Mike, you have a GIFT yourself. You're like the Pied Piper. Or someone who took a Master Class taught by him. Direct from Hamlin. Some people got it, some people don't. I kind of occupy a gray middle ground.
Made me think of this quote from Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The writing is so exquisite it stopped me in my tracks, and I saved it and go back to it every now and then.
“When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to catch whole for they will break and tatter under the touch. You must let them ooze and crawl of their own will onto a knife blade and lift them gently into your bottle of sea water. And perhaps that might be the way to write this book-to open the page and let the stories crawl in by themselves.”
Sorry if you've been told this numerous times, but I was "introduced" to you/your Substack through a reference from Mary L. Trump's memoir "Who Could Ever Love You", about an article you did on paradoelia (the drunk octopus wants to fight you, door hook). 😁🙂
Also, if you're into music 🎶, I recently discovered a band called the Fruit Bats. To my shame, they've been around for years and I was totally unaware. Anyway, a great song "Cazadera" has the refrain "sometimes a cloud is just a cloud". 😎☁️
Wow!
Took the words right out of my keyboard!
Thank you -- and, I felt
Such a memorable post that I will keep close. Thank you.
Mike, you have a GIFT yourself. You're like the Pied Piper. Or someone who took a Master Class taught by him. Direct from Hamlin. Some people got it, some people don't. I kind of occupy a gray middle ground.
Great piece, Mike!
Made me think of this quote from Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The writing is so exquisite it stopped me in my tracks, and I saved it and go back to it every now and then.
“When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to catch whole for they will break and tatter under the touch. You must let them ooze and crawl of their own will onto a knife blade and lift them gently into your bottle of sea water. And perhaps that might be the way to write this book-to open the page and let the stories crawl in by themselves.”
Love this description of ‘felt writing’ … you were bang in a zone when these words flowed!!
And it anchors us in a Place. Wonderful.
Such a good read. Thank you!
Hey Mike...
Sorry if you've been told this numerous times, but I was "introduced" to you/your Substack through a reference from Mary L. Trump's memoir "Who Could Ever Love You", about an article you did on paradoelia (the drunk octopus wants to fight you, door hook). 😁🙂
Also, if you're into music 🎶, I recently discovered a band called the Fruit Bats. To my shame, they've been around for years and I was totally unaware. Anyway, a great song "Cazadera" has the refrain "sometimes a cloud is just a cloud". 😎☁️
Incredible work! I would love to learn to write like this sometime.
Love it when you find a good book that takes you into the next day, like your experience of The Martian.