Loved this, and gasped out loud at the reviewer’s comment about your marriage (apologies to your dad, but WTF). If being an author’s “completist” means reading all their books, I guess that makes me a Laura Lippman completist!
That NYker review! "Men Explain the Wire to Me" can now be updated to "Men Explain how Being Once Married to the Creator of the Wire Needs to explain My Every Move." Sheesh.
I’ve been reading your books forever. And, no particular shade to your ex-husband, but I’ve never seen an episode of The Wire and in fact only ever heard of him because of you. Anyway, that dress is aces!
I needed a box of kitty litter last week. It weighs 20 pounds. It’s on the bottom of the shelves. I bent over to pick it up, and I farted. If the pet goods aisle is empty and you fart, does anyone hear it?
Ah, the Fart Machine. Talk about a guy with a great mix of highbrow, middlebrow, and lowbrow sensibilities!
I've known Bob Benson for over 40 years, since we were colleagues together at WBJC. We're still friends, and I've loved watching his progression from radio basso profundo to glass & mosaic artist extraordinaire.
He used to play for us records of various fart noises (god knows where he finds this stuff), including a hilarious skit about a competition at the "Farting Post." Strangely enough, though, I don't think he ever employed a whoopee cushion at any of his marvelous dinner parties. He also introduced me to lots of campy classical music comedy, like Anna Russell's Ring Cycle, stratospheric soprano Yma Sumac, and wacky self-styled singing sensation Florence Foster Jenkins.
Mind-blowingly absurd statement in the New Yorker bringing "The Wire" or your marriage into any discussion of your writing. I loved "The Wire" and still think it's one of the best things ever produced on television, but it has nothing to do with your books. I don't blame you for not ever looking at that review again. (I stopped my subscription to the NYer long ago for other reasons: pretentiousness, its unbearably strained, performative p.c. pieties, and your quote from that review only confirms my decision.)
Have watched just the first episode of "Lady" so far -- saving the rest for after the Olympics.
And hey, that Farm Rio jumpsuit and those red Stuart Weitzmans -- fab, now and forever!!
The ARTSPACE building in my city's historic downtown (often stands in for Chicago etc in movies) was changed temporarily to FARTSPACE during Nuit Blanche a few years ago and it was delightful
I'm saving Lady in the Lake for after I'm done watching Evil. And fuck the patriarchy. I can't tell if we are experiencing a last gasp or a renewed assault.
I learned about Carmen from Malcolm McLaren in the mid-80s. I just found the video and it’s still more amazing than the opera to me! So much to react to in this post! I am a completist too of Roth. And Amis, and Hitchens and Auster and I wonder why in the 80s and 90s I was so attracted to these (mostly) misogynistic writers. Somehow that goes along with the New Yorker mention. And Wood Hall is incredible. We can’t wait for Friday night drops of the show. And I’ve stopped comparing it to the book and I’m enjoying it as its own piece of art! Jump suits are amazing but disrobing to pee is annoying. You look gorgeous.
Love the Guardian review. Apple TV can drive me crazy with their intentionally slow release of episodes sometimes. It really fits LitL well though. A little behind. Sibling trip followed by Olympics.
It is a dense and absorbing story. Period Baltimore means so much. Not just a setting.
Always happy to see Wood Harris. Why not in a different Baltimore time. Not Avon but will always pay attention to him. Excellent at his craft.
I'm over 70. My Fart Machine follows me everywhere I go. It's sooo embarrassing.
[# things nobody tells you when you're a kid]
Loved this, and gasped out loud at the reviewer’s comment about your marriage (apologies to your dad, but WTF). If being an author’s “completist” means reading all their books, I guess that makes me a Laura Lippman completist!
I'm barely a Lippman completist, so thank you!
It appears that the critic is female, which is interesting.
The last part is just a perfect clap back.
Thank you. I sketched out the particulars for my daughter over dinner last night and she was so much angrier than I was. I appreciated it!
That NYker review! "Men Explain the Wire to Me" can now be updated to "Men Explain how Being Once Married to the Creator of the Wire Needs to explain My Every Move." Sheesh.
I’ve been reading your books forever. And, no particular shade to your ex-husband, but I’ve never seen an episode of The Wire and in fact only ever heard of him because of you. Anyway, that dress is aces!
It's s jumpsuit from Farm Rio and I'm wearing the heck out of it this summer.
I needed a box of kitty litter last week. It weighs 20 pounds. It’s on the bottom of the shelves. I bent over to pick it up, and I farted. If the pet goods aisle is empty and you fart, does anyone hear it?
"There's just one another thing you ought to do / To thine ownself be true!"
Ridiculous of nyer to bring in the wire.
Ah, the Fart Machine. Talk about a guy with a great mix of highbrow, middlebrow, and lowbrow sensibilities!
I've known Bob Benson for over 40 years, since we were colleagues together at WBJC. We're still friends, and I've loved watching his progression from radio basso profundo to glass & mosaic artist extraordinaire.
He used to play for us records of various fart noises (god knows where he finds this stuff), including a hilarious skit about a competition at the "Farting Post." Strangely enough, though, I don't think he ever employed a whoopee cushion at any of his marvelous dinner parties. He also introduced me to lots of campy classical music comedy, like Anna Russell's Ring Cycle, stratospheric soprano Yma Sumac, and wacky self-styled singing sensation Florence Foster Jenkins.
Mind-blowingly absurd statement in the New Yorker bringing "The Wire" or your marriage into any discussion of your writing. I loved "The Wire" and still think it's one of the best things ever produced on television, but it has nothing to do with your books. I don't blame you for not ever looking at that review again. (I stopped my subscription to the NYer long ago for other reasons: pretentiousness, its unbearably strained, performative p.c. pieties, and your quote from that review only confirms my decision.)
Have watched just the first episode of "Lady" so far -- saving the rest for after the Olympics.
And hey, that Farm Rio jumpsuit and those red Stuart Weitzmans -- fab, now and forever!!
The AVAM docents got to visit Bob's home earlier this year and I was blown away by his music collection/knowledge of opera.
Will send you a private email.
The ARTSPACE building in my city's historic downtown (often stands in for Chicago etc in movies) was changed temporarily to FARTSPACE during Nuit Blanche a few years ago and it was delightful
I literally gasped when I read that New Yorker thing. WTF. Anyway. Those shoes!!! xo
They're ancient Stuart Weitzmans and surprisingly not uncomfortable. (And thank you for gasping. I did, too!)
I'm saving Lady in the Lake for after I'm done watching Evil. And fuck the patriarchy. I can't tell if we are experiencing a last gasp or a renewed assault.
I'm afraid we will never experience a last gasp of the patriarchy. Alas, there will always be renewed assaults.
Well. I shall continue my streak of never reading The New Yorker, but now I’ll be doing so IN YOUR HONOR.
Oh and never heard of Farm Rio but on the website now! You should get a commission! Summer sale!
I learned about Carmen from Malcolm McLaren in the mid-80s. I just found the video and it’s still more amazing than the opera to me! So much to react to in this post! I am a completist too of Roth. And Amis, and Hitchens and Auster and I wonder why in the 80s and 90s I was so attracted to these (mostly) misogynistic writers. Somehow that goes along with the New Yorker mention. And Wood Hall is incredible. We can’t wait for Friday night drops of the show. And I’ve stopped comparing it to the book and I’m enjoying it as its own piece of art! Jump suits are amazing but disrobing to pee is annoying. You look gorgeous.
Love the Guardian review. Apple TV can drive me crazy with their intentionally slow release of episodes sometimes. It really fits LitL well though. A little behind. Sibling trip followed by Olympics.
It is a dense and absorbing story. Period Baltimore means so much. Not just a setting.
Always happy to see Wood Harris. Why not in a different Baltimore time. Not Avon but will always pay attention to him. Excellent at his craft.
New York critic gave a lazy, half assed review.
The Fart Machine is hilarious.