Mary, I always stop a little l whenever I'm reading here and come upon a place or street name I'm so familiar with: Connecticut and K, where I took the subway probably thousands of times; Britches, which went out of business but then was resurrected - a store now in Warrenton (!) of all places; the Tabard Inn, where I ate many a lunch and dinner. I feel a bit like I'm following Robert and Lena.
"Parsing Lena," the chapter title, is one of those paradoxes that goes by the name Robert. He's "parsing" Lena, yes, but as with yesterday's chapter, so today we learn so much more about him in all his complexity. That rather shocking bit about "waste" - not of a bullet but of the particular type of bird, and the failure to recognize it was a living creature; the "efficient" lovemaking that resulted almost immediately after with a cleansing; that pas de deux on the streets resulting in a meet-up, which seems to relate to a (well-plotted) checkerboard move, calculated; and the color blue, which also appears in fire. How you write, Mary, fascinates me.
Mary, you've managed to pack so much vulnerability in one chapter. I find it interesting that both Robert and Lena are so affected by their relationship with their parents and how this unfolds as we read. The other thing which strikes me is the contrast between Robert and Isaac, how much more similar Isaac is to Lena's father and mother and how in her grief, his spontaneity...the connection with him must have felt like a balm.
“She was my breath of blue” and the whole section after that really got me, Mary. Also his relationship with his father and being accused of being a “waste”. Also explains why he thought he needed to make love to her “efficiently”… what a telling choice of words. I’m reading your memoir now, and I can’t help telling you that I think that your hair is absolutely gorgeous! :)
A terrific read, a fab comment--and so glad you are also reading the memoir: I will comment there too if you do. Don't skip ... You'll see why but know that this memoir was written "live" --meaning while I lived the whole thing .... xo big time!
“The narrowed sight” kind of says it all, doesn’t it? Brilliant chapter, love the checkerboard-blue, Robert’s view is so tidy, efficient and boxed in, but maybe we can’t blame him…you reveal his father, the crop rows, the controlled burns. Seems this fear of the chaos of “red” has been building for generations.
Mary, I always stop a little l whenever I'm reading here and come upon a place or street name I'm so familiar with: Connecticut and K, where I took the subway probably thousands of times; Britches, which went out of business but then was resurrected - a store now in Warrenton (!) of all places; the Tabard Inn, where I ate many a lunch and dinner. I feel a bit like I'm following Robert and Lena.
"Parsing Lena," the chapter title, is one of those paradoxes that goes by the name Robert. He's "parsing" Lena, yes, but as with yesterday's chapter, so today we learn so much more about him in all his complexity. That rather shocking bit about "waste" - not of a bullet but of the particular type of bird, and the failure to recognize it was a living creature; the "efficient" lovemaking that resulted almost immediately after with a cleansing; that pas de deux on the streets resulting in a meet-up, which seems to relate to a (well-plotted) checkerboard move, calculated; and the color blue, which also appears in fire. How you write, Mary, fascinates me.
So generous, Maureen, and filled with such insights and personal refections that give me a sense of the universality of the specifics I wrote.
Mary, you've managed to pack so much vulnerability in one chapter. I find it interesting that both Robert and Lena are so affected by their relationship with their parents and how this unfolds as we read. The other thing which strikes me is the contrast between Robert and Isaac, how much more similar Isaac is to Lena's father and mother and how in her grief, his spontaneity...the connection with him must have felt like a balm.
I actually had not thought of that, Rosa. Will ponder your insights ....
I loved the writing here, Mary. Charged with meanings that flow from one word to another and from section to section. Beautiful.
Ah, my loyal brilliant reader. My thanks, dear Jeffrey.
“She was my breath of blue” and the whole section after that really got me, Mary. Also his relationship with his father and being accused of being a “waste”. Also explains why he thought he needed to make love to her “efficiently”… what a telling choice of words. I’m reading your memoir now, and I can’t help telling you that I think that your hair is absolutely gorgeous! :)
A terrific read, a fab comment--and so glad you are also reading the memoir: I will comment there too if you do. Don't skip ... You'll see why but know that this memoir was written "live" --meaning while I lived the whole thing .... xo big time!
Wow! I want to hear more when I finish reading it!
“The narrowed sight” kind of says it all, doesn’t it? Brilliant chapter, love the checkerboard-blue, Robert’s view is so tidy, efficient and boxed in, but maybe we can’t blame him…you reveal his father, the crop rows, the controlled burns. Seems this fear of the chaos of “red” has been building for generations.
Ah, the relevance to today resounds: chaos of red, as you put it so well. Thank you for kind words, dear reader and friend. Maybe restack? xo
Good idea! Done!