Even if a book is bad, once I start, I have to finish so my brain can process it and move on. Stopping early traps that bad book in my brain and I keep coming back, wondering if it ever got better.
Great video. I was wondering what you thought of Philip Roth and what he would have thought of you. I think he was probably a nice man in the beginning. Some of his fiction there is the goodness of a man trying to do well and some brilliant passages. But niceness wasn't getting him much attention so he sort of went over to what would definitely get him the most attention. I think he had some self-worth issues and control of everything and everyone and being the best issues. In Goodbye, Columbus his character was such an ass. He might have been so much happier if he hadn't needed so much to be noticed. Guys don't realize that if they just let go of all the testosterone, life might be so much easier and happier. So no need to answer that one. Hope you are getting positive reaction to your novel being careful to not say much so interest builds and builds.
My dermatologist allegedly lived in the same building as Roth in the 80s and claimed he was an asshole. This came up because I was reading American Pastoral in his office during one visit. Nevertheless, I enjoy Roth. But he was probably an asshole. Sounds consistent with everything you are saying.
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" was also my answer to favorite poem for years until recently. I have started saying either "At the River" by Louise Gluck or "The Garden" by Mark Strand
Even if a book is bad, once I start, I have to finish so my brain can process it and move on. Stopping early traps that bad book in my brain and I keep coming back, wondering if it ever got better.
Great video. I was wondering what you thought of Philip Roth and what he would have thought of you. I think he was probably a nice man in the beginning. Some of his fiction there is the goodness of a man trying to do well and some brilliant passages. But niceness wasn't getting him much attention so he sort of went over to what would definitely get him the most attention. I think he had some self-worth issues and control of everything and everyone and being the best issues. In Goodbye, Columbus his character was such an ass. He might have been so much happier if he hadn't needed so much to be noticed. Guys don't realize that if they just let go of all the testosterone, life might be so much easier and happier. So no need to answer that one. Hope you are getting positive reaction to your novel being careful to not say much so interest builds and builds.
My dermatologist allegedly lived in the same building as Roth in the 80s and claimed he was an asshole. This came up because I was reading American Pastoral in his office during one visit. Nevertheless, I enjoy Roth. But he was probably an asshole. Sounds consistent with everything you are saying.
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" was also my answer to favorite poem for years until recently. I have started saying either "At the River" by Louise Gluck or "The Garden" by Mark Strand
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I love your Substack and getting to hear your Q and A and getting to hear your voice and see the face behind the your inspirational postings.