As a corrective to that soupcon (sorry, cedille) of Baudelaire's "Mon Coeur Mis a (sorry, accent grave) Nu", may I recommend a ride on the back of a motorcycle? Keep up the good writing.--ClarkAArdvark@gmail.com
Sep 24, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
Saw a presentation of one of her books in Rome and have heard of her, but I never actually did read her - your enthusiasm will help me getting more curious !
Being a French man I had fun and pleasure reading you... Now. I live in Rome in front of the Isola Tiberina (not really the wood I would say?) and took the Italian citizenship.
I feel much more elegant and more intelligent since then.
So jealous in any case! By the way, have you read any Jhumpa Lahiri? She’s an Indian American author who left the US to live in Rome. She’s started writing in Italian and translating her work back to English. It’s multiplied my love of her prose.
I LOVE her work, especially The Last and Final Continent. I read her book on translation: very interesting. At the moment I'm reading a book of Italian short stories, edited by her. Until now I assumed it was my newsletter that had multiplied your love of prose.
Lovely! Youth is wasted without dances in blind alleys. It's no wonder that come middle age, we wrestle with pragmatism the way Jacob wrestled with his angel.
Sep 15, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
I lived once upon a time à Paris... I know too well l'amour en français of which you speak chère Alicia, and it's even more rich, intoxicating, and painful when you live it in Paris. He took me to his parents' house in the South of France, I took him to see my grandparents in Central Europe... he followed me back to the US and I... well let's just say some stories were never meant for pixels in a comment field...
Sep 15, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
Well Terry, you've got some work to do to rectify that—oh wait, you already live in one yourself (!!). The three of us should have lunch in one of those two-letter places.
Alicia, I love DC. Next time I find myself traveling there will let you know!
Sep 15, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
All this heartache is simply training for the main event. As you mentioned, when you find the person you align with on the BIG ideas -- like religion, money, and kids -- the rest quickly falls in place.
Sep 14, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
I call Alicia "the voice" and wait for every post by her, especially the dating history--and she's an expert on underwear and poetry -- gotta love her.
"He struggled with his career and keeping his phone charged": one of several examples of bathos that makes this article so warm because of the gentle humour.
Thank you so much Terry. Love that title (and the music)! There’s no place like Paris. Although, similar to Salter, I think I’m more in love with the myth of the city than its reality. I’m a French countryside gal.
I know what you mean, Alicia. It's like being in love with being in love. Do you like Invisible Cities? That, I find, is very magical. I think you are one of the finest writers I've ever come across, one of the few whose books, if there was one, I would buy sight unseen
Sep 14, 2023Liked by Alicia Kenworthy, Terry Freedman
I believe that updraft comes from the lovely way in which you stirred the physical and philosophical details in with the emotional content. Like spicing food while cooking it. Matters of the heart require all the senses to be in tandem with all the thoughts. Oh, and the perspective of time passing also essentially flavors this fabulous stew. Good work!
As a corrective to that soupcon (sorry, cedille) of Baudelaire's "Mon Coeur Mis a (sorry, accent grave) Nu", may I recommend a ride on the back of a motorcycle? Keep up the good writing.--ClarkAArdvark@gmail.com
I actually got on the back of a motorcycle last summer and it was terrifying but exhilarating :)
Saw a presentation of one of her books in Rome and have heard of her, but I never actually did read her - your enthusiasm will help me getting more curious !
she writes beautifully
Tx for the advice !
Being a French man I had fun and pleasure reading you... Now. I live in Rome in front of the Isola Tiberina (not really the wood I would say?) and took the Italian citizenship.
I feel much more elegant and more intelligent since then.
:-)
Ha! Enchantée ! An Italian citizenship on top of a French one is double trouble. Or maybe intelligence and elegance squared.
Trouble squared. Intelligence and elegance squared. Pleasure and quality of life of life squared too.
But maybe I am over-optimistic.
:-)
"The triumph of optimism over experience". LOL
Gramsci's optimism of the will.
Experience makes me too sad
😁
So jealous in any case! By the way, have you read any Jhumpa Lahiri? She’s an Indian American author who left the US to live in Rome. She’s started writing in Italian and translating her work back to English. It’s multiplied my love of her prose.
I LOVE her work, especially The Last and Final Continent. I read her book on translation: very interesting. At the moment I'm reading a book of Italian short stories, edited by her. Until now I assumed it was my newsletter that had multiplied your love of prose.
And yours!!! It’s been cubed!!
🤣😁💗👍
Definitely intelligence and elegance doubled at least 😁
I will leave it to Alicia to comment on your comment! Except to say I love Italy. though I've never been to Rome.
Lovely! Youth is wasted without dances in blind alleys. It's no wonder that come middle age, we wrestle with pragmatism the way Jacob wrestled with his angel.
Very nicely put
Beautifully said
I lived once upon a time à Paris... I know too well l'amour en français of which you speak chère Alicia, and it's even more rich, intoxicating, and painful when you live it in Paris. He took me to his parents' house in the South of France, I took him to see my grandparents in Central Europe... he followed me back to the US and I... well let's just say some stories were never meant for pixels in a comment field...
I almost moved to USA once for a girl. The things we men do for love...
The things you 'almost' did... don't count :)
They do if, like me, you adhere to the many worlds theory
Truly insane things 😅
Insane is right! 😂
It’s the “followed back to US” where things always changed for me too!! Would love to hear more one day should we ever meet in person!
Ça serait super chouette :) You're in SF correct?
In DC actually! I lived in SF for a few years but am back on the East Coast :)
I've never been to sf, dc or ny. I try to restrict the number of two letter places I go to.
Well Terry, you've got some work to do to rectify that—oh wait, you already live in one yourself (!!). The three of us should have lunch in one of those two-letter places.
Alicia, I love DC. Next time I find myself traveling there will let you know!
Yes, please do! I would love that!
I live in London. That's got more than two letters 🤔
All this heartache is simply training for the main event. As you mentioned, when you find the person you align with on the BIG ideas -- like religion, money, and kids -- the rest quickly falls in place.
I would have been happy to skip the training sessions
Wouldn't we all!
😂
Yes!! Very much agree.
I call Alicia "the voice" and wait for every post by her, especially the dating history--and she's an expert on underwear and poetry -- gotta love her.
I check for new articles at least once a week in case I've missed the email
Aw!
💕💕💕
"He struggled with his career and keeping his phone charged": one of several examples of bathos that makes this article so warm because of the gentle humour.
Thank you!! I’ll admit I used that line to describe him once in conversation and it made the person laugh so I brought it back :)
It's a brilliant line
🙏
As I said to you in an email, Alicia, this feels to me like the literary equivalent to listening to Parissienne Walkways https://youtu.be/vkUpfw4Hf3w?si=wJQLtUHo-noHVIAV
Thank you so much Terry. Love that title (and the music)! There’s no place like Paris. Although, similar to Salter, I think I’m more in love with the myth of the city than its reality. I’m a French countryside gal.
I know what you mean, Alicia. It's like being in love with being in love. Do you like Invisible Cities? That, I find, is very magical. I think you are one of the finest writers I've ever come across, one of the few whose books, if there was one, I would buy sight unseen
You're really too kind, Terry! If I ever publish I'll be calling on you for a blurb. ❤ I'm actually not familiar with Invisible Cities!?
Seriously? I am surrounded by plebians. Look it up, I am sure you will love it despite its being Italian rather than French. It's by Calvino
😂 "Surrounded by plebians." So British. Will do.
😍
This is a warm breeze on a cool day. Thank you!
Great description, David.
Merci David !
And I want to read it again and again! Reading, I felt myself lifted, and all my petty anxieties dissolved into themselves, where they belong.
I felt it just sort of lightly washed over me, very calming
That’s one of the kindest compliments I think a writer could hope for!
I believe that updraft comes from the lovely way in which you stirred the physical and philosophical details in with the emotional content. Like spicing food while cooking it. Matters of the heart require all the senses to be in tandem with all the thoughts. Oh, and the perspective of time passing also essentially flavors this fabulous stew. Good work!
“Like spicing food” - love that metaphor
Have a great rest of your day, Alicia. And happy writing!! (And thanks again for bringing on the smiles and the awe!)