“Even a man without qualities has a father with qualities” is a Musil chapter title I think of a lot; love that guy, long books though! Also couldn’t agree more about Cusk, whom I like a lot despite it, but: absolutely lol.
When Abby came with me to the UK, we discussed how everyone says “sorry”; it’s not unheard of in the American South,…
“Even a man without qualities has a father with qualities” is a Musil chapter title I think of a lot; love that guy, long books though! Also couldn’t agree more about Cusk, whom I like a lot despite it, but: absolutely lol.
When Abby came with me to the UK, we discussed how everyone says “sorry”; it’s not unheard of in the American South, and Abby and I both apologize for events far from our control constantly. For what it’s worth, we both love it in the UK. Everyone should be sorry! We all have a lot to be sorry for. We’re still, even in England, probably apologizing less than half the amount we should. When you talked to that dickhead German and found a way to be compassionate thinking of his possible particulars, that was the spiritual side of automatic “I’m sorry”-ing and it’s often beautiful! You didn’t stop him from learning English! You didn’t suggest it’s bad not to know English! But: you’re sorry he’s in that spot (maybe) and you were cooler to him than others might have been because of it!
I’m sorry for defending saying “I’m sorry.” I know it’s neurotic and that I’m neurotic. I’m a weird person, but FWIW I leave eunuchs alone.
Fully snortled aloud 😂😂 for the record, so do I. 😷 And Musil… well, I reserve judgment until I finish (which given the length may be in several months) but so far I am getting (1) many staggering, life-changing images and insights and also (2) universal, casual misogyny. Musil strikes me as a dude who would be like “I love women”, if you get me. From Clarisse to the cousin to Bonadea… a complete failure to understand anything about women coupled with a certainty he knows everything about women because really there’s not that much to know and men are by far the more interesting, nuanced sex. This is just a prelim take bc I’ve not even got to the halfway point so very willing to revise later (and actually always willing to revise a prelim take, cf: the end of Kudos caused me to almost fully rethink how I felt about Cusk bc it was so fucking perfect). And may I say I’m sorry for any angst and soul-searching this piece may have prompted about your own (and indeed humanity’s) saying of sorry. Also, I think you will enjoy hearing that my son (who has been raised almost exclusively in the UK) knows almost no words in any other languages but has nailed “Pardon” (French accent) and “Scusi” so that when we are abroad he is able to apologise as much as he is accustomed to. He actually asked me, mom how do I say sorry. This world is so hard to navigate. I’m sorry.
“Even a man without qualities has a father with qualities” is a Musil chapter title I think of a lot; love that guy, long books though! Also couldn’t agree more about Cusk, whom I like a lot despite it, but: absolutely lol.
When Abby came with me to the UK, we discussed how everyone says “sorry”; it’s not unheard of in the American South, and Abby and I both apologize for events far from our control constantly. For what it’s worth, we both love it in the UK. Everyone should be sorry! We all have a lot to be sorry for. We’re still, even in England, probably apologizing less than half the amount we should. When you talked to that dickhead German and found a way to be compassionate thinking of his possible particulars, that was the spiritual side of automatic “I’m sorry”-ing and it’s often beautiful! You didn’t stop him from learning English! You didn’t suggest it’s bad not to know English! But: you’re sorry he’s in that spot (maybe) and you were cooler to him than others might have been because of it!
I’m sorry for defending saying “I’m sorry.” I know it’s neurotic and that I’m neurotic. I’m a weird person, but FWIW I leave eunuchs alone.
Fully snortled aloud 😂😂 for the record, so do I. 😷 And Musil… well, I reserve judgment until I finish (which given the length may be in several months) but so far I am getting (1) many staggering, life-changing images and insights and also (2) universal, casual misogyny. Musil strikes me as a dude who would be like “I love women”, if you get me. From Clarisse to the cousin to Bonadea… a complete failure to understand anything about women coupled with a certainty he knows everything about women because really there’s not that much to know and men are by far the more interesting, nuanced sex. This is just a prelim take bc I’ve not even got to the halfway point so very willing to revise later (and actually always willing to revise a prelim take, cf: the end of Kudos caused me to almost fully rethink how I felt about Cusk bc it was so fucking perfect). And may I say I’m sorry for any angst and soul-searching this piece may have prompted about your own (and indeed humanity’s) saying of sorry. Also, I think you will enjoy hearing that my son (who has been raised almost exclusively in the UK) knows almost no words in any other languages but has nailed “Pardon” (French accent) and “Scusi” so that when we are abroad he is able to apologise as much as he is accustomed to. He actually asked me, mom how do I say sorry. This world is so hard to navigate. I’m sorry.
I wish my offspring said "scusi." I would die with a grin.
Anyway, sorry, I'm interrupting.