I love your poems and your book covers are fabulous too.

Angel's character didn't make me think anything about writers or how they should be - just about the limits we all have in understanding people we don't like. Angel's portrayal surprised me because it was so harsh. Taylor is usually more nuanced.

Thanks a lot.

She seems to me, though I hesitate to say it because I have many autistic friends, but she did seem to be on the spectrum, though more pathological. Like Donald Trump.

Angel is someone to pity, not blame. Elizabeth Taylor made her grotesque and unbelievable, I think. More a caricature than a real person.

Can you share the data source?

I'm guessing Philip Hensher will be the guest on the @backlisted.bsky.social upcoming episode. 🤞

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban knocked me sideways. I'm still thinking about it 5 months later.
Norah Webster and The Master, both by Colm Toibin. Exquisite writing and riveting stories.

Loved it!

I met Martin Sheen at a church in Malibu Beach where I was speaking about my work in India with disabled kids. At the gathering after, he bought me a donut, we chatted about West Wing and he gave me a check for $5000. That's my President.

It is in America. But then . . .

Good alt descriptions (especially the second one) too.

I find it amazing and inspiring how you keep on writing and reading and showing up insanely well prepared on Backlisted no matter what you're going through. Such a pro. A lesson to us all.