Well, here we are having taken yet another circumnavigatory Gregorian tour together, and I hope that you’ve put away your party hats and crackers and are back to the grind, having disregarded all the unreasonable expectations you made of yourselves for the coming months. Because I have nothing but sympathy: it’s too cold to get up and run ten miles and do the laundry and tidy the front garden and write your best auntie a letter every morning. I understand. Stay in bed. Read a good book. Listen to a good story.
Here’s one, a good story, from an author you likely don’t know. I didn’t know of him either until Robert very kindly and generously shoved a book into my filthy mitts. I’m a bit of a busy reader, with a half dozen books open and a pile of books to read that the mountain certifiers are always interested in measuring. So, while I’m always interested, in a DROP EVERYTHING sort of way, of hearing about a new author, it has to really get under my nose for me to sit at attention. Fortunately, I think Robert’s been listening perspicaciously, and clearly has an idea how to do that. From his synopsis of the story: Lots of dialogue, odd situations, lots of internal musings and a Flannery O’Connor feel. No fooling.
In related news, there will be new chapters of The Man Who Can’t Die starting tomorrow. Catch up while you can. Also, I have a little something over here, if you need to listen to more.
Sometimes I think people skip over the text that you write and go straight to the listen button. I am here to tell you that this is a mistake!
Outstanding job for a quirky story. Miette, I think you can read just about everything well, but this story seemed ideal for you. It really has a Flannery O’Connor feel.
By the way, here’s a long interview I did with Jack Matthews about the art of fiction writing
By the way, this story came from his Crazy Women collection. In 2011, Matthews should have two books/ebooks coming out and possibly even ebook versions of some of his out-of-print books. Sign up for updates about that on Jack Matthews on his facebook page (“Jack Matthews Ohio Author”)
Just listening to this while ironing which is the perfect task to go along with the reading since it always provokes the anxiety that I don’t really know how to do it, and also allows me to listen with more full (and soothed) attention than when I’m hurrying up to fall asleep while you’re still reading. I was thinking Flannery O’Connor as well (without having read your intro)because she seems so disdainful of people’s general disdain for each other, while appearing to retain the right to be disdainful. One thing I do wonder, as a stammerer, espec. when being listened to – how is it that you manage to never stumble even while reading your own thoughts?? It’s kind of astuh tuh tounding!
Ms Sherter! Again we meet.
I haven’t been owner of an iron in enough years to reveal my age, and so I keep my wrinkles to myself, for the very same anxious reasons.
I will admit, though, that the magic of editing helps somewhat in delivering something close to verisimilitude, at least when it comes to the occasional and inevitable stammmmmmmmmer.
Don’t tell anybody…!
See that’s Brits v. Yanks in a nutshell – a hardwired sense for marketing would preclude someone from this side giving that kind of behind the veil peek at the show – that being said – it’s dizzying to me, I must say to actually have now, twice is it? exchanged notes – you must know that to your listeners you carry the same kind of poreless, alabaster not-quite-of-this world aura as Mr. Ira Glass himself – and I’d bet money he was put together by a focus group (no,-seriously! ) As an American I would urge you to lend your pipes to the highest bidder not obviously connected to having caused the financial crisis (it’s Lent, right, have to give a nod). As a listener I’m just as happy to tap into your pre-star collection, smooth or chunky – and yes that’s a Peanut-Butter allusion because we can’t go two sentences without mentioning…