First time reader, Andrew. Stumbled across your post. Lucky me! You're a superb, highly entertaining writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your work. Many thanks!
PS: Quincy's always been among my very favorites, too....
I am definitely going to check out Greek Lessons after reading/listening to this uplifting essay. This one has moved up to my favorite of all my other favorite Andrew essays! I (as others have noted) especially appreciate your message of kindness and love as we move through the ups and downs of this human existence. Thank you for that, Andrew.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing this kind response. I’m glad the underlying message resonated with you. My inspiration came from Han Kang’s novel of course. But in the end that’s all that really matters in this all-too-brief visit to the pale blue dot we share with one another, isn’t it?
This was beautiful, Andrew. I love the way you weave so many things together in the rich tapestry it becomes. I hadn't planned on reading Geek Lessons, and now I plan to do so. I believe I read a short excerpt from it as a short story in The New Yorker a year or so ago, and it was enchanting. And then the way you weave in the political past and present, adding so much depth and texture. I too have been one who stays up all night for elections. How ecstatic I felt when Obama was elected, believing this was turning point for our nation toward the good and beautiful and true.
I too have been looking to the past to understand the present and put it into a wider perspective: We may be entering a new dark age. Or maybe something miraculous will happen to turn things around in an unexpected way. I keep thinking of that story I related in one of my essays about the monk dangling from a branch with tigers snapping at his head and heels. No escape. And how he reached for that ripe strawberry and savored its sweetness: O so delicious. I remind myself that's what matters now, and always, those sweet, savory moments in time. It sounds like the ending to Greek Lessons is also a reminder of this.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response, Deborah. I hope I haven’t oversold Greek Lessons. As you can tell, Kang’s novel really made a big impression on me. And, as I’ve said, it kept me rather sane during the election night hullaballoo.
Like you, I’m inclined to leave room for a “miracle” that might pull us back from the abyss. But if not, that story about the tiger and the strawberry is one I’ll try to keep in mind in the days ahead. I love that story too.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this essay, which meant so much to me personally, and for responding in such a meaningful way.
I think I will have to read Greek lessons. This was so heartfelt and beautifully told. I just love and appreciate the message of being kind to one another and cherishing the little moments. I hope you have a wonderful and cheery Thanksgiving.
Sometimes a small thing turns out to be a big thing. If you do read Kang’s novel, I hope you’ll find something of value in it. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughtful response. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving too.
Your brain amazes me--and your writing astounds. Are you SURE that 2017 manuscript isn't as brilliant as you thought it was? And the line about the way literary agents "review" the queries made me laugh out loud. (In that funny/not funny way cuz it's pretty much true.)
Where these connections come from is a mystery even to me. But after a friend told me about seeing an agent swipe away query after query, the Tinder thing was too obvious not to include. Glad you don’t mind the ramblings I send your way. As to that 2017 MS, it was only brilliant while I was writing it. Sometimes the inner critic knows best—but only after the thing is written, not during the writing process. Thanks so much, Diana, for reading and for your encouraging response.
First time reader, Andrew. Stumbled across your post. Lucky me! You're a superb, highly entertaining writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your work. Many thanks!
PS: Quincy's always been among my very favorites, too....
I am definitely going to check out Greek Lessons after reading/listening to this uplifting essay. This one has moved up to my favorite of all my other favorite Andrew essays! I (as others have noted) especially appreciate your message of kindness and love as we move through the ups and downs of this human existence. Thank you for that, Andrew.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing this kind response. I’m glad the underlying message resonated with you. My inspiration came from Han Kang’s novel of course. But in the end that’s all that really matters in this all-too-brief visit to the pale blue dot we share with one another, isn’t it?
This was beautiful, Andrew. I love the way you weave so many things together in the rich tapestry it becomes. I hadn't planned on reading Geek Lessons, and now I plan to do so. I believe I read a short excerpt from it as a short story in The New Yorker a year or so ago, and it was enchanting. And then the way you weave in the political past and present, adding so much depth and texture. I too have been one who stays up all night for elections. How ecstatic I felt when Obama was elected, believing this was turning point for our nation toward the good and beautiful and true.
I too have been looking to the past to understand the present and put it into a wider perspective: We may be entering a new dark age. Or maybe something miraculous will happen to turn things around in an unexpected way. I keep thinking of that story I related in one of my essays about the monk dangling from a branch with tigers snapping at his head and heels. No escape. And how he reached for that ripe strawberry and savored its sweetness: O so delicious. I remind myself that's what matters now, and always, those sweet, savory moments in time. It sounds like the ending to Greek Lessons is also a reminder of this.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response, Deborah. I hope I haven’t oversold Greek Lessons. As you can tell, Kang’s novel really made a big impression on me. And, as I’ve said, it kept me rather sane during the election night hullaballoo.
Like you, I’m inclined to leave room for a “miracle” that might pull us back from the abyss. But if not, that story about the tiger and the strawberry is one I’ll try to keep in mind in the days ahead. I love that story too.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this essay, which meant so much to me personally, and for responding in such a meaningful way.
Thanks! I needed this today.
Many thanks to you too. Glad to know you found it helpful.
I think I will have to read Greek lessons. This was so heartfelt and beautifully told. I just love and appreciate the message of being kind to one another and cherishing the little moments. I hope you have a wonderful and cheery Thanksgiving.
Sometimes a small thing turns out to be a big thing. If you do read Kang’s novel, I hope you’ll find something of value in it. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughtful response. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving too.
Thank you kindly Andrew. And that’s why we can’t overlook the little things. Cheers to you on this Thanksgiving day ❤️
Your brain amazes me--and your writing astounds. Are you SURE that 2017 manuscript isn't as brilliant as you thought it was? And the line about the way literary agents "review" the queries made me laugh out loud. (In that funny/not funny way cuz it's pretty much true.)
Where these connections come from is a mystery even to me. But after a friend told me about seeing an agent swipe away query after query, the Tinder thing was too obvious not to include. Glad you don’t mind the ramblings I send your way. As to that 2017 MS, it was only brilliant while I was writing it. Sometimes the inner critic knows best—but only after the thing is written, not during the writing process. Thanks so much, Diana, for reading and for your encouraging response.
Thanks for trying to buoy folk up in this very dark time.
Thanks to you too, my friend. I did it for myself too! Always good to hear from you!