"The stronger argument is this: everything isn’t about me. The primary purpose of an artist (and I believe writers are artists) is to be a conduit."
Definitely a strong argument! Yes, there is a certain amount of mental suffering inherent in being a writer. But really, who are you to get in between Creativity and the world? In fact, I'd argue that the suffering of writing is mainly because we resist the process, rather than surrendering to it.
Great piece, Charlie. I really enjoyed it. I'm sold on the book (I don't think you've given any spoilers here -- yours is a careful and highly relatable analysis of general themes that resonated with you, which I totally agree on). Also, as a chess player myself, I know I'll love reading the book. The game of chess is really the game of life. It isn't a hobby, I've never considered it a hobby, although I play it whenever I can and doesn't make me money. It's really a confrontation with yourself, the way you approach life, the way you assess and price risk, what counts and what doesn't. If you playing paying attention, it reveals lots of who you are. If you're not into chess, I highly recommend that you do (but I guess this book's already done that to you). Also, it's so cool you and Sasha are buds now lol :)
Thank you Charlie. The excerpts you shared are extraordinarily good. The feeling I have reading artists like Sasha is that they are making elegant holes in the fabric of our denial. A denial that allows us to pretend that we are not existing inside a pure miracle. That we know what is going on. That "life is just lunch." You have a place in this chain of artists, and I am watching you assist this hole-punching with your own writing, and by opening doors and channels to other artists like Sasha. We're all just like party-hosts, trying to get the right guests together. Thank you for introducing me to Sasha.
"...it’s a book about the profound, persistent awareness some people have that we are never in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and that obsession, self-loathing, and delusions of grandeur are all just different veneers on our constant attempt to escape this awareness."
Damn. True that.
"I keep writing as a way to pay forward the experience I have had as a witness to art, the times when a story someone else tells opens me up and lets me see myself and the world in a new way...The little bit of you that you lose by the persistent attempt to record and share parts of your life is a small sacrifice when you consider that this practice—this drive to figure out what matters then distill and share it—may someday result in a work of art which reshapes the way someone feels about the world, or even defines an entire era of their life."
Beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this, Charlie. I appreciate the recommendation, and look forward to reading Sasha's memoir.
Really lovely review Charlie, I stopped reading halfway through because I decided I wanted to read the book and once I make that decision I can't know anything else about the book. Which is hopefully a compliment to your reflection on it. Your comment about DM-ing Sasha made me giggle.
I had not finished my comment when it got sent away. Tried to order that book and probably one for aunt Anne also. Absolutely absolutely so sensitive so insightful Charlie. Thank you thank you thank you.
"The stronger argument is this: everything isn’t about me. The primary purpose of an artist (and I believe writers are artists) is to be a conduit. An artist opens a channel for people who consume their art, so that during and after consuming they can feel something, and connect to something."
This was beautiful. Personal writing is sometimes described as narcissistic, rightly so if done badly, but if done with this mindset and awareness that when we dig below the surface we usually find universal truths, it becomes extremely valuable.
"The stronger argument is this: everything isn’t about me. The primary purpose of an artist (and I believe writers are artists) is to be a conduit."
Definitely a strong argument! Yes, there is a certain amount of mental suffering inherent in being a writer. But really, who are you to get in between Creativity and the world? In fact, I'd argue that the suffering of writing is mainly because we resist the process, rather than surrendering to it.
Great piece, Charlie. I really enjoyed it. I'm sold on the book (I don't think you've given any spoilers here -- yours is a careful and highly relatable analysis of general themes that resonated with you, which I totally agree on). Also, as a chess player myself, I know I'll love reading the book. The game of chess is really the game of life. It isn't a hobby, I've never considered it a hobby, although I play it whenever I can and doesn't make me money. It's really a confrontation with yourself, the way you approach life, the way you assess and price risk, what counts and what doesn't. If you playing paying attention, it reveals lots of who you are. If you're not into chess, I highly recommend that you do (but I guess this book's already done that to you). Also, it's so cool you and Sasha are buds now lol :)
Thank you Charlie. The excerpts you shared are extraordinarily good. The feeling I have reading artists like Sasha is that they are making elegant holes in the fabric of our denial. A denial that allows us to pretend that we are not existing inside a pure miracle. That we know what is going on. That "life is just lunch." You have a place in this chain of artists, and I am watching you assist this hole-punching with your own writing, and by opening doors and channels to other artists like Sasha. We're all just like party-hosts, trying to get the right guests together. Thank you for introducing me to Sasha.
"...it’s a book about the profound, persistent awareness some people have that we are never in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and that obsession, self-loathing, and delusions of grandeur are all just different veneers on our constant attempt to escape this awareness."
Damn. True that.
"I keep writing as a way to pay forward the experience I have had as a witness to art, the times when a story someone else tells opens me up and lets me see myself and the world in a new way...The little bit of you that you lose by the persistent attempt to record and share parts of your life is a small sacrifice when you consider that this practice—this drive to figure out what matters then distill and share it—may someday result in a work of art which reshapes the way someone feels about the world, or even defines an entire era of their life."
Beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this, Charlie. I appreciate the recommendation, and look forward to reading Sasha's memoir.
Really lovely review Charlie, I stopped reading halfway through because I decided I wanted to read the book and once I make that decision I can't know anything else about the book. Which is hopefully a compliment to your reflection on it. Your comment about DM-ing Sasha made me giggle.
I had not finished my comment when it got sent away. Tried to order that book and probably one for aunt Anne also. Absolutely absolutely so sensitive so insightful Charlie. Thank you thank you thank you.
Incredible Charlie. Never read a review of a memoir before. I’ll have to increase my choices. The
This has been on my to-read list and you just pushed me over the edge. Bought a copy!
"The stronger argument is this: everything isn’t about me. The primary purpose of an artist (and I believe writers are artists) is to be a conduit. An artist opens a channel for people who consume their art, so that during and after consuming they can feel something, and connect to something."
This was beautiful. Personal writing is sometimes described as narcissistic, rightly so if done badly, but if done with this mindset and awareness that when we dig below the surface we usually find universal truths, it becomes extremely valuable.