Lev Raphael's Blog, page 38

A Funny Faux Pas in France

Years ago when I was researching a book on Edith Wharton's psychology and fiction, I visited her former home north of Paris in Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt. It was less than an hour north of the city and I'd written to the owner's secretary long in advance to get permission to explore it and take pictures. I didn't realize my clueless publisher would have no interest in the photos, not even an author photo of me in her garden. The ways of publishing have always been mysterious....

Arriving in that...

My Bastille Day Faux Pas in France

Years ago when I was researching a book on Edith Wharton's psychology and fiction, I visited her former home north of Paris in Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt. It was less than an hour north of the city and I'd written to the owner's secretary long in advance to get permission to explore it and take pictures. I didn't realize my clueless publisher would have no interest in the photos, not even an author photo of me in her garden. The ways of publishing have always been mysterious....

Arriving in that...

Jeopardy Bush Does It Again

Years ago they used to say Jeb Bush was "the smart one" in the family. He may be smart (though compared to whom?), but he doesn't seem very politic. One of his answers to our country's economic problems is this: "People need to work longer hours and, through their productivity, gain more income for their families."

Tell that to everyone who has two jobs, or who's working overtime, or who's been laid off and can't find a job. It sure sounds like he's arrogant and dismissive and has no idea w...

More Stuff Hemingway Never Said

It must be wonderful to be dead and keep writing. I guess when you're a genius, nothing can stop you.

Like Hemingway. He died in 1961 but he keeps writing all kinds of snappy lines. I just saw a new posthumous quote this week: "The first draft of anything is shit." It's all over the Internet.



Imagine the excitement of the people hearing it at a writers conference séance when he transmitted that brilliant, ineffable wisdom to them from The Other Side!

Right.

But if you feel unhappy abo...

A Taste of Bruges

I'm not a rushed traveler. I don't need to check things off a list to say that I've "done" them or "done" a city.

I'm more what the French call a flâneur, someone who likes to wander, stroll, and enjoy himself at leisure. I like museums in moderation, scenic views, churches with intriguing art, unusual art galleries, sidewalk cafes, good long meals with local wines. Because of that penchant for wandering, I once found myself in front of the oldest standing house in Paris, and was grateful fo...

Why Would Anyone Diss Gay Rights Allies?

A young gay writer just published an opinion piece in The Washington Post telling people to stop displaying the rainbow flag colors on their profile photos.

Why?

Because: "Gay pride is not something you can claim by waving a flag."

Because: "The rainbow symbol is easy to co-opt, but the experience it represents is not."

Because: these people "were celebrating a victory they had no part in winning."

Because: "for many of us, gay marriage is a minor win."

Because: "holding up a victory...

What's Wrong With Having Straight Allies?

A young gay writer just published an opinion piece in The Washington Post telling people to stop displaying the rainbow flag colors on their profile photos.

Why?

Because "[g]ay pride is not something you can claim by waving a flag."

Because "[t]he rainbow symbol is easy to co-opt, but the experience it represents is not."

Because these people "were celebrating a victory they had no part in winning."

Because "for many of us, gay marriage is a minor win."

Because "holding up a victory f...

Politeness I'd Truly Like to See

Buzzfeed's "Whatever Happened To These 6 Polite Gestures?" was all over Facebook recently. It prompted all kinds of nostalgia for things like thank you notes--as if climate change would end when people bought stationary and picked up pens again.

I send email thank you notes, and if I'm really grateful, send them via Jacquie Lawson who does awesome animated cards. They're more beautiful than anything I could buy, and my handwriting has always been atrocious anyway. It's worse now that I've ha...

Was E.L. James Really Bullied on Twitter?

Monday on Facebook, Anne Rice majestically defended E.L. James after James's Twitter Q&A event spun out of control.

Instead of being a lovefest or a cyber tea party, #AskELJames turned into a free-for-all where critics of all kinds--wits and dimwits--told James what they thought of her books and her writing. The responses prompted this furious denunciation from Rice, an author I admire:

I'm receiving word from numerous sources that author E.L. James is being attacked and bullied and abused...

Was E.L. James Bullied on Twitter?

Monday on Facebook, Anne Rice majestically defended E.L. James after James's Twitter Q&A event spun out of control.

Instead of being a lovefest or a cyber tea party, #AskELJames turned into a free-for-all where critics of all kinds--wits and dimwits--told James what they thought of her books and her writing. The responses prompted this furious denunciation from Rice, an author I admire:

I'm receiving word from numerous sources that author E.L. James is being attacked and bullied and abused...