Oh my gosh...I remember so vividly reading your Orangette post in the middle of the night back in 2016 when you shared your panic attack/ER story. And I thought how frightening...but also how very brave you are...and was thankful your mom was there with you. I've read and re-read all of your books and, and while all are written with such great honesty...I found The Fixed Stars to be even educational for me as well! Love that you and Ash found each other and built a life!
Thank you for another great post. Many relatable bits. I loved The Fixed Stars.
I think The New Menopause is one of the best books out there on the topic. I vetted a bunch and one of my criteria was that ‘frozen shoulder’ needed to be lifted in the index (I currently have *2* frozen shoulders) – I am looking forward to The New Perimenopause coming out later this year.
“Let’s say this person was kd lang. Yes! Let’s say that.” I mean, let me count the ways I love these sentences. Also, The Fixed Stars is so true and luminous, and I feel for some reason compelled to add that I feel this way even though my romantic situation did not quite resemble the “premise” at all. What more can we ask for from our books? To companion wisely even when the players are not like us may be the ultimate beauty of a work of art, to me. Finally, that landing of Peter’s - yes. It reminds me (though it is not the same, of course) of Jack Gilbert’s Falling and Flying. Maybe it’s not like that at all, but I so appreciate writers who plumb the dark pipes and find new forms there in spite of what everyone believes they’ll find. Beautiful post. And I met the person I married believing it would be a short sexy fling too. 😇
It cannot have been 10 years ago. Back then, 10 years ago ... and more ... I was a very loyal Orangette lurker. Since then I have taken so much from you, your writing, your (mostly way back then) recipes, your warmth, your smarts, your great photos, your wonderful books. Sigh. In any case, what a strange 10 years it has been! Let's all pray the next 10 will be vastly less traumatic. Thanks for making this past decade so much more bearable.
I read The Fixed Stars in late 2020 while in the midst of my own “life blow ups” and it remains a cherished text. Let’s not pretend it’s easy, but wow is it a better way to be. Thanks for this one, it hit!
It's 2am here in France and I am having one of those nights where you feel " underground , locked out of something" because I too , am falling in love with a man I shouldn't probably fall in love with for different reasons. And here I am sobbing in my cup of tea, hoping that this is not my 2016 kind of year.
And now I'm thinking of James Baldwin - you think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world , but then you read .
It's been less than 10 yrs, but I remember reading The Fixed Stars and feeling a gnawing that I was not happy in my marriage. I made mistakes on my way out, but both me and my ex have made it through and have a friendship while coparenting our kid. Thanks for all you do and share.
Love that last line -
Let’s not pretend we’ll come out unscathed
I love reading your words so much Molly
Oh my gosh...I remember so vividly reading your Orangette post in the middle of the night back in 2016 when you shared your panic attack/ER story. And I thought how frightening...but also how very brave you are...and was thankful your mom was there with you. I've read and re-read all of your books and, and while all are written with such great honesty...I found The Fixed Stars to be even educational for me as well! Love that you and Ash found each other and built a life!
Thank you for another great post. Many relatable bits. I loved The Fixed Stars.
I think The New Menopause is one of the best books out there on the topic. I vetted a bunch and one of my criteria was that ‘frozen shoulder’ needed to be lifted in the index (I currently have *2* frozen shoulders) – I am looking forward to The New Perimenopause coming out later this year.
“Let’s say this person was kd lang. Yes! Let’s say that.” I mean, let me count the ways I love these sentences. Also, The Fixed Stars is so true and luminous, and I feel for some reason compelled to add that I feel this way even though my romantic situation did not quite resemble the “premise” at all. What more can we ask for from our books? To companion wisely even when the players are not like us may be the ultimate beauty of a work of art, to me. Finally, that landing of Peter’s - yes. It reminds me (though it is not the same, of course) of Jack Gilbert’s Falling and Flying. Maybe it’s not like that at all, but I so appreciate writers who plumb the dark pipes and find new forms there in spite of what everyone believes they’ll find. Beautiful post. And I met the person I married believing it would be a short sexy fling too. 😇
A marvel to see two of my favorite writers' ideas in conversation with each other — I'm going to send this to Pete right now!
It cannot have been 10 years ago. Back then, 10 years ago ... and more ... I was a very loyal Orangette lurker. Since then I have taken so much from you, your writing, your (mostly way back then) recipes, your warmth, your smarts, your great photos, your wonderful books. Sigh. In any case, what a strange 10 years it has been! Let's all pray the next 10 will be vastly less traumatic. Thanks for making this past decade so much more bearable.
I read The Fixed Stars in late 2020 while in the midst of my own “life blow ups” and it remains a cherished text. Let’s not pretend it’s easy, but wow is it a better way to be. Thanks for this one, it hit!
It's 2am here in France and I am having one of those nights where you feel " underground , locked out of something" because I too , am falling in love with a man I shouldn't probably fall in love with for different reasons. And here I am sobbing in my cup of tea, hoping that this is not my 2016 kind of year.
And now I'm thinking of James Baldwin - you think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world , but then you read .
I hope you know this by now , you are loved.
It's been less than 10 yrs, but I remember reading The Fixed Stars and feeling a gnawing that I was not happy in my marriage. I made mistakes on my way out, but both me and my ex have made it through and have a friendship while coparenting our kid. Thanks for all you do and share.