What a ride! So much so I stayed up past 11 last night to finish. What surprised me the most was how funny it was, I love Dr. Larch's hot takes (TV being worse for orphans than organized religion). And Melony's honesty - that line about "ordinary middle-class shit" - so good! I now have the movie to look forward to tonight, really going all in this weekend! And I echo Alicia's comment below, a perfect Substack!
I can't wait to watch the movie! I don't know about your copy, but mine included a little essay/excerpt about John Irving's challenges adapting the book into a screenplay. Really interesting!
I have to thank you because I don't think I would have ever picked up The Cider House Rules if you hadn't suggested it and I really loved it. Possibly the best closing line I've ever read. I wish Homer had come back to St. Cloud's in time to see Dr. Larch one last time. I could have read 100 more pages of them working and being together in the end.
SUCH a good closing line. I can see why he was working toward it the whole time. Also I’ve been thinking a lot about why he chose that title. Like, that realization at the end that these rules were up on the wall and the whole time none of the guys could even read them! And what that says about…literally everything in the book and the way Homer lives his life!
I love this, I love these posts and I have so loved your commentary on the Cider House Rules. John Irving is one of the most amazing writers, and though I was always a reader growing up, finding him and reading Owen Meany made me fall in love with novels. His stories, his words, his page-long asides on the most random stuff, it makes you want to live in the book with the characters.
I would love if you did a read along to Hotel New Hampshire - it has to be one of his weirdest ones but it is still my favorite (not sure what that says about me).
I love reading your Substack because is isn't the latest hot take on whatever is going on in the world. But it is incredibly thoughtful - I love seeing it come into my email!
Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words, Julie! ❤️
I know I LOVED Owen Meany as a high schooler, but I can’t for the life of me remember much of anything about it, so I think it’s time for a reread!
Maybe I will do one post about it when I read The Hotel New Hampshire? I love doing these multi-post projects because they really make me think deeply about the books, but they do feel a little bit…self-indulgent, I guess? Lol. Like “damn girl, you sure do love to hear yourself talk.” But I know I’ll have a lot of thoughts to share!!
your substack is perfect; never change
Thank you for the validation I so desperately need!!
What a ride! So much so I stayed up past 11 last night to finish. What surprised me the most was how funny it was, I love Dr. Larch's hot takes (TV being worse for orphans than organized religion). And Melony's honesty - that line about "ordinary middle-class shit" - so good! I now have the movie to look forward to tonight, really going all in this weekend! And I echo Alicia's comment below, a perfect Substack!
I can't wait to watch the movie! I don't know about your copy, but mine included a little essay/excerpt about John Irving's challenges adapting the book into a screenplay. Really interesting!
I have to thank you because I don't think I would have ever picked up The Cider House Rules if you hadn't suggested it and I really loved it. Possibly the best closing line I've ever read. I wish Homer had come back to St. Cloud's in time to see Dr. Larch one last time. I could have read 100 more pages of them working and being together in the end.
SUCH a good closing line. I can see why he was working toward it the whole time. Also I’ve been thinking a lot about why he chose that title. Like, that realization at the end that these rules were up on the wall and the whole time none of the guys could even read them! And what that says about…literally everything in the book and the way Homer lives his life!
I love this, I love these posts and I have so loved your commentary on the Cider House Rules. John Irving is one of the most amazing writers, and though I was always a reader growing up, finding him and reading Owen Meany made me fall in love with novels. His stories, his words, his page-long asides on the most random stuff, it makes you want to live in the book with the characters.
I would love if you did a read along to Hotel New Hampshire - it has to be one of his weirdest ones but it is still my favorite (not sure what that says about me).
I love reading your Substack because is isn't the latest hot take on whatever is going on in the world. But it is incredibly thoughtful - I love seeing it come into my email!
Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words, Julie! ❤️
I know I LOVED Owen Meany as a high schooler, but I can’t for the life of me remember much of anything about it, so I think it’s time for a reread!
Maybe I will do one post about it when I read The Hotel New Hampshire? I love doing these multi-post projects because they really make me think deeply about the books, but they do feel a little bit…self-indulgent, I guess? Lol. Like “damn girl, you sure do love to hear yourself talk.” But I know I’ll have a lot of thoughts to share!!