The Word as Bait
@wordasbait.bsky.social
A slow reader trudging his way through great world literature.
Steve, all the best to you. Your brief full-time online stint punched WELL above its weight. Your coverage helped me navigate our last election, and it even impacted some of our local reporting (a friend of mine mentioned you in an article he wrote!)
Those kids are lucky to have you back.
Those kids are lucky to have you back.
August 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Steve, all the best to you. Your brief full-time online stint punched WELL above its weight. Your coverage helped me navigate our last election, and it even impacted some of our local reporting (a friend of mine mentioned you in an article he wrote!)
Those kids are lucky to have you back.
Those kids are lucky to have you back.
Might have been a better post if I didn’t let a typo slip on the very first word 🤦🏻♂️
July 31, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Might have been a better post if I didn’t let a typo slip on the very first word 🤦🏻♂️
Ha! I once had a summer job at one of my town’s small business associations putting on free concerts in town square.
The Kings played one. Drew a decent crowd, until they decided to take a 1.5 hour lunch. People scoffed and left. They then played this song 2-3 times in a row to almost no one. 🤦🏻♂️
The Kings played one. Drew a decent crowd, until they decided to take a 1.5 hour lunch. People scoffed and left. They then played this song 2-3 times in a row to almost no one. 🤦🏻♂️
June 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Ha! I once had a summer job at one of my town’s small business associations putting on free concerts in town square.
The Kings played one. Drew a decent crowd, until they decided to take a 1.5 hour lunch. People scoffed and left. They then played this song 2-3 times in a row to almost no one. 🤦🏻♂️
The Kings played one. Drew a decent crowd, until they decided to take a 1.5 hour lunch. People scoffed and left. They then played this song 2-3 times in a row to almost no one. 🤦🏻♂️
Is Andrew Prahlow doing the music? Some of the banjo snippets sound like something he’d have done for Outer Wilds 👀
June 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Is Andrew Prahlow doing the music? Some of the banjo snippets sound like something he’d have done for Outer Wilds 👀
And of course, shout-out to @contramundumpress.bsky.social ! They’re doing some exciting stuff (I can’t wait to get to “Prae” some time next year)
May 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
And of course, shout-out to @contramundumpress.bsky.social ! They’re doing some exciting stuff (I can’t wait to get to “Prae” some time next year)
And of course @ndbooks.bsky.social !
April 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
And of course @ndbooks.bsky.social !
In doing so, she has put a spotlight on the brilliant absurdity of existence, dreams, and consciousness. These constant dualities/contrasts aren’t just for poetic show - they’re everywhere you look and in everything you think about.
April 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
In doing so, she has put a spotlight on the brilliant absurdity of existence, dreams, and consciousness. These constant dualities/contrasts aren’t just for poetic show - they’re everywhere you look and in everything you think about.
It’s so powerful! If I had to pick just one very high-level, overarching idea that permeates nearly every page, it’s that Young truly wanted to write about dreams; dreams as they are, not as stand-ins for aspiration, productivity, or achievement, like much of the other American greats.
April 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It’s so powerful! If I had to pick just one very high-level, overarching idea that permeates nearly every page, it’s that Young truly wanted to write about dreams; dreams as they are, not as stand-ins for aspiration, productivity, or achievement, like much of the other American greats.
Oh that’s not discouraging at all - quite the opposite effect!
I already know this will a periodical re-read peppered throughout the rest of my life. I’m taking what I can away from it, and assuming I’ll have even richer discoveries next time :)
I already know this will a periodical re-read peppered throughout the rest of my life. I’m taking what I can away from it, and assuming I’ll have even richer discoveries next time :)
April 22, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Oh that’s not discouraging at all - quite the opposite effect!
I already know this will a periodical re-read peppered throughout the rest of my life. I’m taking what I can away from it, and assuming I’ll have even richer discoveries next time :)
I already know this will a periodical re-read peppered throughout the rest of my life. I’m taking what I can away from it, and assuming I’ll have even richer discoveries next time :)
I’m 570 pages in on my first read, and I’ve been thinking a lot about this, particularly her place among the men that dominate the “great American novel” discussion.
How on Earth is this not thrown in the mix with as much frequency?
How on Earth is this not thrown in the mix with as much frequency?
April 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I’m 570 pages in on my first read, and I’ve been thinking a lot about this, particularly her place among the men that dominate the “great American novel” discussion.
How on Earth is this not thrown in the mix with as much frequency?
How on Earth is this not thrown in the mix with as much frequency?
- Miss Macintosh, My Darling, by Marguerite Young.
Only 40% through, but a life-changing work already.
Only 40% through, but a life-changing work already.
April 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
- Miss Macintosh, My Darling, by Marguerite Young.
Only 40% through, but a life-changing work already.
Only 40% through, but a life-changing work already.