Dave Cullen > Recent Status Updates

I'm loving my deep dive into audiobooks begun last fall, and it's perfect for Vanity Fair, but I blew it listening to the bulk of George Saunders' Vigil. It overwhelms the extraordinary use of the language.

Also, I HATE the big cast, essentially turning it into a play. (Might have double-posted.)

I'm loving my deep dive into audiobooks begun last fall, and it's perfect for Vanity Fair, but I blew it listening to the bulk of George Saunders' Vigil. It overwhelms the extraordinary use of the language.

Also, I HATE the big cast, essentially turning it into a play.

Never expected to read Thackery, but a Philip Lopate essay on memoirs cited Vanity Fair, so I bought a copy and LOVING it! :)

I went right from the TV finale of Heated Rivalry to finishing up that last bit of the book, and then binged The Long Game in 2 days. It started slow--or maybe when I began with TV series I was so mesmerized by Shane and Ilya, and the sex scenes?

Whatever the reason, once this got rolling, and up to the climax, it was just as intense and all consuming, and I cried just as hard and often. Highly recommended.

Pub date for my gay soldiers book, with new title, "Don't Fall in Love": June 2, 2026, from HarperCollins.

It will be 26 years in the making.

I have been shadowing these 2 soldiers since Feb 2000--now retired--for the Salon.com story that won the GLAAD Media Award for best online story of the year.

Hmmmm. So I started Missionaries by Phil Klay, and loved the writing, but the subject put me off a bit--so I stopped reading not just it, but stopped reading. Yow. Need to try again.

Prelim assessment of George Saunders after 8/10 stories in "Tenth Of December": actual genius at writing scenes and creating scenarios; weak storyteller.

Blasphemy? Awe-inspiring setups, conclusions leave me unsatisfied.

What am I missing?

Finally dipping into George Saunders’ short stories: Tenth Of December Oh. Getting what the fuss is about. Truly opens up new doors of what’s possible. And doors I want to open!
That’s the thing. He’s opening doors I was reaching for, but didn’t quite see. Same feeling I get from Denis Johnson, Lucia Berlin, Jonathan Lethem: Ahhhhhh. THAT’S what I wanted to do. Didn’t see it. Can incorporate that this afternoon.