62 Comments
Apr 28Liked by Terry Freedman

Taken me too long to see this! Thanks so much for reviewing THE NOTEBOOK so thoroughly – I'm delighted that you enjoyed it, it's this kind of write-up that makes the grind worthwhile.

I think you must have had an early proof as in my working copy Victor Klemperer definitely appears and makes it into the (wonderful) index, too.

Oulipo nearly ended up on the cutting-room floor! I had to twist my editor's arm to retain that little connection. Would love to do a deep dive into Queneau's notebooks one day.

Anyway, thank you again!

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Thanks very much, Roly. I'm gutted that I made such a mistake. I've no idea how that happened. I've inserted a correction and apology, and will reiterate it in my next Start the Week. Thank you regarding arm-twisting! A deep dive into Queneau's nptebooks would be brilliant.

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Oh, I'm so happy to be catching up with my Substack reads and see this! I love seeing the photo of the two of you, and glad that the four of you got along so well! What fun! 💜

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Thanks very much, Sue. Yes, it was so nice that we all got on so well 😃

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A good read.

I burst out laughing when I saw your artwork!

Can't wait to hear Rebecca's extended version of your meeting.

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😂 Thanks Matthew. I'm not sure I share your enthusiasm 🤔😱

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I love your story of being emotionally traumatized by that woman's emergency and need to hire a private helicopter! It is an interesting cultural phenom that we all just talk away at any time, on the phone or in a meeting. It's very weird.

How lovely you and Rebecca met in person! I recently had the same experience where I met Renee Eli, a fellow Substack writer who has become a good friend. I was quite nervous going in, it felt like online dating to me except I have never been on an online date! We enjoyed it very much and became fast friends. I fantastic pic of the two of you!

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Weird it is! Thanks, Donna. Yes, it was nice that they let Rebecca out for the day. How wonderful that you and Renee are now such good friends!

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⭐️

A kind of Oulipian

read

in a plug-n-play sort of way:

The author is to be commended on providing such a rich and fascinating reading experience.

I have a confession. I’m not especially interested in

meeting up with

people.

I was slightly nervous.

I need not have worried. We instantly clicked and it was smiles all round.

For example, I was delighted to discover that

apparently he was a keen advocate of

persiflage!

Time was spent laughing.

We had

great

fun.

It was a joy.

⭐️

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Very good, Rebecca. I didn't realise you were nervous. I do have that effect on people. It's my teacher look, it silences everyone instantly

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Thanks, Terry - I thought you'd appreciate my Oulipian twist there.

In my own words, though - rather than exclusively those which I'd half-inched from your post - thank you for a really lovely day. Because it WAS a joy.

Thank you too for your very kind words and links to my newsletter!

I'm going to take a closer look at 'The Notebook', and shall endeavour to use 'lucubration' in any and all contexts I deem it to be appropriate, whether or not those be actually related to its definition.

Thank you for reminding me of f being used for s in old texts. I am sure you remember that wonderful scene in 'The Vicar of Dibley' when Alice Tinker was tasked with reading a passage from an ancient edition of the Bible - have a look (it's only 46 seconds but you'll laugh for at least that long, and more): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UySOpb64yc

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"endeavour to use 'lucubration' in any and all contexts I deem it to be appropriate, whether or not those be actually related to its definition." Lol .

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Brilliant! I hadn't seen that before. When I was writing the post I was looking for a TV play I saw in which all the S's were pronounced as f. So they said things like filly fod 😂

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Oct 10, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Lucubrations. What a word. I won't lie, I had to google it.

Correfpondant sounds as though it's written with a lisp. I like it.

Jolly good read as always, Terry. Great to see that you got to hang out with Rebecca.

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Me too, Nathan. Stand by for further use of it in my articles. It's too good a word not to. Thanks for kind words. yes, it was a great day, even the weather co-operated

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We should all try to use that word in our next post🤣 I definitely had to google it too.

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😂 Definitely

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Oct 10, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Hehe great idea!

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😂

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So did I, great word.

Also, I find most things said with a lisp become more palatable 😊

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LOL

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Oct 10, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Hehe, they do! ☺️

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😂

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Oct 9, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

I need to move to England to have access to people like Rebecca and Terry. My neighbors and friends pale in wit and charm in comparison. And I love learning new words like lucubration: "a piece of writing, typically a pedantic or overelaborate one" -- apparently a noun I can still aptly use today! Thanks for a fine Start of the Week, including the persiflage.

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Thanks, Sharron. I thought it was a special reduced persiflage edition. "Only 10% Persiflage"

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Oct 10, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Persiflage Lite?

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😁 quite so!

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I share your wonder that a snarky comment written 240 years ago can still bring a chuckle today. Such is the beauty of the written word.

I have tried Finnegans Wake a couple of times. At first it was fascinating and fun but eventually got frustrated when I realized I had no idea in hell what was going on. I have recently read a couple of interpretations that were plausible, so I may give it another try.

It was nice to see you and Rebecca together. I'm looking forward to her take on the meet-up.

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I'm not sure I can be bothered with Finnegan's wake tbh. Life's too short 😂

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340 in fact! 😂 it kind of puts on us, humble as we may be, a bit of responsibility I think, even though we won't be here to see the long term effects

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P.S. I just shared your Dubliners quote with my nerdy book club. One member says:

"If Dubliners is the appetizer than maybe Finnegan's Wake is that point in the meal when you've already had multiple delicious courses, and you're starting to feel pretty full and then the waiters bring out an entire roast pig for you and your three friends."

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😂😂😂 Wonderful!

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This whole post is delightful! Thank you for the mention, Terry. I'm glad the IRL meeting with Rebecca went smoothly. I get nervous (and actively refuse) to meet some (mostly famous) writers I admire because I don't want our encounter to affect whatever image I have in my head -- or, perhaps more accurately and selfishly, whatever relationship I've developed to their writing. You never know! "Love is Blind" teaches us a similar lesson. (Did I just reference a reality TV show? Yes, yes I did.)

The idea of appetizers is also lovely. I'm realizing I think similarly about some books! One of my favorite contemporary novels, for example, "Sweetbitter", has always felt to me like an appetizer to Salter's "A Sport and a Pastime." You can tell the former was at least partially inspired by the prose of the latter.

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It's so funny, isn't it, about how a potential meeting with a person of whom you already have an image in your head might negatively affect that impression you've already got of them? I've met some people who have totally surprised me. An fabulous actor whose work I really admire was utterly unlike 🙄 my preconceptions of him and a TV personality of whom I'd never thought of as anything other than 'meh' was THE most gorgeously charming 🤩 person I've ever met - in a stellar field which INCLUDES my Dad, my husband and, yes, Terry. That'll teach me to judge people in advance! 🤣

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What?! You had (negative)preconceptions of me? I am cut to the quick. I am compelled to associate with the lowest types of humanity.

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That is NOT what I said at all! I quote: '...might negatively affect that impression...'

What's more, I even rated you as being 'in a stellar field which includes my Dad and my husband'! 🙄

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It is!! Some people surprise and delight you in the best ways. I guess the lesson is, let yourself be pleasantly surprised and never meet your idols.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Author

As it happens, I think you are brilliant too. I have a question for you, O literary one: Have you read any Derrida?

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Author

Exactly! Except that had I followed that advice I wouldn't have met up with Rebecca, who I think is brilliant!

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I'm not acquainted with those books. Worth reading?

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Most definitely! You'd especially like Salter. Stephanie Danler, the author of Sweetbitter, has a lovely Substack here. "Write What."

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Thanks for the recommendation, I will have a look

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"I... actively refuse) to meet some (mostly famous) writers I admire ... " so you never want to meet me then? 😨

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Precisely. I'm sorry to break it to you, Terry!

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You're not familiar with the concept of breaking things gently, are you, Alicia

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Should one day I find myself in London, I'll consider making an exception. ;)

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😍

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The suspense, Terry! I had to be really disciplined to read conscientiously each paragraph and references and not just rush to the end! So happy it went well for all 4 of you! Also enjoyed the humorous sentence that shows some wit can withstand the passing of time.

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😂 thanks, Mya

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I am so very happy that you, your wife, Rebecca and her husband all had a marvellous time together. :).

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Thanks Olga. Yes, it was lovely 😃

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I remember when mobile phones first came out - there was a gentleman at the airport talking very loudly and ‘importantly’ into his mobile, when suddenly it rang! He looked very embarrassed and we all cracked up. (I’m sure Sebastian made it back to school in good time.)

A lovely mix of topics. Of course my favourite was getting another glimpse into your meeting with Rebecca. Thankfully all accounts seem to indicate that a good time was had by all. I’m so glad.

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LOL, Beth - it's soooo funny when that happens! 🤣

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Lol re phone 😂. Thanks for kind words, Beth

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You're wild, Terry! That book looks great. I need to move myself to England to have access to better libraries.

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Wild: 😂 You must! 😃

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Lol.

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Ooh, thanks, Claire 😃

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