I woke up that night, and the next, with my heart racing, but didn’t realize I had entered a new, subbasement-level lowness until I walked into the high school on Monday morning.
lol I love the scenes describing the high school football game at the end. The way the game ended matched the pervasive depression and melancholy of the narrators crisis.
Have you read Larry McMurty's Last Picture Show? Speaking of the tactile Midwestern writing I'm talking about, The Last Picture Show is a great one I had to just shout out for you - run out of his own town for it. Even then, in the 70s.
This is just pinpoint, classic Midwestern writing. You fit so naturally into that tradition and it's a very hard thing to pin down. It's a strange thing about all that empty space . . . but different from Canada. I can relate strongly, but also see differences.
Thank you! In my initial conception and my ongoing efforts to write the book, I always wanted it to be, at least in part, an homage to what I think of as a really fascinating, really beautiful place. There are these few ‘big’ small towns in Western Kansas, an hour or more of flat and gently rolling ground between them, open fields and open skies, with these interesting, diverse populations, and they defy, if not every stereotype, then at least so many of what people think of (if they think of) this patch of fly-over country.
Yes. Precisely. Your command of location is admirable. I'm very impressed. Yes: crunchy on the senses. I did a road trip with my Dad when I first got into serious reading and writing. Everywhere in the "heartland": perfect landscapes. All over. And they breathe stories.
The football metaphors landed quicker than a three-step drop - and the lead-in to a pivotal Chapter Nine was played out with nervy dramatic tension 🤝 Something about being behind the wheel on a highway always seems to catalyze an unexpected choice or decision: I'll be wondering what awaits in Wichita all next week 🤠
lol I love the scenes describing the high school football game at the end. The way the game ended matched the pervasive depression and melancholy of the narrators crisis.
Have you read Larry McMurty's Last Picture Show? Speaking of the tactile Midwestern writing I'm talking about, The Last Picture Show is a great one I had to just shout out for you - run out of his own town for it. Even then, in the 70s.
I've not read it--will have to add to my growing TBR!
This is just pinpoint, classic Midwestern writing. You fit so naturally into that tradition and it's a very hard thing to pin down. It's a strange thing about all that empty space . . . but different from Canada. I can relate strongly, but also see differences.
Well done!
Thank you! In my initial conception and my ongoing efforts to write the book, I always wanted it to be, at least in part, an homage to what I think of as a really fascinating, really beautiful place. There are these few ‘big’ small towns in Western Kansas, an hour or more of flat and gently rolling ground between them, open fields and open skies, with these interesting, diverse populations, and they defy, if not every stereotype, then at least so many of what people think of (if they think of) this patch of fly-over country.
Yes. Precisely. Your command of location is admirable. I'm very impressed. Yes: crunchy on the senses. I did a road trip with my Dad when I first got into serious reading and writing. Everywhere in the "heartland": perfect landscapes. All over. And they breathe stories.
The football metaphors landed quicker than a three-step drop - and the lead-in to a pivotal Chapter Nine was played out with nervy dramatic tension 🤝 Something about being behind the wheel on a highway always seems to catalyze an unexpected choice or decision: I'll be wondering what awaits in Wichita all next week 🤠
And we're off!