tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post3819450044406269906..comments2024-02-15T02:46:48.670-05:00Comments on Erin O'Brien: "We're talking about how people communicate."Erin O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09089592061725346901noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-73798856263438189572010-05-26T05:38:35.631-04:002010-05-26T05:38:35.631-04:00Sweet, just ease your foot up off the peddle befor...Sweet, just ease your foot up off the peddle before each pothole. The road smooths ahead.Mrs. Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00398436173535554878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-25993347567704928942010-05-25T14:12:55.985-04:002010-05-25T14:12:55.985-04:00I am on a tough stretch of road right now and thes...I am on a tough stretch of road right now and these comments mean the world to me. Thank you with all my heart.Erin O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089592061725346901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-70535776286569792852010-05-25T13:58:30.395-04:002010-05-25T13:58:30.395-04:00I think, from the outside looking in, that great w...I think, from the outside looking in, that great writing, not unlike like great music, is distinguishable from good writing by the density and intensity of the arrangement. It appears as if the author has poured their soul and energy into each word, none come along for the grammatical ride as they do when proles like myself scribble.<br /><br />And so each succession of letters takes the reader somewhere further inside the plot, the author's vision.<br /><br />In this passage, as Rudd endeavors to illustrate his thoughts on cultural assimilation, he unwittingly, although I believe by no coincendence on John's part, refers to "a BMW I think, one of those kids’ ones, 320 something."<br /><br />This small fragment is a brilliant cultural reference to an era,80's, a demographic, the young upwardly mobile professionals and the inculcation of BMW's 320i among that tribe of consumers. It subtly parses for the reader, who is unlikely to know as I do via EOB that John was steeped in American Automobilia,the very essence of cultural assimilation that Rudd is laying out.<br /><br />I need to read more authentic literature. I can quote Steinbeck and Melville, but methinks I'll take " The Assault on Tony's" into the woods with me later this summer.<br /><br />Thanks again EOB.philbillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-55430531557814702792010-05-24T10:14:21.950-04:002010-05-24T10:14:21.950-04:00in my belief system there is no heaven no hell no ...in my belief system there is no heaven no hell no religion nothing. there is just art. and John lives through his. as we all do through ours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-53296310057029975472010-05-24T09:23:48.119-04:002010-05-24T09:23:48.119-04:00Erin, I want you to stand on the bathroom sink and...Erin, I want you to stand on the bathroom sink and repeat to yourself, "I can do anything good."philbillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-32490347960114744672010-05-24T01:53:08.602-04:002010-05-24T01:53:08.602-04:00Erin,
You are a powerful writer. And I'm ...Erin,<br /><br /> You are a powerful writer. And I'm proud to include you as my friend.<br /><br /> John is looking down, and smiling.<br /><br />Alal The Retired Army Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-78332283301693146892010-05-22T04:17:39.643-04:002010-05-22T04:17:39.643-04:00a brilliant writer.a brilliant writer.A Daft Scots Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922985143036647579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-23877764307647570462010-05-21T20:05:52.710-04:002010-05-21T20:05:52.710-04:00"Death ends a life, not a relationship."..."Death ends a life, not a relationship." <br />Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom<br /><br />I'm sorry for your loss and your pain. And John's too. <br /><br />RJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-40333459945452763282010-05-21T15:51:27.190-04:002010-05-21T15:51:27.190-04:00Don't jump in if you don't want to. Those ...Don't jump in if you don't want to. Those two names are fine. Good choices.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-87528725900985244502010-05-21T15:34:59.856-04:002010-05-21T15:34:59.856-04:00Thank you all for your lovely comments. Today is d...Thank you all for your lovely comments. Today is difficult for a many reasons and it is a comfort to also find it filled with kind words.<br /><br />Kirk, my brain is fried today, but John loved Gore Vidal and William Faulkner. There's others of course. I'll jump back in as I think of them.Erin O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089592061725346901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-54899815806644764702010-05-21T15:21:21.722-04:002010-05-21T15:21:21.722-04:00Without having read the entire novel, I can't ...Without having read the entire novel, I can't say for sure whether your brother is speaking through Rudd or not, but I have to say, Rudd is spot on. Everything he says is true, in my humble opinion.<br /><br />I've been waiting awhile for you to do another post on your brother, because there's a question I've been wanting to ask. You've written a lot about how he was influenced by Bob Dylan, but seeing as your brother wrote prose and not songs, I'm wondering if he had a favorite author or novel.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-49152634268170812262010-05-21T12:12:39.831-04:002010-05-21T12:12:39.831-04:00With all due respect to your dear brother on this ...With all due respect to your dear brother on this his birthday, you are as readable a writer as any I have ever read. That is not always true of John for me. I'm betting you are fiercely loyal to his talent, as only a sister can be (Hell, my brother who passed untimely a year ago next week could belch the alphabet--entire, and I will remain fiercely loyal to THAT talent 'til my own end!), but, girlfriend, YOU. CAN. WRITE. And I mean that in the sense of "to beat the band." Harvey and Eck still feeds my soul.<br /><br />My WV is "cisanis"--sound it out: are our brothers talking to us?!Mrs. Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00398436173535554878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-17559865322597307702010-05-21T11:00:41.761-04:002010-05-21T11:00:41.761-04:00He brings up an interesting point. Travesty, such ...He brings up an interesting point. Travesty, such as gang colors and related murders, like all other things eventually become objects of humor or joke. <br /><br />We look back on horror, and it's not uncommon to make jokes if for no other reason than to take the horrific power away from the cause, to help us feel safe. Through happiness do we protect ourselves. <br /><br />Just as we look back at our loved ones gone, and we smile and laugh, as they'd want us to. Through happiness do we remember. <br /><br />From happiness we came, in happiness we wish to be, into happiness we should go. <br /><br />May we all live well enough to one day inspire somebody's jokes.Matt Conlonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02616567498642991754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-10772709710824475332010-05-21T10:55:28.119-04:002010-05-21T10:55:28.119-04:00Oh, boy. You've got that communicating with ot...Oh, boy. You've got that communicating with other people thing down really well, Erin. John would say so, too. Go. Write. It's what you were put here to do.Leslie Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15702472429383639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-35051050950149988922010-05-21T10:31:07.934-04:002010-05-21T10:31:07.934-04:001. I was 8 days old when John was born.
2. I think...1. I was 8 days old when John was born.<br />2. I think parts of Harvey and Eck are as good as this. You don't get the same sense from it, because it is structured in a completely different way, but it's easily as good, in that it flows as naturally and compellingly as this does.<br />3. This is good.<br />4. I'm really glad you're alive. You make the world a better place.deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07410064795682939760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-32785108270625597522010-05-21T09:40:19.231-04:002010-05-21T09:40:19.231-04:00I'm guessing that it would be futile to tell y...I'm guessing that it would be futile to tell you not to be so tough on yourself.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17626884939818771077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-80145375693101367762010-05-21T09:11:42.959-04:002010-05-21T09:11:42.959-04:00Thanks Bill. This is sort of like John's bday ...Thanks Bill. This is sort of like John's bday gift to me. <br /><br />I reread this and think: <i>Stop bellyaching. Stop playing with yourself. Start writing something as good as this. He's dead you're alive. Do something for chrissakes.</i>Erin O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089592061725346901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18122582.post-72100194529870398392010-05-21T09:04:25.882-04:002010-05-21T09:04:25.882-04:00Those writing genes from your Mom or Dad were pred...Those writing genes from your Mom or Dad were predominant. Talent. It's talent.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17626884939818771077noreply@blogger.com