Today--and I'm nearly sick with this, I'm so excited--I spent almost two hours in one-on-one conversation with Jonathan Franzen. JONATHAN FRANZEN SPOKE TO ME. AT LENGTH. Even though much of that time was spent with he, Eileen Pollack, Julian Levinson, and Nick Delbanco trying to convince me that it would be a bad idea for me to go straight to graduate school, I could only enjoy myself. Jonathan Franzen was talking to me seriously, like I was a human being. And we discussed birds! And he signed my beloved copy of his essays, with personal information! And he even referenced me in the reading he gave at 5 pm today, as I am the person who didn't know about smog emission stickers until he told me.
(Do you know what smog stickers are? Apparently every other state in the Union except for maybe Tennessee has enacted a law that every driver must have their car checked annually to see if it's emitting too many pollutants. If it is, they can't drive it anymore. No big brain needed to see why Michigan, anxious slut to the auto industry, hasn't gotten on board with this.)
Also, he told me during the course of our discussion that I was noticeably more mature than one of the talented students he remembers from his days of workshop teaching. And that, ladies and gentleman, coming from your ever ever ever favorite essayist, can just about make your day.
And make my day it did. Oh lord, I'm really geeked to write right now! In fact, I will. I'm out.
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3 comments:
Oooh.
He's hot.
H'ain't read any of his stuff. You like?
i am so f-in' jealous, ginny lee. now i'm lamenting not having franzen with me in prague (the essays, not the man). i can't even believe you. can we get a burrito or something when i get back? your posts make me picture your face all lit up and a squeal of glee about franzen. i miss you, becky adams!
that anonymous posting above is from me. forgot to sign.
-jill.
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