Looks like I have some reading to do. And a movie to watch. Brendan Gleeson is one of my all time favorites. He and Colin were great in "In Bruges". I have found real power in doubting my doubts. Thanks for the list.
Loved The Bear--strikingly powerful. Love Lydia Davis and one of my favorites is _The End of the Story_. Great list, Sherman. Gotta take a look at Party Down now!. xo ~Mary
Party Down is the most hysterical series I have ever seen on TV. Fabulous cast of characters. I had not heard of it until you posted this. Thank you from the bottom of my belly laugh.
Boy, it sounds like I'm missing something good. I'm a nonpaying member. Does that make a difference? I appreciate how relational you are with use Substackees.
So glad you discovered Lucia. I met her when she first came to Boulder to read at CU, and, as a grad student, had the pleasure of recording her reading my favorite story of hers (at the time--nowadays they're all my favorites). It was in an earlier edition of Diary of a Cleaning Woman or Phantom Pain, I think, because I can no longer find it anywhere. And it's not in Angel's Laundromat either.
So if anyone can help me find this story again, please please do.
Berlin's story is about a group of women who meet for regular "salad socials," each bringing their dish to share; homemade "potluck" tomatoes in aspic, etc. The story is constructed around these meetings, their relationships, and particularly the competition between them over their dishes (and over their lives). It's an incredible piece of work, claustrophobic, tragic, and hilarious. I recorded Lucia reading it and she flubbed the ending, so I re-recorded her corrected version of the ending right on the cassette tape, with middling success. We laughed over that and had a great time together; I miss her still.
Also, if you like her work, read the amazing story Lucia Berlin penned, set in South America, where she actually was the bilingual, teenaged, debutante daughter of a rich (at that time) American oil man. Most of LB's work is derived from autobiographical material; but with lots of style. Which is okay with me.
I discovered much later on that Lucia, when I knew her, had just conquered the alcoholism that had dogged her previous life. She became a beloved teacher in the writing program at CU-Boulder, then returned to her family in Oakland CA where she passed, from cancer.
That's all great to hear. If she was at Boulder, I wonder if I met her at some point. In any case, I wish I would've met her. Thank you for sharing your memories.
I'll be checking into this list further asap. Already have that small town hoops fever as always. Thanks for including. Yes, the snow over there is pretty incredible at the moment right? Great list brother.
What a delightful list. Loved the no-look pass!
Looks like I have some reading to do. And a movie to watch. Brendan Gleeson is one of my all time favorites. He and Colin were great in "In Bruges". I have found real power in doubting my doubts. Thanks for the list.
Thank you, Steve. I've found that my friends have serious disagreements about Banshees. So I'm curious to see what you think.
Loved The Bear--strikingly powerful. Love Lydia Davis and one of my favorites is _The End of the Story_. Great list, Sherman. Gotta take a look at Party Down now!. xo ~Mary
Thank you, Mary. I hope you like Party Down!
Fab to connect with you, Sherman. I love to connect--as I say in my title from the epigraph of _Howard's End_. xo ~Mary
Great list! This says more than a Christmas letter, y’know what I mean? Love it and you!
Thank you!
Party Down is the most hysterical series I have ever seen on TV. Fabulous cast of characters. I had not heard of it until you posted this. Thank you from the bottom of my belly laugh.
Cool! I'm so happy you love it, Kris!
Excellent! Loved it.
Cool!
I just read The Angel of Rome and am wrecked, just like you said I would be.
Yes!
Solid list. Fun 🤩
Thank you, Michael!
Boy, it sounds like I'm missing something good. I'm a nonpaying member. Does that make a difference? I appreciate how relational you are with use Substackees.
It shouldn't make a difference. This one is free for everybody.
I can't access your 14 favorite things from 2022. Sad to miss it. You're one of my favorite authors, and I enjoy hearing you read your work.
I don’t know why this glitch happened. I’m no techie. I just press the Substack buttons. Maybe try the direct link:
https://shermanalexie.substack.com/p/14-of-my-favorite-things-of-2022
Thanks for your reply. I still can't access it. I'm not a techie, either. Nice to know we have this in common.
I’m very puzzled why you can comment on the post without being able to see the post.
I can see a letterbox with a 14. Is that the post? From the other comments, I assume there's text.
There is text, photos, YouTube videos! I have no idea what's happening for you.
So glad I subscribed to your site. Love your work and the list is icing on the top!
Love, Marcia
That's very kind, Marcia. Thank you.
What a list to dive into! That Tweet is hilarious, and I can certainly relate...
Thanks, Joan!
So glad you discovered Lucia. I met her when she first came to Boulder to read at CU, and, as a grad student, had the pleasure of recording her reading my favorite story of hers (at the time--nowadays they're all my favorites). It was in an earlier edition of Diary of a Cleaning Woman or Phantom Pain, I think, because I can no longer find it anywhere. And it's not in Angel's Laundromat either.
So if anyone can help me find this story again, please please do.
Berlin's story is about a group of women who meet for regular "salad socials," each bringing their dish to share; homemade "potluck" tomatoes in aspic, etc. The story is constructed around these meetings, their relationships, and particularly the competition between them over their dishes (and over their lives). It's an incredible piece of work, claustrophobic, tragic, and hilarious. I recorded Lucia reading it and she flubbed the ending, so I re-recorded her corrected version of the ending right on the cassette tape, with middling success. We laughed over that and had a great time together; I miss her still.
Also, if you like her work, read the amazing story Lucia Berlin penned, set in South America, where she actually was the bilingual, teenaged, debutante daughter of a rich (at that time) American oil man. Most of LB's work is derived from autobiographical material; but with lots of style. Which is okay with me.
I discovered much later on that Lucia, when I knew her, had just conquered the alcoholism that had dogged her previous life. She became a beloved teacher in the writing program at CU-Boulder, then returned to her family in Oakland CA where she passed, from cancer.
🔥🔥
That's all great to hear. If she was at Boulder, I wonder if I met her at some point. In any case, I wish I would've met her. Thank you for sharing your memories.
This is great. Gonna dive in.
Have fun!
True friendship is being so close you require a nepotism warning! Great list—
Hahahaha!
I'll be checking into this list further asap. Already have that small town hoops fever as always. Thanks for including. Yes, the snow over there is pretty incredible at the moment right? Great list brother.
Thanks, Mark. I got a video this movie of snow being pushed off the roof!