Susan, I'm speechless after reading this. It's beautiful and profound and I hope you gain a huge audience for it. This is 'braiding' at its best. I haven't seen '1883' and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. I'm grieving still, and wobbly emotionally, so I hide from having to feel too deeply. But your piece is the exception. I felt this. Deeply.
I apologize for coming to this late. But my GAWD, I loved reading this. I thought I was the only one who sobbed through the whole thing. I loved the voice of Elsa. She was an amazing character. It seemed that everything she said resonated with some part of my life. It may have had something to do with the trauma I had just been through, but it was a welcome relief. (If you want to know about the trauma I'm referring to, look at my page: "It was an accident Steve." I don't want to rehash it over again.) But this was an amazing piece of writing, and I subscribed right after I read the "Perry Mason" piece you wrote.
Thank you so, so much—for subscribing and for your comment. This was a piece that was very emotional for me, and it’s wonderful to hear it resonated for you that way too! I’m going to head over to your substack as soon as possible and read that piece you mention in your comment. Thanks again!!
“1883” made me go back and reread Willa Cather, starting with MY ANTONIA. Elsa says that the land is both hell and heaven; Cather extrapolates more but shares the same vision.
Susan even though I see and "converse" with you regularly, I had no idea what you were going through this past year. I'm so glad you found a path to catharsis.
I didn’t share much about this on social media—tried to have a more upbeat presence there (it helped me), so I’m not surprised your didn’t know. So glad you’ve subscribed to this newsletter now that I’m writing again. Please do spread the word!!
I had not planned to watch 1883 but now I have to see it.
It drives me nuts when people who read or watch a work of fiction critize the piece because it was not historically accurate. Isn't that why we call it fiction? The artist should be granted the privilege of presenting the work as their own vision and feel free to use what means at their disposal to make their point. For those who insist on sticking to the historical facts, they should read historical non-fiction or watch a documentary. Isn't part of the reason we enjoy fiction is because we love a good story?
Susan, I'm speechless after reading this. It's beautiful and profound and I hope you gain a huge audience for it. This is 'braiding' at its best. I haven't seen '1883' and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. I'm grieving still, and wobbly emotionally, so I hide from having to feel too deeply. But your piece is the exception. I felt this. Deeply.
This means the world to me, Ramona!! This piece was truly a labor of love and having it received so lovingly is everything!
ooh..."braiding" - that's a new term to me. But I can imagine, from Bordo's piece, what it means!
This is a good explanation of what 'braiding' means:
https://writers.com/braided-essays
I apologize for coming to this late. But my GAWD, I loved reading this. I thought I was the only one who sobbed through the whole thing. I loved the voice of Elsa. She was an amazing character. It seemed that everything she said resonated with some part of my life. It may have had something to do with the trauma I had just been through, but it was a welcome relief. (If you want to know about the trauma I'm referring to, look at my page: "It was an accident Steve." I don't want to rehash it over again.) But this was an amazing piece of writing, and I subscribed right after I read the "Perry Mason" piece you wrote.
I couldn’t find your piece. Can you send me a link: bordo@uky.edu.
Thank you so, so much—for subscribing and for your comment. This was a piece that was very emotional for me, and it’s wonderful to hear it resonated for you that way too! I’m going to head over to your substack as soon as possible and read that piece you mention in your comment. Thanks again!!
“1883” made me go back and reread Willa Cather, starting with MY ANTONIA. Elsa says that the land is both hell and heaven; Cather extrapolates more but shares the same vision.
Susan even though I see and "converse" with you regularly, I had no idea what you were going through this past year. I'm so glad you found a path to catharsis.
I didn’t share much about this on social media—tried to have a more upbeat presence there (it helped me), so I’m not surprised your didn’t know. So glad you’ve subscribed to this newsletter now that I’m writing again. Please do spread the word!!
Damn that was excellent writing.
I had not planned to watch 1883 but now I have to see it.
It drives me nuts when people who read or watch a work of fiction critize the piece because it was not historically accurate. Isn't that why we call it fiction? The artist should be granted the privilege of presenting the work as their own vision and feel free to use what means at their disposal to make their point. For those who insist on sticking to the historical facts, they should read historical non-fiction or watch a documentary. Isn't part of the reason we enjoy fiction is because we love a good story?
Thank you so much!! Hope you enjoy the series. I recommend watching it all in one day (or week-end.) It’ll be like a good novel you can’t put down.
Thanks! I agree. I had already watched it and liked it, but it was a little bit of a "guilty" pleasure, until reading your piece on it!
Always happy to help relieve someone of guilty over a secret pleasure!