Julie G’s Reviews > The Death of the Heart > Status Update

I can see you gave up on The Friend, Julie. I was very curious to see what you’d think of it, as I didn’t like it, especially that second-person narration, ugh. Which was kind of surprising, as I really liked The Vulnerables by the same author.

Oh, dang it, Pedro, I was hoping nobody noticed! I haven't necessarily abandoned it forever. . . it was just so bleak, too much suicide, too much talk about how writers don't support one another. I appreciate the validation, that you didn't love it.

Oh, of course I noticed, Julie. I notice everything. Perhaps I notice too much. Aha.

It was bleak, and I also found the voice annoying and arrogant. Most of all, I hated all that second-person narration bullshit, which, in that case, was completely unnecessary. I’ve seen it done very well before, but usually it just feels gimmicky.

And to be fair, I’m not surprised that she thinks writers don’t support one another, because from what I’ve gathered so far, people in general don’t do it either. The vast majority of people believe that the results of their efforts have to feel and appear bigger than anyone else’s. That’s the only way they’ll feel satisfied.

And also, very few people do something for someone else purely out of kindness. We have a saying in Portugal which goes something like this:

Some people would give a sausage back to someone who gave them the whole pig in the first place.

That’s the world for us! 😆

I was just saying to my daughter, "We both have the same problem: we notice too much." I do think it's a curse, more than a blessing.

I may very well return to that book, but, for now, no. I was so tempted by its size, especially because I doubled my book challenge this year and I am currently far behind.

I'm finding that I really need rich storytelling right now, particularly family sagas. My mind can't orient toward the fractured right now; I think there's too much fractured in the real world.

You're right; humanity can be terribly disappointing, but there is also some comfort in being reminded that we're all dealing with something. Here I am now, reading this British novel from the 1930s, and learning, yet again, that the characters in the story thought the world was ending THEN. They thought it was ending THEN, and now it's almost 100 years later! Maybe we have all been so incredulous through the years, wondering how we could damage so much and still be here? Behave this rotten, and still be alive? I guess it has always been surprising, through the ages, that we're still here, and we're still misbehaving.

I used to think it was a curse too, Julie, but not anymore. I mean, I’d rather play dumb sometimes (less and less so these days) just to keep the peace, but I’m glad people can’t trick me in the way they usually think they can. Mostly, I just observe what they do and how they do it, draw my conclusions, and start treating them accordingly. And guess what? I’ve found I was right 99% of the time. The past taught me this skill. It’s a good one to have, I believe.

And Julie, I don’t believe we’re going to destroy the world, but we’re well on our way to destroying ourselves. I think this time we’re really going to fuck it up. Can you guys not feel it? I can.

But let’s not talk about it today. It’s the weekend, we have housework to do, kids to think about, books to read. So let’s get on with life, shall we?

Unfortunately, I agree. Yes, I feel it. I think we are destroying ourselves, and I think the planet will be okay for now. I hope when we are gone, that dogs take over.

To be honest, it's making everything harder for me. Even my creative work feels rather meaningless now. It's one thing to think "One day soon I won't be here," but it's another thing to think, "One day soon, none of us will be here." Just a bunch of plastic and metal we've left behind.

I feel so crazy bad for all of our kids. They deserve a shot, but these monkeys can't stop stockpiling bananas.