Maybe there’s more going on in McCarthy’s work than just world-weariness, whereas Mutis is focused on that sense of superficiality and jadedness to the point that it excludes other details and depths? Thanks for the thoughtful analysis, this was interesting to read.

Wow, fascinating to hear. Again, haven’t read the book, but it seems to me that you’re pretty clear-eyed about the ways in which it doesn’t work for you. It all just has me curious (like you) about how so many people can be so enchanted by it—a quick Google reveals very positive reviews from some major heavy hitters in literary critique.

I do think that the academy/literary establishment tends to privilege disenchantment and jadedness to a very high degree (so much so that it’s almost integral to literary realism), so maybe that’s the disconnect? I know personally that I also dislike totally jaded writing, and so am turned off by a decent chunk of well-regarded literature because it strikes me as almost disingenuously cool and detached and disbelieving. Like, some works attempt to be so clear-eyed about the human capacity for evil and self-interest that they actually become almost cartoonish, no longer reflecting the positive valences of real lived experience.

Are there any other books with that kind of jaded, detached narrator that you do enjoy? It sounds like this could have been a perfectly bad combination for you of rambling Quixotic travelog and falsely worldly self-affectedly jaded protagonist.

So many people in the NYT comments angry about the assertion that everybody loves cheese, but I certainly do. Shout out to every underpaid cheesemonger slicing me off bits of their favorite cheese so I can nibble mouse-like at it…reading this has inspired me to go searching for some truly good local cheese places. Thanks for posting, Powderhorn!

I have not read the book, but I did enjoy the video clip! I can’t imagine anything wrong with a book in which a man claims to invent the question mark, for example…/j

But seriously, most of the praise I see for the book is comparing it to Don Quixote, so I have to assume it’s one of those works that aims for intentionally overwrought satire, which I feel like either lands (if you find the material funny) or is totally unreadable (if it’s meant for other people’s senses of humor).

Do you agree with what the positive reviews point out as being assets, or do they seem to be receiving the work really differently? Definitely this description doesn’t make me want to go searching for a copy.

Love this; especially the attention to detail in lightsaber battle technique. Just noting that it looks like part got cut off—“Mitch McCAInnell was clearly acting in a manner his totally alive counterpart” doesn’t finish—and I’m sad to be missing a potential other awesome quip. I hadn’t realized people post OC in this channel, and I hope you’ll share more!!!

I’m excited to celebrate one of my best friend’s birthdays, attend a neighborhood party in my hometown, and catch a concert by one of my favorite indie artists! Can’t believe they’re playing my small local venue.

Hope you’ve got lots to look forward to, LadyButterfly!

I’ve been trying to build community in my neighborhood, so I invited the households across the way and next door to come over for a potluck soon! We got a date figured out, so I’m doing some very late seedling transplants to fill in gaps in my garden and make everything look nice for them 🌱

I built a park for my neighborhood today! It’s got garden beds, a picnic table, a park bench, some native plants and shrubs, and a walking path :) I’ve been working really hard on administrative stuff for months and months to run a community survey, get the grant, balance the budget, order everything, invite volunteers, etc. (with lots and lots of help from community partners too), but today we finally did it! I worked outside from 9am to 5pm and everything but lighting is now installed!!

I’m planning a trip out to the lake with a friend on Saturday—we’ll pack a picnic and spend a few hours swimming. I can’t wait to have some time to catch up with them and appreciate the outdoors.

I was able to visit a beautiful local area today and go for a swim at the beach! A seal came very close to me and my friends, which was exciting.

I read the headline to mean that the university president was SO excited about the cute new baby deer that they waived entrance exams for incoming students! Can’t wait for this little one to graduate.

I had a fun opportunity to help a neighbor over the weekend! At landlord’s request, we’re supposed to padlock our yard gates externally. This means if you accidentally lock your back door, you are trapped in your yard. I just took my locks off after a close call, but she hadn’t on her side—so I walked outside to water the garden yesterday and she was sitting on her back porch across the fence, locked out. I was able to hand her water and my phone over the wall so that she could call the leasing office and ask to be let back in (and given a spare key). It took about half an hour, so I felt slightly ridiculous walking out onto my porch every few minutes in my pajamas asking if she wanted toast or if I could drive over to the office for her, but she was very good-humored about it all.

I still haven’t made the jump from “putting things in the ground” to “thriving garden” in this state—I wasn’t made for the high desert! But my lettuce seeds are turning into lettuce seedlings, my pea vines are vining, and all of my cheap pansy annuals are thriving. I’m also seeing corn stalks come up, which is new and exciting. I just keep feeling like everything is slow and late for the season. I’m just glad to be out there in the dirt. Congratulations on your thriving lavender!!!

Ooh, congratulations! I’ve had a few ladybugs around my yard, but I’m mostly overrun with false chitbugs instead of aphids, and they don’t seem to be making a dent. Hope your buggy community keeps thriving!

What a wonderful sentiment! Your friends are lucky to have someone supportive in their lives, even from a distance—it’s an honor to be able to provide that to loved ones (but also sometimes feels like a big challenge to live up to).