The ripples in this place are amazing, connecting us all, finding ways to align with the folk we chime with. Love it. Welcome back … so glad you have found the capacity to get back into your community.
It's an ongoing struggle against burn-out sometimes! Funnily enough, I'm also now reading Count of Monte Cristo for the umpteenth time. Here's to continued connections and finishing our books. 35k words is nothing to sneeze at. Thank you for the mention, Annette. I'm glad you're back.
Here’s to plodding toward our literary goals - forward is forward - without breaking ourselves in the meantime! I reread Emma during one of the covid lockdowns and was suprised to discover that much of what people think of Mr Woodhouse is wrong. He’s clearly got one of the dementias. Emma’s anxious supervision, her inability to leave home for more than an hour or two, her ability to redirect his anxieties, and Mr Knightley’s gentleness and willingness to move in with Emma to help her face the hard times ahead are all very different in my mid 50s than they were at 20 when I read Emma first and loved her for her cringy imperfections. I hope we do meet up over a coffee sometime 🫶 The connections with interesting minds and writers is definitely the glue of substack!
It certainly is. As for Austen, I’d love to write an article or discuss dysfunction in Jane Austen’s novels. When I read them now, it seems to scream at me, which makes me wonder what Jane Austen herself experienced.
So many wonderful connections here Annette. It can be easy to burnout. I am glad I took a break in the summer, it allowed me to come back rejuvenated. I love the writing but for me, a true introvert, the connections here are so valuable. Many of the folks you have mentioned have been integral in my own experience here as well.
Substack is exhausting! There are so many worlds to explore, so many good thoughts. I am constantly amazed at others' output. Substack: where the introverts become extroverts.
A lovely post, Annette! I relate to not being a people person and how that shapes your relationship with this space. I am a quiet, introverted, reclusive person – and here I am hosting these massive sprawling slow reads with thousands of people. What am I doing! I must be nuts. I think there are a lot of us doing a similar thing: finding themselves a little beyond their confort zone but valuing the connections and community.
As for Cromwell, we will see! Mantel's writing gets under your skin. He's not really the hero of her story, more like a version of yourself emerging from the page. It's hard to explain, but it is well worth the journey.
I am very intrigued by Mantel's writing - her portrayal of Cromwell himself and the techniques she uses to achieve it.
From what you have done with Footnotes and Tangents reveals how people crave meaningful connection over meaningful things. Introverted, reclusive people (who are usually 'introverted' and 'reclusive' for good reason) have a special role to play here.
Welcome back, Annettte. Arya welcomes you back, too. I must say that whatever insights I do provide, it is my feathered companion who is the inspiration to the words.
Tomatoes are a staple here in our household. We eat them in so many meals and also raw. Who could understand food allergies?I am no expert by any mean s, but I would not discount Stress as one major factor. Our minds and bodies are connected, much in the same way we humans are to Nature. Break this connection and poor health sets in. In my case, this is true.
Oh, and I do understand about not being a people person and yet being talktative and enjoying the conversation. There is a pull to engage, but then there is a need to rest. For me, it has much to do with the need to avoid the noise of controversary and this is where Nature and her soothing sounds are the balm to my tired soul.
The mind-body connection is fascinating, and one wonders why it is not better addressed by the medical professions. I have found naturopaths so helpful. And regarding food allergies, particularly peanut allergies because they have become so widespread in recent years, I would like to know the correlation between the rise of such allergies and farming techniques/genetic modification. Who had peanut allergies when we were growing up? No one!
I'm very glad you persisted in reading Comte de Monte Cristo, I'm reading it en francais and loving it, and re-reading some French medieval literature along with it. It is fascinating how much Dumas drew upon the literary heritage of France.
But as to my essays I'm very happy you and your son enjoy them, I'll have to be sure to type up a new essay for tomorrow just for you!
I wish my French was good enough to read it in its original language. I read an English translation from 1846 and found the prose rather like the very heavy antique furniture of the period.
Dumas is dangerously rich in literary allusion, which makes reading his work quite overwhelming. I guess I'll read it again sometime, thanks to the Substack Dumas fans.
The ripples in this place are amazing, connecting us all, finding ways to align with the folk we chime with. Love it. Welcome back … so glad you have found the capacity to get back into your community.
Thank you. Yes, it's quite extraordinary and so exciting. Thank you for your encouragement!
💛🤗💛
It's an ongoing struggle against burn-out sometimes! Funnily enough, I'm also now reading Count of Monte Cristo for the umpteenth time. Here's to continued connections and finishing our books. 35k words is nothing to sneeze at. Thank you for the mention, Annette. I'm glad you're back.
Here’s to plodding toward our literary goals - forward is forward - without breaking ourselves in the meantime! I reread Emma during one of the covid lockdowns and was suprised to discover that much of what people think of Mr Woodhouse is wrong. He’s clearly got one of the dementias. Emma’s anxious supervision, her inability to leave home for more than an hour or two, her ability to redirect his anxieties, and Mr Knightley’s gentleness and willingness to move in with Emma to help her face the hard times ahead are all very different in my mid 50s than they were at 20 when I read Emma first and loved her for her cringy imperfections. I hope we do meet up over a coffee sometime 🫶 The connections with interesting minds and writers is definitely the glue of substack!
It certainly is. As for Austen, I’d love to write an article or discuss dysfunction in Jane Austen’s novels. When I read them now, it seems to scream at me, which makes me wonder what Jane Austen herself experienced.
And yes, let's do coffee sometime! I'm in Newcastle. Whereabouts are you?
So many wonderful connections here Annette. It can be easy to burnout. I am glad I took a break in the summer, it allowed me to come back rejuvenated. I love the writing but for me, a true introvert, the connections here are so valuable. Many of the folks you have mentioned have been integral in my own experience here as well.
Substack is exhausting! There are so many worlds to explore, so many good thoughts. I am constantly amazed at others' output. Substack: where the introverts become extroverts.
A lovely post, Annette! I relate to not being a people person and how that shapes your relationship with this space. I am a quiet, introverted, reclusive person – and here I am hosting these massive sprawling slow reads with thousands of people. What am I doing! I must be nuts. I think there are a lot of us doing a similar thing: finding themselves a little beyond their confort zone but valuing the connections and community.
As for Cromwell, we will see! Mantel's writing gets under your skin. He's not really the hero of her story, more like a version of yourself emerging from the page. It's hard to explain, but it is well worth the journey.
I am very intrigued by Mantel's writing - her portrayal of Cromwell himself and the techniques she uses to achieve it.
From what you have done with Footnotes and Tangents reveals how people crave meaningful connection over meaningful things. Introverted, reclusive people (who are usually 'introverted' and 'reclusive' for good reason) have a special role to play here.
And yes, it's total, utter madness.
Welcome back, Annettte. Arya welcomes you back, too. I must say that whatever insights I do provide, it is my feathered companion who is the inspiration to the words.
Tomatoes are a staple here in our household. We eat them in so many meals and also raw. Who could understand food allergies?I am no expert by any mean s, but I would not discount Stress as one major factor. Our minds and bodies are connected, much in the same way we humans are to Nature. Break this connection and poor health sets in. In my case, this is true.
Oh, and I do understand about not being a people person and yet being talktative and enjoying the conversation. There is a pull to engage, but then there is a need to rest. For me, it has much to do with the need to avoid the noise of controversary and this is where Nature and her soothing sounds are the balm to my tired soul.
The mind-body connection is fascinating, and one wonders why it is not better addressed by the medical professions. I have found naturopaths so helpful. And regarding food allergies, particularly peanut allergies because they have become so widespread in recent years, I would like to know the correlation between the rise of such allergies and farming techniques/genetic modification. Who had peanut allergies when we were growing up? No one!
Stay rested, Perry!
I'm very glad you persisted in reading Comte de Monte Cristo, I'm reading it en francais and loving it, and re-reading some French medieval literature along with it. It is fascinating how much Dumas drew upon the literary heritage of France.
But as to my essays I'm very happy you and your son enjoy them, I'll have to be sure to type up a new essay for tomorrow just for you!
I wish my French was good enough to read it in its original language. I read an English translation from 1846 and found the prose rather like the very heavy antique furniture of the period.
Dumas is dangerously rich in literary allusion, which makes reading his work quite overwhelming. I guess I'll read it again sometime, thanks to the Substack Dumas fans.
What French medieval literature are you reading?
And I will look out for that new essay of yours!
I get that, I found a LOTR translation and have found it monstrously dull in French where it is rich in English. I suppose Dumas is like that.
I love Dumas, en français il est si merveilleux.
As to the story it is le Chanson de Roland, the Song of Roland. I love it.
I read le Chanson de Roland when I studied mediaeval history. Loved it!
I even might try reading Dumas in French and really stretch myself.
I really cannot recommend his work enough in Francais, and yeah I love Roland.