I feel the same way you do about Facebook. Most likely because it’s been established for so long, and because of the architecture of groups, is much easier to have a community. And like you I’ve had little luck engaging on Threads and Bluesky. I thought that Mastodon was completely baffling. I, too, have thrown a few things on Medium, but it feels empty there. I’ve been intrigued by Substack for years and I’ve had an account that was pretty much dormant for a long time, but have now decided to focus on one for the very specific intersection of interests that I write about in a nonfiction form. You are right, that Instagram is mostly visual. I don’t think it works well for people whose primary interests are text-oriented. I love Instagram but it’s problematic for promoting or discussing writing and I don’t think most people do it very well. Plus, there is the very awkward
“Link in bio.” I read Ferrante’s Quartet years ago — I felt as if I were in a fever dream and I would’ve loved to discuss the books with anyone. I had so many thoughts and theories and ideas about those books. We just finished watching the My Brilliant Friend series. I thought it was extremely well done— although of course a lot is missing and it was interesting to see what was emphasized and what was left out. The musical score for the TV series is an album that I’ve listened to many times. – Max Richter’s imagination of Vivaldi’s four seasons. I felt like someone pulled that out of my own brain.
I described it in almost those words in my Literary fiction readers group. I had a feverish dream and I could not stop thinking about her. I felt like I had to return to the book to be with Lenu!
I wish we had read these books at the same time. I read the first volume twice: the first time, I hated it and thought the writing was sloppy and vague. The second time I understand that first volume was meant to be read as a prologue and a “book-with-in-book” and I began to understand the quartet as one very long novel. I think I resonated with Lena more than any character I’ve encountered in fiction. (Not that I have a Nino Sarrtore in my life, but maybe some metaphorical Ninos.)
I feel the same way you do about Facebook. Most likely because it’s been established for so long, and because of the architecture of groups, is much easier to have a community. And like you I’ve had little luck engaging on Threads and Bluesky. I thought that Mastodon was completely baffling. I, too, have thrown a few things on Medium, but it feels empty there. I’ve been intrigued by Substack for years and I’ve had an account that was pretty much dormant for a long time, but have now decided to focus on one for the very specific intersection of interests that I write about in a nonfiction form. You are right, that Instagram is mostly visual. I don’t think it works well for people whose primary interests are text-oriented. I love Instagram but it’s problematic for promoting or discussing writing and I don’t think most people do it very well. Plus, there is the very awkward
“Link in bio.” I read Ferrante’s Quartet years ago — I felt as if I were in a fever dream and I would’ve loved to discuss the books with anyone. I had so many thoughts and theories and ideas about those books. We just finished watching the My Brilliant Friend series. I thought it was extremely well done— although of course a lot is missing and it was interesting to see what was emphasized and what was left out. The musical score for the TV series is an album that I’ve listened to many times. – Max Richter’s imagination of Vivaldi’s four seasons. I felt like someone pulled that out of my own brain.
I described it in almost those words in my Literary fiction readers group. I had a feverish dream and I could not stop thinking about her. I felt like I had to return to the book to be with Lenu!
I wish we had read these books at the same time. I read the first volume twice: the first time, I hated it and thought the writing was sloppy and vague. The second time I understand that first volume was meant to be read as a prologue and a “book-with-in-book” and I began to understand the quartet as one very long novel. I think I resonated with Lena more than any character I’ve encountered in fiction. (Not that I have a Nino Sarrtore in my life, but maybe some metaphorical Ninos.)