Hi Adam - just wanted to let you know that after 10 months of dipping in and out of this massive collection, I have just finished Kathleen's Field, and indeed the collection, today. The whole journey was made even more enjoyable by the ritual of reading your corresponding essay each time I finished a story, so a big, big thank you for all the time and effort you put in. I loved the collection, flaws and all, and found it a really great counterpoint to some of the totally different novels that I read in and amongst it. For the record, the stories I loved were 'The Ballroom of Romance', 'Mrs Silly', 'Matilda's England', 'On The Zattere' and 'The Smoke Trees of San Pietro', and I also really liked 'Access to the Children', 'Mr McNamara'. 'Lovers of their Time', 'Downstairs at Fitzgerald's' and 'Bodily Secrets'. So, thanks again - Nick (@nickinko on Twitter)
Nick, thanks so much for the kind note. This was mainly a project I undertook for myself, but I have harbored the idle hope that occasionally someone will be able to use it as you have, as a reading companion for this mammoth volume. It sounds like we share many of the same favorites, too. There's definitely some filler in the collection—a few too many "character is cursed with crippling sexual deviancy bc they saw a dirty movie at age ten" stories for my taste—but when he's at his best, I don't really know a writer more devastating.
Hi Adam - just wanted to let you know that after 10 months of dipping in and out of this massive collection, I have just finished Kathleen's Field, and indeed the collection, today. The whole journey was made even more enjoyable by the ritual of reading your corresponding essay each time I finished a story, so a big, big thank you for all the time and effort you put in. I loved the collection, flaws and all, and found it a really great counterpoint to some of the totally different novels that I read in and amongst it. For the record, the stories I loved were 'The Ballroom of Romance', 'Mrs Silly', 'Matilda's England', 'On The Zattere' and 'The Smoke Trees of San Pietro', and I also really liked 'Access to the Children', 'Mr McNamara'. 'Lovers of their Time', 'Downstairs at Fitzgerald's' and 'Bodily Secrets'. So, thanks again - Nick (@nickinko on Twitter)
Nick, thanks so much for the kind note. This was mainly a project I undertook for myself, but I have harbored the idle hope that occasionally someone will be able to use it as you have, as a reading companion for this mammoth volume. It sounds like we share many of the same favorites, too. There's definitely some filler in the collection—a few too many "character is cursed with crippling sexual deviancy bc they saw a dirty movie at age ten" stories for my taste—but when he's at his best, I don't really know a writer more devastating.
Anyway, really glad you enjoyed,
Adam
It’s been a run. So glad to have joined you in this undertaking!
Thank you for joining me, Jarett!
Can't wait for your conclusions next week. And in case I haven't said so lately--thank you, again, for guiding us through this experience.
Erika, thank you for being with me throughout this project, for your astute comments and encouragement!