As a 60 y.o. who’s worked in cafes and small shops for the last ten years, I’m one of the “youngly late-middle-aged,” I guess! Indeed I have found myself consistently surprised to learn that all my coworkers and bosses are younger than me, if only because 12 years of living in Paris have left an indelible sense of hierarchy (or convenient dissonance?) upon my perception of age and rank — yes, I see my bosses as older than me because they’re accomplished and in charge, and yes, I perceive my coworkers as about the same age as me because they’re just as broke and financially precarious as I am. Age might just be more of a financial construct than we think. Even with health considerations — I’m healthier than a lot of people younger than me, even if they have better eyes and feet than me. So, I’ll love reading about your older deli-workers and artists without children and homes.
Anyway, you’ve inspired me to re-read Persuasion again. Thank you!
I loved your Vuong review. Generally, I jump to when I see your criticism. Such a pleasure, and actual new things to think about.
And now I'm almost done reading Filthy Animals. Wonderful, enviable. Sorry to go all fan on you, but there was this blank rectangle here and I gave in to temptation.
Hey! My copy of Bookforum came yesterday and I quite liked the Vuong review. I thought you did a really precise job with the strengths and weaknesses of that book, and that writer, and we could probably all use more reviews that aren't binary thumbs up/down, but that describe what the writer is doind and how they are doing it.
I believe I have your new novel pre-ordered on Amazon and await its arrival. Also, thanks to the amazing DOC Films at the University of Chicago, four Rohmer movies loom in my immediate future. Thank you for MBF which seems written just for 75 year old me.
They are such perfect summer movies. I always put one on this time of year and just vibe out in those beautiful apartments as those beautiful people do weird things to each other.
Rohmer has so many movies! It’s hard for me to keep going with them after the moral tales and the four seasons. I loved reading his moral tales along with the movies—-some of the tales are better but mostly the movies are better. There’s something about the visuals of late 60’s/early 70’s France in Night At Maud’s and Love in the Afternoon that can’t be captured in his language in the short stories.
Amen to that whole last part. It is wild how for Millennials specifically, the whole concept of age has become entirely decoupled from how long we’ve been on the planet and is instead subject to external categorization based on what people think of, like, our life philosophies or worthiness. In a way I think it won’t be until we are the oldest people alive that we’re all viewed as solidly adult. (Though of course you are very poignantly right about the marriage and kids bit too.)
The Ocean Vuong review was enough for me to be mildly interested in the book so in that sense it succeeded. (At least it persuaded me that this would be a very good story for some other writer.)
It is certainly sentimental, but in a weird way. Like a half-hearted sentimentality because it couldn't muster sufficient realism to actually conjure the horrors of war.
wondering about how often “young” is a euphemism for “not rich” in a way that preserves the idea that we all become rich eventually
You snapped on that.
As a 60 y.o. who’s worked in cafes and small shops for the last ten years, I’m one of the “youngly late-middle-aged,” I guess! Indeed I have found myself consistently surprised to learn that all my coworkers and bosses are younger than me, if only because 12 years of living in Paris have left an indelible sense of hierarchy (or convenient dissonance?) upon my perception of age and rank — yes, I see my bosses as older than me because they’re accomplished and in charge, and yes, I perceive my coworkers as about the same age as me because they’re just as broke and financially precarious as I am. Age might just be more of a financial construct than we think. Even with health considerations — I’m healthier than a lot of people younger than me, even if they have better eyes and feet than me. So, I’ll love reading about your older deli-workers and artists without children and homes.
Anyway, you’ve inspired me to re-read Persuasion again. Thank you!
if I got a negative brandon taylor review I would be like 'I made it' because I GOT a brandon taylor REVIEW people need to calm down
A lovely piece, Brandon, as always. I enjoyed your review and the review of your book as well. I look forward to reading MBF.
I loved your Vuong review. Generally, I jump to when I see your criticism. Such a pleasure, and actual new things to think about.
And now I'm almost done reading Filthy Animals. Wonderful, enviable. Sorry to go all fan on you, but there was this blank rectangle here and I gave in to temptation.
And here I will pounce as double fan girl. Ditto what Pamela said re: your criticism. And @pamela I loved Eleven Hours!
Thank you, Lynda!
Hey! My copy of Bookforum came yesterday and I quite liked the Vuong review. I thought you did a really precise job with the strengths and weaknesses of that book, and that writer, and we could probably all use more reviews that aren't binary thumbs up/down, but that describe what the writer is doind and how they are doing it.
And Persuasion forever.
FOREVER
I believe I have your new novel pre-ordered on Amazon and await its arrival. Also, thanks to the amazing DOC Films at the University of Chicago, four Rohmer movies loom in my immediate future. Thank you for MBF which seems written just for 75 year old me.
They are such perfect summer movies. I always put one on this time of year and just vibe out in those beautiful apartments as those beautiful people do weird things to each other.
Rohmer has so many movies! It’s hard for me to keep going with them after the moral tales and the four seasons. I loved reading his moral tales along with the movies—-some of the tales are better but mostly the movies are better. There’s something about the visuals of late 60’s/early 70’s France in Night At Maud’s and Love in the Afternoon that can’t be captured in his language in the short stories.
I recently read Persuasion for the first time and loved your introduction excerpt!
Persuasion is the only Austen novel I’ve yet to read. Now I have an extra incentive! Congratulations on the Kirkus starred review! ⭐️
I really appreciate your comments about character dignity in your review of TEoG. Such a thoughtful review xx
I thought "youngly middle-aged" was going to refer to Anne Elliot!
Unfortunately, yet another way I relate to her, haha.
Love it. Yes it is absolutely about class.
You are like a grumpy Henry James of our times - but one who appreciates Austen so better. 😊
Amen to that whole last part. It is wild how for Millennials specifically, the whole concept of age has become entirely decoupled from how long we’ve been on the planet and is instead subject to external categorization based on what people think of, like, our life philosophies or worthiness. In a way I think it won’t be until we are the oldest people alive that we’re all viewed as solidly adult. (Though of course you are very poignantly right about the marriage and kids bit too.)
Soooooo true. @___@
I really enjoyed your review of The Emperor of Gladness. It gave me a lot to think about as someone not much formally trained in fiction writing.
Then I feel like I did my job!
The Ocean Vuong review was enough for me to be mildly interested in the book so in that sense it succeeded. (At least it persuaded me that this would be a very good story for some other writer.)
But if someone else had written it I would think that WWII refugees had been done enough times that the premise was very ripe for sentimentality.
It is certainly sentimental, but in a weird way. Like a half-hearted sentimentality because it couldn't muster sufficient realism to actually conjure the horrors of war.
I am hoping you might expand on your excellent summary of the importance and capaciousness of point of view in another episode of story basics.
Wonderful Brandon. I need a new copy of Persuasion, just to get your introduction. Lovely.