The city that lives in my body is Bombay and even though there are many "popular" Bombay books, I encountered my Bombay is the underrated Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale.
Hey! Thank you! Looking into Milk Teeth and thank you so much for telling me about the Savaş story in Granta! I had not seen it until you shared. She is incredible, isn't she?!
I haven’t read her novels yet, but I did like how this piece carefully works through something unresolved without trying to tie it up. and, while Milk Teeth is well-written, I do wonder if it would resonate as much with someone who hasn't lived through that moment in Bombay—but if you do end up reading it, I would be so curious to know!
Also, I did end up visiting Faulkner House last month and showed Joanne your piece. She was in the middle of doing a hundred things, gave it a quick look, and said she doesn’t really read “these things”, which I assume meant anything online. Though she did seem faintly amused by it (or maybe I'm overinterpreting) :D
What a great idea for a series! I love knowing what makes writers tick! I was so pleased to see Grace Paley's collection on Emma's list ❤️ I read (and wrote an essay about) Mechado's short story 'The Husband Stitch' from 'My Body and Other Parties' and it blew me away. I have never really stopped thiking about it honestly...
I love that Emma shared an ASPIRATIONAL inspiration as well. I think it's so important to claim our own intellectual lineage - as writers but as readers, too.
Finding a place to swim at every stop on the Fat Swim tour is genius--and I'm sure it brings Emma a lot of pleasure/relief/whatever else swimming brings. (Not being a jerk--I just hate water, so it's hard for me to imagine!)
so excited for this new series! Source Materials - what a great concept. The attention and care you put towards reading is inspiring Petya! I just read Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, and it was one of those books that I know I will keep returning to. Have never heard of it or Grace Paley before picking it up in a used bookstore. Seeing it mentioned here feels extra serendipitous.
Oh, I love it when that happens! I had vaguely heard of Grace Paley but never read her until Kate Jones wrote about her on her substack not too long ago. How fun to have discovered her work on your own!!! This is Kate's post on The Long-Distance Runner.
I love the idea of aspirational inspiration and intellectual lineage. Made me wonder if that guides our reading lives or are there things we latch onto as we read and construct our intellectual lineage. A type of noticing.
To answer your first question addressing the new to me word auriatic, it would have to be To the Lighthouse. Definitely a book I was able to inhabit, and can still feel it when I think about it.
And your second question, I loved stepping into Houston in Lott though it was different from the Houston I know. Washington made it familiar. Regarding No One Belongs Here More Than Me had a cinematic quality. I don’t know if it’s the way she draws perspective which allows the reader to watch the story as we read the pages. Very different from Lott style wise.
As always thanks for writing such a stimulating post today.
Yess I love this new series!! Aura is SUCH an interesting concept and that is exactly what AI-generated writing does *not* have. I just finished The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley which was brilliant and singularly itself, and also really brought out the feeling of living in London, particularly the meandering conversations in the pub.
Your questions are stunning. Still pondering them! I can answer one now:The city that lives in me is New York City. Never mind how long I have lived in a rural part of the state; the town of Manhattan and its neighboring Brooklyn are in me forever.
A book that comes to my mind in this context is "Tone" by Sofia Samatar and Kate Zambreno. I read it about six weeks ago and its aura–similar to the book‘s theme, tone!?–has weirdly lingered and keeps drawing me back in.
The two authors have a question: "what is tone?" and then they embark on its exploration together. They feel "it could not be undertaken alone“ because tone is "something like a collective mood."
I have since read a book (and ordered another) that the authors mention in Tone, and it has inspired two essays I‘m currently working on.
I love when my faves team up!!!!!
Thank you! You were, of course, right that I would love the book!!!
What great questions...Excited for the next one!
The city that lives in my body is Bombay and even though there are many "popular" Bombay books, I encountered my Bombay is the underrated Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale.
Also, you've probably read this, but I read it because of your love of Savaş: https://granta.com/dark-hole
Hey! Thank you! Looking into Milk Teeth and thank you so much for telling me about the Savaş story in Granta! I had not seen it until you shared. She is incredible, isn't she?!
I haven’t read her novels yet, but I did like how this piece carefully works through something unresolved without trying to tie it up. and, while Milk Teeth is well-written, I do wonder if it would resonate as much with someone who hasn't lived through that moment in Bombay—but if you do end up reading it, I would be so curious to know!
Also, I did end up visiting Faulkner House last month and showed Joanne your piece. She was in the middle of doing a hundred things, gave it a quick look, and said she doesn’t really read “these things”, which I assume meant anything online. Though she did seem faintly amused by it (or maybe I'm overinterpreting) :D
What a great idea for a series! I love knowing what makes writers tick! I was so pleased to see Grace Paley's collection on Emma's list ❤️ I read (and wrote an essay about) Mechado's short story 'The Husband Stitch' from 'My Body and Other Parties' and it blew me away. I have never really stopped thiking about it honestly...
I love that Emma shared an ASPIRATIONAL inspiration as well. I think it's so important to claim our own intellectual lineage - as writers but as readers, too.
Finding a place to swim at every stop on the Fat Swim tour is genius--and I'm sure it brings Emma a lot of pleasure/relief/whatever else swimming brings. (Not being a jerk--I just hate water, so it's hard for me to imagine!)
My husband is a runner and it's his favorite way to explore a new city. I WISH I could, too. Or swim, like Emma.
so excited for this new series! Source Materials - what a great concept. The attention and care you put towards reading is inspiring Petya! I just read Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, and it was one of those books that I know I will keep returning to. Have never heard of it or Grace Paley before picking it up in a used bookstore. Seeing it mentioned here feels extra serendipitous.
Oh, I love it when that happens! I had vaguely heard of Grace Paley but never read her until Kate Jones wrote about her on her substack not too long ago. How fun to have discovered her work on your own!!! This is Kate's post on The Long-Distance Runner.
https://anarrativeoftheirown.substack.com/p/short-story-salon-3
I love the idea of aspirational inspiration and intellectual lineage. Made me wonder if that guides our reading lives or are there things we latch onto as we read and construct our intellectual lineage. A type of noticing.
To answer your first question addressing the new to me word auriatic, it would have to be To the Lighthouse. Definitely a book I was able to inhabit, and can still feel it when I think about it.
And your second question, I loved stepping into Houston in Lott though it was different from the Houston I know. Washington made it familiar. Regarding No One Belongs Here More Than Me had a cinematic quality. I don’t know if it’s the way she draws perspective which allows the reader to watch the story as we read the pages. Very different from Lott style wise.
As always thanks for writing such a stimulating post today.
Yess I love this new series!! Aura is SUCH an interesting concept and that is exactly what AI-generated writing does *not* have. I just finished The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley which was brilliant and singularly itself, and also really brought out the feeling of living in London, particularly the meandering conversations in the pub.
Your questions are stunning. Still pondering them! I can answer one now:The city that lives in me is New York City. Never mind how long I have lived in a rural part of the state; the town of Manhattan and its neighboring Brooklyn are in me forever.
Oh what an exciting new project, Petya!
A book that comes to my mind in this context is "Tone" by Sofia Samatar and Kate Zambreno. I read it about six weeks ago and its aura–similar to the book‘s theme, tone!?–has weirdly lingered and keeps drawing me back in.
The two authors have a question: "what is tone?" and then they embark on its exploration together. They feel "it could not be undertaken alone“ because tone is "something like a collective mood."
I have since read a book (and ordered another) that the authors mention in Tone, and it has inspired two essays I‘m currently working on.