You’ve managed to compellingly say just enough about Piranesi that I’ve added it to my book list. Curse you!
I finished Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I found it so oddly prescient and believably dystopic that it was a bit disturbing. Very good. I just started North Woods. So far, the writing is gorgeous.
I have a bit of sad news for you. Your fave Amy cat, Zira, has a mammary tumor (I didn’t even know that was a thing). Luckily I caught it early and there’s no spread, so we meet with the surgeon this week for a consult. Zira is blessedly ignorant to these goings-on and is acting her usual sassy, fluffy self 😻
I have a strange affinity for dystopia novels even while living through the potential starting of one now. Does that make me (us) masochistic?? Sounds like a really good one.
And nooooooo poor Zira!!! I hope it’s quick and easy to fix her right up. Sending her and you all the love.
Thank you 😊. We’re hopeful she’ll pull through just fine!
And yes, I think we are a little messed up to enjoy tales of dystopia. Although they’re pretty popular, so clearly we’re not alone. I’d add that Butler’s book is extra frightening because it’s set in the 2020s and all of the shit going down in it feels very possible right now 😱
“His hope in the world is contagious, childlike but wise, neither tainted nor cynical. Even when challenged Piranesi’s faith in the world is not shaken.” - This. This is why I love Piranesi. I always think about Piranesi.
same!! like you’re anticipating what’s going to happen the first time you read it and might miss some really good innocent, precious things Piranesi is thinking of. I reread as well after a year and it’s even better!
Added Piranesi to my TBR file in my phone! Excited for you and what comes through the silence 😍 I've banished my phone from my writing desk and that has done wonders for my concentration.
The last time I full blown cried was when I was visiting my sister and I was out in the backyard with her not quite one year old puppy and mini pin rescue. A baby squirrel fell out of a tree and what happened next traumatized all of us. Long story short the dogs thought it was a new fun furry chew toy and it involved me screaming "DROP ITTTTT!!!!!!" over and over hysterically while the squirrel fought for its life. Squirrel did not make it and I was a blubbering mess. Dogs were confused because they thought they were doing a protect. Still not over it.
Currently reading Leslie Jamison's Splinters and A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre. Splinters...that ish could have stayed in her journal. She writes some beautiful sentences, she's a wonderful writer, AND we didn't need Splinters. She eats a lot of candy, drinks a lot of instant coffee, and has awkward/emotionally abusive child drop-offs with her ex husband. I'm going to finish it because I paid $15 for it but I wish I would have bought something else. A Leopard-Skin Hat is chaotic, strange, and very French. I like it so far.
Ah and everyone seemed so pumped on Splinters! I have to admit I’ve been avoidant of any stories about divorce/bad marriages, I don’t have any desire to think about that in my stage of life. So perhaps I’ll avoid that one.
That sounds absolutely TRAUMATIZING and I would have sobbed. One time in college I saw another car hit a squirrel in the road and I thought maybe it had survived cuz its tail was in the air wagging but it was just the last moments of its life and I will never ever ever forget it. Poor squirrels get the short stick ☹️
I’ve tried so many times to reply from the website version of Substack and it won’t do it. There must be a glitch. Ugh.
The way people were gassing up Splinters, I thought it was going to be a groundbreaking memoir which just furthers my opinion that most people mindlessly consume what is fed to them through legacy media and don't/can't really form opinions on their own. There were many times I found myself thinking, "how did this get published?"
I am so sorry you had to see that 😭 Squirrel death hits hard 🐿️☠️
I LOVED Piranesi!!! so mind bending. i read it right after This Is How You Lose The Time War and it's still one of the best reading streaks i've ever been on haha
My pets are fantastic and I love them to death and I’m reading Black Caesar - the rise and disappearance of Frank Matthews, a rare book on a kingpin who actually escaped the claws of justice but the thing is, was he killed or did he actually get away???
Ugh I hear that re: other people's words in my head. I do a good enough job on my own having thoughts 24/7, so I don't need to add in additional inputs. Maybe that's why I'm so bad at audio books. Here's to more silence, whatever that is.
I loved Piranesi too! I'd like to read it again actually.
My pet is Billy the cat and he's doing good. Asleep on on lap as I type, all 5kgs of him.
And the last time I cried was this week at the last session of an online cowriting group that began when the pandemic hit. We've all gone through so much and developed our writing so much. It was rather bittersweet
so so happy to hear you loved Piranesi!!! I have so much love for that book and Piranesi himself. I still have to read her other book. also happy to hear you’re laying on the floor! so good for your health!!
Yeah, once I gave even a cursory look at the percent of waking time I spent consuming media (including books) I realized I made little to no time for thought or even a lack of thought. This condition is obviously not unique to me, nor is it ‘solved’, but I’ve taken the headphones off when walking and turned off the audio in the car about half of the time.
If you want an eye opener, activate the screen time monitors on your phone and tablet. The total measurement of time suck will sync across devises if you are in the Apple ecosystem. Put a widget on your wallpaper so it’s front and center. I did all that and then deleted the widget. Too unsettling.
I have been ignoring those screen time alerts for some time now I am ashamed to say! I wrote it off that I listen to music at work and audiobooks and read so I could ignore it but now I am starting to agree with you...!
You’ve managed to compellingly say just enough about Piranesi that I’ve added it to my book list. Curse you!
I finished Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I found it so oddly prescient and believably dystopic that it was a bit disturbing. Very good. I just started North Woods. So far, the writing is gorgeous.
I have a bit of sad news for you. Your fave Amy cat, Zira, has a mammary tumor (I didn’t even know that was a thing). Luckily I caught it early and there’s no spread, so we meet with the surgeon this week for a consult. Zira is blessedly ignorant to these goings-on and is acting her usual sassy, fluffy self 😻
Thank you that is high compliment!!
I have a strange affinity for dystopia novels even while living through the potential starting of one now. Does that make me (us) masochistic?? Sounds like a really good one.
And nooooooo poor Zira!!! I hope it’s quick and easy to fix her right up. Sending her and you all the love.
Thank you 😊. We’re hopeful she’ll pull through just fine!
And yes, I think we are a little messed up to enjoy tales of dystopia. Although they’re pretty popular, so clearly we’re not alone. I’d add that Butler’s book is extra frightening because it’s set in the 2020s and all of the shit going down in it feels very possible right now 😱
“His hope in the world is contagious, childlike but wise, neither tainted nor cynical. Even when challenged Piranesi’s faith in the world is not shaken.” - This. This is why I love Piranesi. I always think about Piranesi.
I truly want to reread for his words, I feel like I didn't fully appreciate it the first time around when I'm so invested in the plot!
same!! like you’re anticipating what’s going to happen the first time you read it and might miss some really good innocent, precious things Piranesi is thinking of. I reread as well after a year and it’s even better!
Added Piranesi to my TBR file in my phone! Excited for you and what comes through the silence 😍 I've banished my phone from my writing desk and that has done wonders for my concentration.
The last time I full blown cried was when I was visiting my sister and I was out in the backyard with her not quite one year old puppy and mini pin rescue. A baby squirrel fell out of a tree and what happened next traumatized all of us. Long story short the dogs thought it was a new fun furry chew toy and it involved me screaming "DROP ITTTTT!!!!!!" over and over hysterically while the squirrel fought for its life. Squirrel did not make it and I was a blubbering mess. Dogs were confused because they thought they were doing a protect. Still not over it.
Currently reading Leslie Jamison's Splinters and A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre. Splinters...that ish could have stayed in her journal. She writes some beautiful sentences, she's a wonderful writer, AND we didn't need Splinters. She eats a lot of candy, drinks a lot of instant coffee, and has awkward/emotionally abusive child drop-offs with her ex husband. I'm going to finish it because I paid $15 for it but I wish I would have bought something else. A Leopard-Skin Hat is chaotic, strange, and very French. I like it so far.
Ah and everyone seemed so pumped on Splinters! I have to admit I’ve been avoidant of any stories about divorce/bad marriages, I don’t have any desire to think about that in my stage of life. So perhaps I’ll avoid that one.
That sounds absolutely TRAUMATIZING and I would have sobbed. One time in college I saw another car hit a squirrel in the road and I thought maybe it had survived cuz its tail was in the air wagging but it was just the last moments of its life and I will never ever ever forget it. Poor squirrels get the short stick ☹️
I’ve tried so many times to reply from the website version of Substack and it won’t do it. There must be a glitch. Ugh.
The way people were gassing up Splinters, I thought it was going to be a groundbreaking memoir which just furthers my opinion that most people mindlessly consume what is fed to them through legacy media and don't/can't really form opinions on their own. There were many times I found myself thinking, "how did this get published?"
I am so sorry you had to see that 😭 Squirrel death hits hard 🐿️☠️
I LOVED Piranesi!!! so mind bending. i read it right after This Is How You Lose The Time War and it's still one of the best reading streaks i've ever been on haha
Ahh I have that one on my kindle maybe I need to give it a go!!
My pets are fantastic and I love them to death and I’m reading Black Caesar - the rise and disappearance of Frank Matthews, a rare book on a kingpin who actually escaped the claws of justice but the thing is, was he killed or did he actually get away???
I love your pets too 😃🥹
Great. That’s quite an intention, harder than we think. Can relate
Way harder!!! Thank you for your support
Ugh I hear that re: other people's words in my head. I do a good enough job on my own having thoughts 24/7, so I don't need to add in additional inputs. Maybe that's why I'm so bad at audio books. Here's to more silence, whatever that is.
Agreeed!!!
I loved Piranesi too! I'd like to read it again actually.
My pet is Billy the cat and he's doing good. Asleep on on lap as I type, all 5kgs of him.
And the last time I cried was this week at the last session of an online cowriting group that began when the pandemic hit. We've all gone through so much and developed our writing so much. It was rather bittersweet
this is beautiful! what a joy to have a group like that. and I love a lap cat who supports good work :)
Thank you kindly Natalie for sharing my essay 🥰🫶
Thank you for sharing it with the world!
so so happy to hear you loved Piranesi!!! I have so much love for that book and Piranesi himself. I still have to read her other book. also happy to hear you’re laying on the floor! so good for your health!!
Jonathan Strange is phenomenal but quite a commitment!! Thanks for encouraging me to finally read Piranesi 😃
Yeah, once I gave even a cursory look at the percent of waking time I spent consuming media (including books) I realized I made little to no time for thought or even a lack of thought. This condition is obviously not unique to me, nor is it ‘solved’, but I’ve taken the headphones off when walking and turned off the audio in the car about half of the time.
If you want an eye opener, activate the screen time monitors on your phone and tablet. The total measurement of time suck will sync across devises if you are in the Apple ecosystem. Put a widget on your wallpaper so it’s front and center. I did all that and then deleted the widget. Too unsettling.
I have been ignoring those screen time alerts for some time now I am ashamed to say! I wrote it off that I listen to music at work and audiobooks and read so I could ignore it but now I am starting to agree with you...!
Hell yeah!?! I’m so glad you loved Piranesi Natalie! Gorgeous cat pic too xx
Clarke is a genuis!! ❤
she IS !!!