Haha yes, another neat phenomenon. Almost as much self-analysis on the platform as there is in poetry 😅

A guilty pleasure (or sympathy) I'll admit to: reading the care-worn personal essays of dudes who never quite got their book away, or did but it never took off. Some bitter and entitled, but quite a few self-aware, balanced, imbued with tinctures of homespun wisdom. Monsieur Bovary, it could be moi

This includes the recent splurge I had in the Fitzcarraldo sale, thereby breaking my own promise, and will include any further transgressions also. This makes me think there must be some emotionally healthier, less guilt-ridden way to hold myself to account.

Anyway, for anyone invested in this, I had a letter published in this week's TLS, responding to something that I feel tipped over into unfair distortion, the start of which I've screengrabbed.

www.the-tls.co.uk/regular-feat...

I know I sound very Waterstones Dad here but I NEED TO KNOW!

I'm not the hardiest when it comes to *any* criticism tbf but I do hope to take legit points on board and understand the role that vanity and sensitivity play in these matters. With this one, I think the reviewer got off on the wrong foot with it. Sorry you had that experience, very cheap shot.

Thanks, yeah it's not venemous, just a little condescending in parts, using words like 'airy', 'zestful' and 'hearty', which feel unfair to the level of criticism in the book. But I would say that.

And I know it's not good form to air these thoughts in public, so better nip it there!