Thank you Brenda!! All of those folks are our faves too haha (hence they're here!). And thank you in turn for the rec..I love a lot of Poe's work and will certainly feature something in part 2 of this series 💙
I loved loved loved Calvino's Black Sheep which I just discovered thanks to you 🖤
I've known Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle for a long time and I still can't describe what it did to me. Reading it molecularly changed me—a small equivalent to a spiritual awakening, but a slightly more literary one.
I know Calvino is already v famous amongst us literary folks but I'm always surprised he isn't having a moment like say Kafka...maybe we can make that happen?
Yes! We need to speak more about him! I discovered the Cosmicomics last year only because I was intrigued by the cover picture on Pinterest. I don't understand why he's not everywhere. Maybe he had an unworthiness wound that kept his radiance dimmed, who knows. Nothing Substack can't overturn ;)
Oh wow. Thanks. (Except the DFW story, which is tiresome!) I look forward to exploring so much of this guide - I appreciate the dedication and attention you took in compiling :)
Re: the DFW has got better experimental with heart! Yes, but also, sometimes so so so so long. Why not Barthelme instead? Who granted, yes, can also be tiring. But at least it’s quick! Except his short story Rebecca! (Quick, but not tiring!) Rebecca is what I read when I want to be challenged and inspired.
Now I’m feeling guilty for bad mouthing The Depressed Person. Can I confess I was a bad friend to a depressed person and the story is unbearable in its reminder?
Haha I resonate w this sentiment and have been there myself. The story really is unsettling. And I quite like Barthelme too but haven’t read him as much as I have Wallace, something I’ll correct in this lifetime.
My friend I feel you here and also your subsequent replies. DFW is painful to read sometimes because he reveals the darkest tendencies within us. And I have been both the depressed person and the friend of the depressed person...so...double whammy hah
The "Strange Pilgrims" list matches my own tastes!
A remark, too, about the Albert Camus work that was listed. That was "The Myth of Sysiphus"? I think it was.
If that A. Camus long essay is the one I am thinking it is, I'd also mention that I think American psychologist-writer William James wrote a shorter essay, himself, that treats a similar theme.
The William James essay is called, I believe:
"Is Life Worth Living?"
I might recall the title of that essay wrongly, but it was part of James's book "The Will To Believe And Other Essays In Popular Philosophy."
That book is also available in one of Library of America's two volumes of collected William James works.
I have so far read the William James essay at least twice, myself.
Thank you Jeff and yes this is that essay indeed. Thank you for recommending in turn that piece by James. You've got the title correct, I think. Very excited to dive into this.
Oh the walls of our apartment are so familiar with every song Isakov has ever released. We love his music. We try not not use the word genius carelessly, but he certainly deserves it.
P.S.: I don't know if it is only me, but there's so much good stuff in here, that I end up clicking one link and missing all the rest.
For me, shorter lists and a clear thread - theme pulling such rich editions under one umbrella would be a dream come true. Otherwise I get lost and find hard to navigate and explore all of these hand-picked little treasures.
N.B.: Don't listen to me. Keep up this great work!
Thank you Robin! And I totally do feel what you're saying here. Tbh we mulled over it a lot, how best to organize everything here....and we thought, you know what, for starters let's just do a part one with a bit of everything as neatly laid out as possible just to see the response....and then we can dive into more specifics later on. So that was the process/decision behind it...but now seeing all the excitement for this, we do intend to do something on a more granular level soon! 💙
Well-thought out and informative! I feel like I want to be more intentional about what I consume visually...instead of just scrolling or randomly deciding by what's available. I appreciate this so much.
Wow! Fabulous list! Many of my favourites- Baldwin, Camus, Barthes….and many I am eager to read, or re-read.
Not sure why it came to mind, but you may enjoy Poe’s "The Man of the Crowd".
Thank you Brenda!! All of those folks are our faves too haha (hence they're here!). And thank you in turn for the rec..I love a lot of Poe's work and will certainly feature something in part 2 of this series 💙
Amazing list, thank you so much.
Isabel Kim is an amazing writer, her story so fascinating.
Thank you Rosalind and indeed I don't think I know a more exciting emerging author today than Isabel Kim!
Love,love,love what you are doing here. Signing up.
Thank you j.h...comments like this are one of the sweetest reasons we do what we do 💙
Thank you so much for such a fabulous list! I cannot wait to explore items that are new to me and revisit old favorites!
so happy it's resonated with you Jamie! Do tell us your experiences as you explore those and would love to know what your old faves are? 💙
Ive been needing exactly this! Thank you! ❤️
So happy we could share it with you and for you Claire 💙
Wow! What a service pulling this all together.
Thank you so much for seeing and appreciating that Megan.
I loved loved loved Calvino's Black Sheep which I just discovered thanks to you 🖤
I've known Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle for a long time and I still can't describe what it did to me. Reading it molecularly changed me—a small equivalent to a spiritual awakening, but a slightly more literary one.
I haven’t cried more reading a book than his collection One Long River of Song.
I know Calvino is already v famous amongst us literary folks but I'm always surprised he isn't having a moment like say Kafka...maybe we can make that happen?
Yes! We need to speak more about him! I discovered the Cosmicomics last year only because I was intrigued by the cover picture on Pinterest. I don't understand why he's not everywhere. Maybe he had an unworthiness wound that kept his radiance dimmed, who knows. Nothing Substack can't overturn ;)
I love your way with words, Camille!
Oh wow. Thanks. (Except the DFW story, which is tiresome!) I look forward to exploring so much of this guide - I appreciate the dedication and attention you took in compiling :)
Re: the DFW has got better experimental with heart! Yes, but also, sometimes so so so so long. Why not Barthelme instead? Who granted, yes, can also be tiring. But at least it’s quick! Except his short story Rebecca! (Quick, but not tiring!) Rebecca is what I read when I want to be challenged and inspired.
Now I’m feeling guilty for bad mouthing The Depressed Person. Can I confess I was a bad friend to a depressed person and the story is unbearable in its reminder?
Haha I resonate w this sentiment and have been there myself. The story really is unsettling. And I quite like Barthelme too but haven’t read him as much as I have Wallace, something I’ll correct in this lifetime.
My friend I feel you here and also your subsequent replies. DFW is painful to read sometimes because he reveals the darkest tendencies within us. And I have been both the depressed person and the friend of the depressed person...so...double whammy hah
The "Strange Pilgrims" list matches my own tastes!
A remark, too, about the Albert Camus work that was listed. That was "The Myth of Sysiphus"? I think it was.
If that A. Camus long essay is the one I am thinking it is, I'd also mention that I think American psychologist-writer William James wrote a shorter essay, himself, that treats a similar theme.
The William James essay is called, I believe:
"Is Life Worth Living?"
I might recall the title of that essay wrongly, but it was part of James's book "The Will To Believe And Other Essays In Popular Philosophy."
That book is also available in one of Library of America's two volumes of collected William James works.
I have so far read the William James essay at least twice, myself.
Thank you Jeff and yes this is that essay indeed. Thank you for recommending in turn that piece by James. You've got the title correct, I think. Very excited to dive into this.
SO jazzed to see someone honoring the absolute genius of Gregory Alan Isakov🥲
Oh the walls of our apartment are so familiar with every song Isakov has ever released. We love his music. We try not not use the word genius carelessly, but he certainly deserves it.
That he most certainly does!!
Isakov is our ride or die and our daughter even knows most of his lyrics now (though she confuses him with Leonard Cohen sometimes! lol)
Excellent. Many thanks for compiling this.
Thank you very much Gary 💙
Fantastic curation work Shannan and Karan. Hats.
P.S.: I don't know if it is only me, but there's so much good stuff in here, that I end up clicking one link and missing all the rest.
For me, shorter lists and a clear thread - theme pulling such rich editions under one umbrella would be a dream come true. Otherwise I get lost and find hard to navigate and explore all of these hand-picked little treasures.
N.B.: Don't listen to me. Keep up this great work!
Thank you Robin! And I totally do feel what you're saying here. Tbh we mulled over it a lot, how best to organize everything here....and we thought, you know what, for starters let's just do a part one with a bit of everything as neatly laid out as possible just to see the response....and then we can dive into more specifics later on. So that was the process/decision behind it...but now seeing all the excitement for this, we do intend to do something on a more granular level soon! 💙
Wow! The scope of this is impressive, and I so appreciate the curation. These lists are mouth-watering.
Thank you for seeing that Jan, it truly means a fuck ton 💙
It had to have taken a fuck ton of work!
It did 😭
Well-thought out and informative! I feel like I want to be more intentional about what I consume visually...instead of just scrolling or randomly deciding by what's available. I appreciate this so much.
Thank you Ashley! This was our exact intention....to help contribute towards a more conscious digital experience 💙
Wonderful!
Thank you so much Cheryl! 💙
You had my at JRR Tolkien. The rest was an amazing bonus of content that will take me months to happily get through. This is amazing list!!
Sometimes I wish Tolkien was my grandfather but I guess in a way he is...all of ours