If you haven't already, go immediately to your July 20 issue and read Kathryn Schulz's "The Really Big One." Then, when you are thoroughly freaked out and terrified, read Dave Eggers' "Hollister," which has a sort of serious point but iis light and funny much of the time.
I made the mistake of going in the opposite order. So now I've started reading George Packer's "Dark Hours: Violence in the age of the war on terror." So, you know, that should be realaxing.
--- End quote ---
I read Packer's first. (Well, actually, I read Anthony Lane's movie reviews first.) Things Packer had to say about the role of Al Qaeda put me in mind of a certain smug, conspiracy-loving Canadian who believes the U.S. is responsible for everything that's wrong in the world, but let be, let be. I'm looking forward to the Dave Eggers piece.
Actually, I even looking forward to the Jon Lee Anderson and Dexter Filkins articles, as well as the Kathryn Schulz piece.
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