The Chatner is having a bye week today, on account of one of the baby’s several mothers has developed baby-induced tendonitis and I need to drive her to urgent care for some injections.
I love nearly everything you do, and like what I don't love, but I do take a lot of comfort and solace in your occasional personal essays. I think a lot of us have suffered "family trauma" and I find it really helpful to read about and understand everyone's unique journey through this aspect of life. BUT, I think the frequency with which you bring us different genres, topics, and content is perfect, so I would keep the same ratio. I just wanted to be sure to encourage you to open up when it feels therapeutic for you...it's not lost on me!
And thank you and I hope all is OK with the kiddo! :)
I've been following you since The Toast, and nothing has made me laugh more than your assorted Dirtbag entries, and nothing has gripped my very being in icy terror as much as Curious George Made Horrific.
I adore your pieces about fatherhood, particularly since I have a son about the same age and everything you write rings so true and captures the sweetness and hilarity of parenthood (and yeah our bodies are falling apart too from all the LIFTING, and he just keeps getting heavier!!).
I wish I was more familiar with awesome contemporary writers so I’d love to read any engagements with stuff being published now, although I also adore your reviews of random old paperbacks.
I’m also very much enjoying posts about the baby, but I understand if you don’t want to keep doing them as he ages. Your joy in parenthood is just so palpable, and it makes me happy for you!
I'm a huge fan of the two monks, as well as your "texts from Jane Eyre"-style novel ... dialogue? I'm not sure what to call those posts, but reading them brings me such delight. I love anything to do with the princely dogs, and I even quite enjoyed the various depictions of the Christ child being carried places. I think my favorite pieces are those in which you do something a touch personal, perhaps a little melancholy -- your estrangement from your family reminds the reader of the various people in our own lives whom we no longer speak with, whether intentionally or because we fell away from each other with time and distance. I absolutely love sneak peeks into your forthcoming writing, always.
Plus one to the Hittite fellow, as well as any myth you feel called to retell in any style! Also, I am always immensely pleased by the simple genre of "lists"; do with that information what you will! Hope healing happens quickly!
Daniel, your fellow who aspires to join the Hittite Army is great, a fun read! - Yes, please also recommend classic movies. (Tendonitis - darn! Hope it's a short wait at urgent care!)
Loved the Hittite army guy and would be happy to see him return.
Would also love more old movie recommendations--I'm always scrolling through the Criterion Channel for stuff to watch, and the volume of their classic films can make it hard to settle on a choice.
Also--and I realize you may have moved on from this era of writing, which is totally fair--if you occasionally saw a very foolish essay or piece out there and felt moved to mercilessly satirize it, e.g. the Toast piece "I’d Love To Help My Wife Do The Dishes, But I’m Trapped Under Something Heavy"--I would enjoy that very much.
I love reading about your dogs! Also, I'm interested in your take on The Long Ships. I'm currently reading it and I keep thinking, "This is SO Chatner."
Yes please bring back the guy trying to join the Hitite army! I believe he was on a boat last we left off?
I think an advice column would be a fun addition.
Can never have too much 2 monks!
I second the advice column (fake OR real)!!!
ok but you guys gotta send me your questions in that case!!
Real and fake? or just real?
He DIED and went to the underworld!! I want to hear more about him too.
I am a huge fan of the Hittite Army story as well.
I love nearly everything you do, and like what I don't love, but I do take a lot of comfort and solace in your occasional personal essays. I think a lot of us have suffered "family trauma" and I find it really helpful to read about and understand everyone's unique journey through this aspect of life. BUT, I think the frequency with which you bring us different genres, topics, and content is perfect, so I would keep the same ratio. I just wanted to be sure to encourage you to open up when it feels therapeutic for you...it's not lost on me!
And thank you and I hope all is OK with the kiddo! :)
If the old Italian men have said anything further about your dogs, or perhaps your child, I must know
Agreed! I also like to hear of the crimes committed by the baby and dogs.
I've been following you since The Toast, and nothing has made me laugh more than your assorted Dirtbag entries, and nothing has gripped my very being in icy terror as much as Curious George Made Horrific.
Hard same, I still think about Dirtbag Sappho every couple weeks!
Dirtbag Gilgamesh is the greatest thing ever written in the English language.
I think the monks should kiss.
I adore your pieces about fatherhood, particularly since I have a son about the same age and everything you write rings so true and captures the sweetness and hilarity of parenthood (and yeah our bodies are falling apart too from all the LIFTING, and he just keeps getting heavier!!).
I wish I was more familiar with awesome contemporary writers so I’d love to read any engagements with stuff being published now, although I also adore your reviews of random old paperbacks.
Monks and dogs, both always great.
My favourite types of Chatner article:
-Two or More People Have a Polite Conversation (Two Monks, OBVIOUSLY, but also see The Courtship of Penelope)
-Danny Makes Up a Little Story to Go with These Pictures (this is also Two Monks, as well as The Infant Christ Receiving Piggybacks)
-Slice of Life (anything about baby Rocco or your dogs, or all of the above, in some combination)
-Two or More People Have an Impolite Conversation (this is what I love about your Austen summaries, but Barbara Foerster gives a similar feeling!)
-I'd be happy to learn more about our beleaguered Hittite friend, why not, he was pleasant
I also enjoy your serious essays, usually about difficult life events or emotions -- I find them deeply engaging.
Hittite army guy!
I’m also very much enjoying posts about the baby, but I understand if you don’t want to keep doing them as he ages. Your joy in parenthood is just so palpable, and it makes me happy for you!
I'm a huge fan of the two monks, as well as your "texts from Jane Eyre"-style novel ... dialogue? I'm not sure what to call those posts, but reading them brings me such delight. I love anything to do with the princely dogs, and I even quite enjoyed the various depictions of the Christ child being carried places. I think my favorite pieces are those in which you do something a touch personal, perhaps a little melancholy -- your estrangement from your family reminds the reader of the various people in our own lives whom we no longer speak with, whether intentionally or because we fell away from each other with time and distance. I absolutely love sneak peeks into your forthcoming writing, always.
Monks! I LOVE THE MONKS!
The monks are awfully good. And of course everything in the tradition of "Women Listening to Men in Western Art History".
of course, i just got here....
Plus one to the Hittite fellow, as well as any myth you feel called to retell in any style! Also, I am always immensely pleased by the simple genre of "lists"; do with that information what you will! Hope healing happens quickly!
ALWAYS more monks. And what people say about the dogs.
Monks! Can never have too many monks! But anything you do is always entertaining. We will follow where you lead. Hope that baby's mum improves soon.
Daniel, your fellow who aspires to join the Hittite Army is great, a fun read! - Yes, please also recommend classic movies. (Tendonitis - darn! Hope it's a short wait at urgent care!)
Loved the Hittite army guy and would be happy to see him return.
Would also love more old movie recommendations--I'm always scrolling through the Criterion Channel for stuff to watch, and the volume of their classic films can make it hard to settle on a choice.
Also--and I realize you may have moved on from this era of writing, which is totally fair--if you occasionally saw a very foolish essay or piece out there and felt moved to mercilessly satirize it, e.g. the Toast piece "I’d Love To Help My Wife Do The Dishes, But I’m Trapped Under Something Heavy"--I would enjoy that very much.
I love reading about your dogs! Also, I'm interested in your take on The Long Ships. I'm currently reading it and I keep thinking, "This is SO Chatner."