I hope your knee is healing up. Just such a wonderful read sir. I printed off the bagel recipe. I'm going to send it to a friend who has moved to Paris and hasn't found a good bagel there yet. THANK YOU!!!
It's incredible. And very food focused (involves preparing a feast of wild duck), you would love it. The legend is that Chatham was down on his luck, so Harrison and Mcguane helped him develop a couple ideas into short stories that he then published. I think it has been debunked, but the story reads like something right out of Jim Harrison's brain.
Your short story picks are remarkably mine. I would add a very light, comic story called "How to Give the Wrong Impression" by Katherine Heiny. And my favorite Salinger story is "Just Before the War with the Eskimos. And there is a crazy Francine Prose story I've never been able to find again.
Michael, at the risk of repeating myself, which I know I’m doing here, thank you so much for this newsletter. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to it. I pour a drink, go outside, put my feet up, and feel like I’m catching up with an old and very literate friend. I’m so very grateful you do this.
You might enjoy Amor Towles “Table for Two”! Hopefully it will be good company while you heal. I had same surgery some years ago and while your body is busy night and day— sending you messages (some call it pain)—just take a deep breath. And Good Luck 🙏
Re WWDD, I am right there with you! It's why I started a Substack also. And re SEO, you will see a newsletter from me soon where I interview an editor about how much she wants writers to pitch stories that take SEO into account.
Also, thanks for this list of short stories. I look forward to diving in. XO
I too look forward to your Sat posts. I save them for last, after Heather…so I can head into the day feeling good.
I remember years ago hearing a wonderful short story read on Selected Shorts. I sat & listened in my car until it ended. It was The Mappist by Barry Lopez.
Thank you for your & Ann’s recommendations. I enjoy many of the books, shows & movies.
All of it makes life richer.
I am on the other coast, in Berkeley but appreciate your restaurant reviews for when we are in NYC.
Ok, genuinely envious of that lovely gift of a stack of books! Thank you for the terrific recs and fun post. Nonino is essential for the house cocktail here (Paper Plane) and we are never without it so I'm excited to try it as a simple spritz. Two great short story collections come to mind here: Penelope Lively's The Purple Swamp Hen is fantastic. (Esp the story License To Kill- pure delight.) Another collection on my shelf is The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter. So. Much. Fun. All of this has put a big smile on my face--no small feat in these crazy times--thank you. Hi to Ann and hope all goes well with the knee.
Frank O’Connor’s The Lonely Voice (1963) studies 11 great story writers and argues that the quintessential short story subjects are outsiders: “There is in the short story at its most characteristic something we do not often find in the novel – an intense awareness of human loneliness.”
Hi Cindy, I read Ann your comment and she immediately ordered the O'Connor book. Thank you! And interesting story choices. So I trust you don't think Munro should be canceled? Part of a much bigger question, of course.
I know! It is a hard call. Her behavior was reprehensible. But that story... For me, it's the characters who rattle around in my heart. When I think about that story and what I later learned about her, I think perhaps that story represents the best parts of her, while not ignoring her shameful behavior.
So true about Connections! As I age they become all the more important. During Covid when it was difficult to maintain them your Friday Night Cocktail Hour kept me less lonely...as did Stephen Colbert who was filming across the waterway on Sullivan's Island. Your substack posts of adventures, food and libation, reading, theater are great reads as well especially for those that relish the idea of hurkle-durkle.
Just signed up for Jenny's Substack. Thanks for introducing her work. Already follow David on Substack. I end up saving so many of his columns (as I do with yours) for their recommendations for travel and food. Unlike your reader Michael, I read your Saturday issue last because I want to leave my computer and go on with the rest of my day in a happy, positive place!
Connections are the only way we can survive and thrive in this world. I feel a connection to you through this Substack. I'm open to new connections and have made dear friends from meeting on a plane or a vacation or a cooking class. And of course, travel helps you feel and see the connections we all have to one another.
I love the O'Connor you mentioned, and would add "The Star" or The Nine Billion Names of God" by Clarke. I also really love Stephen King's short stories - I think that might be what he does best. "The Jaunt ", or "I Am The Doorway" stand out.
I hope your knee is healing up. Just such a wonderful read sir. I printed off the bagel recipe. I'm going to send it to a friend who has moved to Paris and hasn't found a good bagel there yet. THANK YOU!!!
The Great Duck Misunderstanding - Russell Chatham
The Swimmer - Cheever
Car Crash While Hitchhiking - Denis Johnson
Don’t know duck misunderstanding!
It's incredible. And very food focused (involves preparing a feast of wild duck), you would love it. The legend is that Chatham was down on his luck, so Harrison and Mcguane helped him develop a couple ideas into short stories that he then published. I think it has been debunked, but the story reads like something right out of Jim Harrison's brain.
I love down the street from Karen and you can bet your bootie she is going to get bagels...I'm a a baker. (No Need to Knead, and more)
Well there's a happy pairing via Substack!!!
What a treasure trove of goodies you’ve shared. Thank you, Michael!
Thx Liz!
Your short story picks are remarkably mine. I would add a very light, comic story called "How to Give the Wrong Impression" by Katherine Heiny. And my favorite Salinger story is "Just Before the War with the Eskimos. And there is a crazy Francine Prose story I've never been able to find again.
Michael, at the risk of repeating myself, which I know I’m doing here, thank you so much for this newsletter. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to it. I pour a drink, go outside, put my feet up, and feel like I’m catching up with an old and very literate friend. I’m so very grateful you do this.
What a very kind comment. I’m grateful.
Top three short stories:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote
A Day, William Trevor
Fjord of Killary, Kevin Barry
Love Tiffany's, love Trevor but can't place the story, and don't know Fjord of Killary! Thx!
Michael I made an essay out of my successful endeavour into Bagel making: https://wlplookout2create.substack.com/p/plain-with-cream-cheese?r=1sss7q&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
It was absolutely delicious. Please tell Bruce his recipe produced one of the best bagels I have ever eaten in my whole life.
Oh, I see from your earlier post you're in Germany!
Oh my! Bruce's bagels AND essay AND poetry! Well done! Great post! Where are you based? Thanks for the link!
You might enjoy Amor Towles “Table for Two”! Hopefully it will be good company while you heal. I had same surgery some years ago and while your body is busy night and day— sending you messages (some call it pain)—just take a deep breath. And Good Luck 🙏
Re WWDD, I am right there with you! It's why I started a Substack also. And re SEO, you will see a newsletter from me soon where I interview an editor about how much she wants writers to pitch stories that take SEO into account.
Also, thanks for this list of short stories. I look forward to diving in. XO
WWDD, indeed. And what kind of editor? Book, magazine editor thinking in SEO terms? Look forward to reading that. Thx, Dianne.
I too look forward to your Sat posts. I save them for last, after Heather…so I can head into the day feeling good.
I remember years ago hearing a wonderful short story read on Selected Shorts. I sat & listened in my car until it ended. It was The Mappist by Barry Lopez.
Thank you for your & Ann’s recommendations. I enjoy many of the books, shows & movies.
All of it makes life richer.
I am on the other coast, in Berkeley but appreciate your restaurant reviews for when we are in NYC.
Ok, genuinely envious of that lovely gift of a stack of books! Thank you for the terrific recs and fun post. Nonino is essential for the house cocktail here (Paper Plane) and we are never without it so I'm excited to try it as a simple spritz. Two great short story collections come to mind here: Penelope Lively's The Purple Swamp Hen is fantastic. (Esp the story License To Kill- pure delight.) Another collection on my shelf is The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter. So. Much. Fun. All of this has put a big smile on my face--no small feat in these crazy times--thank you. Hi to Ann and hope all goes well with the knee.
Read Walter's Beautiful Ruins and loved. Didn't know he had stories
Frank O’Connor’s The Lonely Voice (1963) studies 11 great story writers and argues that the quintessential short story subjects are outsiders: “There is in the short story at its most characteristic something we do not often find in the novel – an intense awareness of human loneliness.”
So, yeah, today I am thinking of these stories:
Rock Springs by Richard Ford
The Girls in Their Summer Dresses by Irwin Shaw
What is Remembered by Alice Munro
Hi Cindy, I read Ann your comment and she immediately ordered the O'Connor book. Thank you! And interesting story choices. So I trust you don't think Munro should be canceled? Part of a much bigger question, of course.
I know! It is a hard call. Her behavior was reprehensible. But that story... For me, it's the characters who rattle around in my heart. When I think about that story and what I later learned about her, I think perhaps that story represents the best parts of her, while not ignoring her shameful behavior.
So true about Connections! As I age they become all the more important. During Covid when it was difficult to maintain them your Friday Night Cocktail Hour kept me less lonely...as did Stephen Colbert who was filming across the waterway on Sullivan's Island. Your substack posts of adventures, food and libation, reading, theater are great reads as well especially for those that relish the idea of hurkle-durkle.
Ah yes, we are hurkle-durkle connoisseurs! We too loved the camaraderie of the Friday Night Cocktail. #connections
Just signed up for Jenny's Substack. Thanks for introducing her work. Already follow David on Substack. I end up saving so many of his columns (as I do with yours) for their recommendations for travel and food. Unlike your reader Michael, I read your Saturday issue last because I want to leave my computer and go on with the rest of my day in a happy, positive place!
Connections are the only way we can survive and thrive in this world. I feel a connection to you through this Substack. I'm open to new connections and have made dear friends from meeting on a plane or a vacation or a cooking class. And of course, travel helps you feel and see the connections we all have to one another.
Thanks for another great post!
Thanks, as always, Lynne. Yes, only connect is the way to thrive.
I love the O'Connor you mentioned, and would add "The Star" or The Nine Billion Names of God" by Clarke. I also really love Stephen King's short stories - I think that might be what he does best. "The Jaunt ", or "I Am The Doorway" stand out.
I have not read King's short stories, but I should try. I find his fat novels far too windy to hold my interest.