Discussion

A wonderful evocative piece.

One small nitpick -- Auburn, New York is to the west of Utica, not the north.

nice account...

She is Jessica. I am Jeelani. She wrote that. I write this.
She said heart. I listen life.
She drank tears.I cried blood.
What a savage world. What a lethal time. Again I read this line. I knew what you meant.

I have got my copy already and I though the essay by Mary Gaitskill was inspiring...Also, Will Self's eulogy on JG Ballard was worth the subscription price in itself - (well almost!)

Made an account just to post this.

Wow. My stomach has dropped out.

Wondered when you were going to say something bout MJ. love this line:

Michael Jackson lost his childhood but he extended mine.

he was the coolest wasn't he?

Wonderful transition: We left the door unlocked. You found a lump. This reads like a poem.

What a breathtaking piece! I haven't been moved like this by a story in a very long time. I could just read it again and again and again. And I will!

Congratulations, Jessica!

What a story!

I like to read new voices, writers that are not being forced to write a story. Profesional writers are writung -sometime- too much, they should pause, do something else, recharge the batteries to see if they can write again with this fresh english, direct, to the point. CONGRATULATIONS!

I couldn't stick with just the beauty of the exposition. I also discussed the meticulous use of first and second person, for the benefit of every writer who's ever wondered, "How is it done right?"

This is how it's done Right.

Victoria
http://victoriamixon.com

The drift is established almost from the outset, making its ending all but inevitable: death or break-up. But that doesn't detract from a wonderful progression carried by a unique style of prose.

stunning

Just lovely. Vanagan made me giggle.

This is beautiful. What a haunting combination of telling detail and simple understatement. I'll be linking to it from my post on 6/26/09 as an example of exquisite exposition.

Victoria
http://victoriamixon.com

Welcome to an inspiring new job. What a challenge you have!

I agree with asking people in The Middle East, Asia and Africa to tell their stories, but please don't forget Europeans - particularly the ex-Soviet states.

Can I suggest you commission something from Polish writer Pawel Huelle? - his work has impressed me greatly over the last couple of years

A fine piece of writing. The story of so many lives, but unique to this one. Everything changes when the things we take for granted are no longer there. Excellent

Hair dressing is one of the few services which cannot be automated. Every hairdresser is (should be?) an artist in their own right. It is an interesting concept to write about all the hairdressers you have known. For me however they all blur into a long series of conversations about holiday and what I am doing the next weekend. For the last few years my wife has cut my hair with Wahl clippers. I get the best haircuts I have ever had now!

Great to have you here Mr Freeman. And hope to see a bolder, and a bit less respectable Granta, as you have said in the interview. I agree with you that this is not a magazine, really, but a cultural space where anything can happen. Best Wishes!

I've been following your career, Mr Freeman, In a lurking sort of manner. I am an admirer of your energy, initiative and many of your reviews. Congratulations on your new post in the lit world. I think your ideas are intelligent and "grand" in the British meaning. Best wishes.

... and Ray Liotta as Dad.

This was a good read - well written, and moving without being schmaltzy. And how do we know if our memories are really ours, or just the cumulative effect of remembering ourselves or others talking about things?

Although your father's age I never met him, but he comes across (in the same video clips you've seen) as an immensely likable guy. I'm sorry for him (and your family) that he was embroiled in such unsavory events. I'm pleased that he pulled away in the end.

Crockett is another guy I would have liked to meet - sufficiently focussed to work things out for himself, without being sucked into the maelstrom of all things Manson.

Anyway, you don't know me (I'm from Patagonia - not unlike Death Valley in some ways), but I just wanted to say that i liked this post. And I had a few minutes time on my hands - an unusual occurrence! My apologies if my comments are inappropriate.

Jem

Cease Fire

19 January 2009

The tank commander, aiming well,
‘took out’ a ‘hostile’ ground floor flat,
and all I loved precipit fell
in pulverised procession. Heart
pierced by rusty concrete bars,
child-choking through a jagged cleft,
fire waxing in my waning stars,
then silence – now a life, bereft,
has but its own curtailèd span:
I watch my sanguinary flow
through mind detached, apart with them
and screaming at our fate, and how
dogmatic faith can love condemn.

Through eddies of consoling dust,
Aeolus wafts a polaroid
(three little grins, entire in trust),
Out of my reach – until the void.

21 January 2009

I’ll take your coat. Ehud will fix a drink.
How was the flight? Few noticed that you’d slipped away?
The Washington distraction must have helped.
So good of you to come and help us celebrate
Completion of our necessary task to fight
And crush this evil force. We did appreciate
Your quiet support, as well as generous supplies
From BAE. Do please sit here and Tzipi, pass
The red to Gordon. I’m afraid the view just now
Is rather badly marred by all the smoke but, as you
English say, an omelette’s only made by breaking eggs.
Another joke: this dish, our delicate cuisine,
Is cooked on phosphorous – so have some more.
There’s plenty where that comes from – it’s from you.
How are the children? Yours I mean of course…

Oh! must you leave so early? We had hoped
You’d stay and see the fireworks soon re-start.
No, we quite understand. We know you can’t stay long
And must stay silent for your public with an even-
handed air of gravitas. Our thanks, and come again.

A wonderfully brisk, thoughtful interview...and Pollit's poetry deserves the attention. Is there any other essayist so open-minded in verse?

Mother wit! Impressive.

I enjoyed reading this post and would enjoy reading more.