tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post3980289712989714877..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: What There Is To Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty & William MaxwellStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-51873718214414236602013-01-25T00:35:17.123+00:002013-01-25T00:35:17.123+00:00I read this one a year ago, and while I liked it, ...I read this one a year ago, and while I liked it, I did find the letters of William Maxwell and Frank O'Connor more amusing and personable. I really should look up Element of Lavishness.Pam H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11203474273895032725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-43252081056850713992013-01-16T23:19:39.100+00:002013-01-16T23:19:39.100+00:00You are now, I realize, reading books that were gi...You are now, I realize, reading books that were given you. But, if you haven't read it already, you might want to put _The Habit of Being_ on your TBR list. It is a collection of letters by Flannery O'Connor. I've read only one of the short stories that made her name (it made my mouth drop open, and I keep meaning to read more, but I love novels better than stories, so...), but it doesn't matter. The letters are meaty and smart and funny. Renatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-79092015540811050412013-01-12T00:38:14.340+00:002013-01-12T00:38:14.340+00:00It is the best non-fiction category, isn't it?...It is the best non-fiction category, isn't it? It's a wonderful treat to read letters from people who weren't just literary heavyweights themselves, but knew so many other authors too.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-33514037718463110112013-01-12T00:37:29.321+00:002013-01-12T00:37:29.321+00:00Thanks so much! You'd love 'em :)
(and it...Thanks so much! You'd love 'em :)<br />(and it amuses me that your comment is just below Belle's!)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-70229449386431711982013-01-12T00:37:07.266+00:002013-01-12T00:37:07.266+00:00I know! If I sit and think about it, I feel a lit...I know! If I sit and think about it, I feel a little guilty about reading their letters... but I get over it (!) Actually, Maxwell was big in helping others' posthumous letters be published, and donated his in various places, so I don't imagine he'd mind.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-84582253392428576482013-01-12T00:36:12.729+00:002013-01-12T00:36:12.729+00:00Haha! Mea culpa. Except I'm not at all sorry.....Haha! Mea culpa. Except I'm not at all sorry...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-77325767758038487752013-01-12T00:32:42.647+00:002013-01-12T00:32:42.647+00:00Oh, wouldn't it just! But letters from Warner...Oh, wouldn't it just! But letters from Warner would be even more delicious.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-87157391826929338252013-01-12T00:32:22.783+00:002013-01-12T00:32:22.783+00:00In which case, you'd love this Tiffany! I def...In which case, you'd love this Tiffany! I definitely get more of a sense of place from Southern writers than others in America - even though I know just as little about Southern geography as I do about anywhere in the US. One day I'll go!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-2406032202060167702013-01-12T00:31:37.149+00:002013-01-12T00:31:37.149+00:00I know! He was editor of the New Yorker, so seemed...I know! He was editor of the New Yorker, so seemed to know everyone.<br /><br />You'd love his fiction, I think - They Came Like Swallows is superb.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5431147621182711952013-01-12T00:31:03.958+00:002013-01-12T00:31:03.958+00:00Sometimes reading an author's letters or biogr...Sometimes reading an author's letters or biography is fine without having read their output - I definitely loved Sheila Kaye-Smith's autobiography without having read anything else by her, and I would recommend the Warner/Maxwell letters to anyone - but I do think this one might be better once you've read at least something by these authors. Which you are soon to do!<br /><br />I hope she didn't come across as dull in this review - I just felt more familiar with Maxwell, I think.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-36614499985598618642013-01-12T00:29:39.357+00:002013-01-12T00:29:39.357+00:00Oo, you will - reading this inspired me to get The...Oo, you will - reading this inspired me to get The Optimist's Daughter. I have read The Ponder Heart, but don't remember anything about it.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-45034405705950311672013-01-12T00:28:53.879+00:002013-01-12T00:28:53.879+00:00Thanks, Karen! It's a great one to read slowly...Thanks, Karen! It's a great one to read slowly and gradually.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-213982520066803902013-01-12T00:28:17.972+00:002013-01-12T00:28:17.972+00:00Wasn't it lovely of Heather? A complete surpr...Wasn't it lovely of Heather? A complete surprise too.<br />I thought you might agree with that statement, Claire! What a wonder he was, for that. And an underrated skill appreciation is. You probably won't love this as much as Lavishness, but I reckon you'd love it anyway.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-19968065868239321072013-01-11T22:57:18.178+00:002013-01-11T22:57:18.178+00:00While I really enjoy reading epistolary novels (se...While I really enjoy reading epistolary novels (see Possession, Bridget Jones, The Egyptologist for a few examples), I have never been tempted to read anyone’s real collected letters. Until now… : ) This sound a bit like a book about books/reading, which is probably my favorite non-fiction category.Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-13224753974903897602013-01-11T22:37:21.038+00:002013-01-11T22:37:21.038+00:00Good, good review. I must read both collection of ...Good, good review. I must read both collection of letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-10828504350350704542013-01-11T21:45:44.241+00:002013-01-11T21:45:44.241+00:00Oh dear, Simon...two more for my list. Isn't i...Oh dear, Simon...two more for my list. Isn't it lovely that we have the privilege of reading private letters from so many writers. Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335523622158333456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-46789422123492299012013-01-11T19:43:53.386+00:002013-01-11T19:43:53.386+00:00I really wish you wouldn't keep writing about ...I really wish you wouldn't keep writing about these books that I have to go and put on my wishlist..... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-13003176845665921872013-01-11T15:34:09.440+00:002013-01-11T15:34:09.440+00:00I love William Maxwell. Just imagining how wonderf...I love William Maxwell. Just imagining how wonderful it would be to get letters from him. maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13955194101659665925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-7464550933675943742013-01-11T15:32:17.334+00:002013-01-11T15:32:17.334+00:00I love Eudora Welty, and I'm fascinated with t...I love Eudora Welty, and I'm fascinated with that sense of place so many Southern writers either discuss outright or weave into their work. This sounds like a great read!Tiffany Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030610462498175664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-43494385266951321012013-01-11T15:10:33.202+00:002013-01-11T15:10:33.202+00:00I've not come across Maxwell before but I love...I've not come across Maxwell before but I love that quote and he sounds like he had an interesting address book. I wonder how many other letter collections he pops up in... :)Alex in Leedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581135303575274237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-60282582972283692142013-01-11T15:08:07.910+00:002013-01-11T15:08:07.910+00:00Interesting review, though as I have not read eith...Interesting review, though as I have not read either novelist I am not sure what good it would be as a read for me. Does that make sense? Though I have just got my first book by Eudora Welty so I may change my mind, though she doesn't sound like she is riveting in this book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-35104057848801821602013-01-11T15:07:22.866+00:002013-01-11T15:07:22.866+00:00Sounds like an interesting read, I read some Eudo...Sounds like an interesting read, I read some Eudora Welty last year I'll have to put that on my wishlistKarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02613986841074083598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-80864423843158967692013-01-11T08:24:28.538+00:002013-01-11T08:24:28.538+00:00I've had that book on my wish list for a while...I've had that book on my wish list for a while and I'm so glad to hear it meets expectations. Thankyou, Simon.Cornflowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779286635989616330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-39286226709238219852013-01-11T00:27:26.570+00:002013-01-11T00:27:26.570+00:00What a thoughtful gift. I have had this on my TBR...What a thoughtful gift. I have had this on my TBR list since finishing <i>The Element of Lavishness</i>, knowing it could never measure up to that book but still eager to read it. I am so happy to hear that Maxwell's letters are as beautiful and engaging as ever. And to your comment "I think one of his most significant contributions to literature is his panache as an appreciator", I can only respond with a loud and enthusiastic YES!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.com