When Ann Telnaes found it necessary to quit, I agreed with her and did not renew my WaPo subscription. (I quickly subscribed to her Substack.) My only real regret at that point was that I missed Ron Charles' book reviews. The sports section had already been obliterated and the opinions section was an incoherent mess, at least to me.
Ron salved my earlier regrets by starting his own Substack when the WaPo confirmed my earlier expectation that the publication wasn't what it still claimed to be and let him and others find their way to the sidewalk. It stinks that he was put through the wringer as he was, but hopefully his Substack works out for him. It does for me.
I also canceled my subscription, after having been a decades-long subscriber and a particularly avid reader of Book World. The paper was gutted, and I never liked that it was purchased by Bezos. He clearly did not care about his writers and editors and the newspaper’s quality; nor were number of subscribers among his cares. The writing here on Substack generally is first-rate.
The questionable (and self-defeating, IMHO) decision of the new folks-in-charge at the WAPO have only benefited your millions of fans, and freed you up, too - YAY !!!
Thank you for all of today's collection, but maybe especially for this oh-so-timely quote from Shakespeare:
What a great piece, thank you! Macbeth has been treasured for centuries and generations. Noone will remember Trump in ten maybe twenty years, depending on the damage done. It is indeed fascinating how the Irish culture and literature survived and has flourished since. Many years ago my history book of English literature included some of their greatest authors with a footnote mentioning Irish origin. How times have changed and well done Ireland indeed.
Reading your newsletter is like an island getaway for me; such sane, soothing topics and words, far from the truly, maddening crowd. Keep at it Ron; we need you more than ever.
It strikes me as unfit and improper that Oprah has prostrated herself to Bezos like so many others who know better. Money trumps all as they lay prostrate before the faux king and his jesters. They have No cards!
After I cancelled my subscription to The Post, the only things I missed were Book World and your writing. I am so happy that I can once again enjoy your work.
A great piece of writing yet again - layers of tragedies - who'd have thought?
Forwarded it to many. Encouraged subscribing! Immediately got a response from my best friend who was an editor at Harvard Business Review for years - "Excellent!! And what a superb last line!!!"
I always think when I open my emails on Fridays, "Oh good - Ron's post!"
As someone who spends way too much time reading and who has maybe one person in my life who is the same way and can talk about books with me, it’s so nice to read your column each week! Amazing how Shakespeare still describes the world we live in, isn’t it?
I taught The Lord of the Flies to sophomores. I hated that book when it was assigned to me as an adolescent because I disagreed with what it seemed to say about human nature. I later found teaching it interesting, but you are correct. It's deliberately pessimistic, speaking back to a racist-but-optimistic The Coral Sea. One thing most people miss is that the boys are from an English public school, well schooled in bullying. They bring their experienced culture with them to the island. In that sense, still pessimistic but a condemnation more of the boys' culture than human nature. I still find much to dislike about the novel.
Always look forward to your newsletter, now here on Substack. Love the range of topics in this one. THANKS! Disappointed in news of Oprah’s either joining or being co-opted by Amazon, she knows better…
As I tore through your newsletter today I was reminded of my time as Lady MacBeth. It was my junior year in high school and we were reading the Scottish play aloud. As I read "Help me hence" - totally absorbed in my part - I felt like I was going to faint. Then I looked around the room to make sure no one noticed my immersion in the words. I was relieved to see no one else saw my passion at that moment. That self-consciousness has melted away with the years, of course, being replaced (in some instances) by suspicion of a possibly staged assassination attempt. "Help me hence" indeed... Thanks for the memories, Ron, and I appreciate your good memories of The Post. Those 21 years of yours were indeed well spent and I'm glad to see you are replacing the trauma of February with remembering your valuable place in Book World. Book World is continues for us in your weekly newsletters and I'm thrilled that it does!
Thank YOU for triggering that memory. YES, I can imagine her performance - she’s an amazing actress and that’s one of the meatiest parts a woman could ever ask for, of course!
If you’d like to keep independent book coverage like this alive, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It really helps.
I am a retired school teacher. Oregon provides nothing beyond what I myself paid into the retirement system.
Your piece about the play and the WHCD is fabulous, with perfect quotes illustrating it. I love reading writing like this!
The powers at The Post were fools to let you and Book World go.
When Ann Telnaes found it necessary to quit, I agreed with her and did not renew my WaPo subscription. (I quickly subscribed to her Substack.) My only real regret at that point was that I missed Ron Charles' book reviews. The sports section had already been obliterated and the opinions section was an incoherent mess, at least to me.
Ron salved my earlier regrets by starting his own Substack when the WaPo confirmed my earlier expectation that the publication wasn't what it still claimed to be and let him and others find their way to the sidewalk. It stinks that he was put through the wringer as he was, but hopefully his Substack works out for him. It does for me.
I also canceled my subscription, after having been a decades-long subscriber and a particularly avid reader of Book World. The paper was gutted, and I never liked that it was purchased by Bezos. He clearly did not care about his writers and editors and the newspaper’s quality; nor were number of subscribers among his cares. The writing here on Substack generally is first-rate.
I stayed with WaPo longer than I should have, but then I couldn't justify the expense.
I agree with all of the above.
The questionable (and self-defeating, IMHO) decision of the new folks-in-charge at the WAPO have only benefited your millions of fans, and freed you up, too - YAY !!!
Thank you for all of today's collection, but maybe especially for this oh-so-timely quote from Shakespeare:
"O nation miserable,
With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered,
When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again?"
What a great piece, thank you! Macbeth has been treasured for centuries and generations. Noone will remember Trump in ten maybe twenty years, depending on the damage done. It is indeed fascinating how the Irish culture and literature survived and has flourished since. Many years ago my history book of English literature included some of their greatest authors with a footnote mentioning Irish origin. How times have changed and well done Ireland indeed.
Thank you, Vesela. It’s astonishing how many great writers that little island has produced.
Love the Macbeth comparison.
They call us snowflakes. It's not so much that they're frightened by seashells, they're frightened by PICTURES of seashells.
Reading your newsletter is like an island getaway for me; such sane, soothing topics and words, far from the truly, maddening crowd. Keep at it Ron; we need you more than ever.
It strikes me as unfit and improper that Oprah has prostrated herself to Bezos like so many others who know better. Money trumps all as they lay prostrate before the faux king and his jesters. They have No cards!
After I cancelled my subscription to The Post, the only things I missed were Book World and your writing. I am so happy that I can once again enjoy your work.
Thanks so much for your support, Kathy!
A great piece of writing yet again - layers of tragedies - who'd have thought?
Forwarded it to many. Encouraged subscribing! Immediately got a response from my best friend who was an editor at Harvard Business Review for years - "Excellent!! And what a superb last line!!!"
I always think when I open my emails on Fridays, "Oh good - Ron's post!"
My subscription was my birthday gift from my parents this year ❤️
That is very sweet to hear! Thank you to your parents, and happy birthday to you!
As someone who spends way too much time reading and who has maybe one person in my life who is the same way and can talk about books with me, it’s so nice to read your column each week! Amazing how Shakespeare still describes the world we live in, isn’t it?
I taught The Lord of the Flies to sophomores. I hated that book when it was assigned to me as an adolescent because I disagreed with what it seemed to say about human nature. I later found teaching it interesting, but you are correct. It's deliberately pessimistic, speaking back to a racist-but-optimistic The Coral Sea. One thing most people miss is that the boys are from an English public school, well schooled in bullying. They bring their experienced culture with them to the island. In that sense, still pessimistic but a condemnation more of the boys' culture than human nature. I still find much to dislike about the novel.
I am glad that you have created a facsimile of Book Club. I enjoy reading your commentary on Friday mornings. Thank you.
Thanks for your subscription, Hester. It's much appreciated!
Always look forward to your newsletter, now here on Substack. Love the range of topics in this one. THANKS! Disappointed in news of Oprah’s either joining or being co-opted by Amazon, she knows better…
Thank you! That variety is what I aim for.
As I tore through your newsletter today I was reminded of my time as Lady MacBeth. It was my junior year in high school and we were reading the Scottish play aloud. As I read "Help me hence" - totally absorbed in my part - I felt like I was going to faint. Then I looked around the room to make sure no one noticed my immersion in the words. I was relieved to see no one else saw my passion at that moment. That self-consciousness has melted away with the years, of course, being replaced (in some instances) by suspicion of a possibly staged assassination attempt. "Help me hence" indeed... Thanks for the memories, Ron, and I appreciate your good memories of The Post. Those 21 years of yours were indeed well spent and I'm glad to see you are replacing the trauma of February with remembering your valuable place in Book World. Book World is continues for us in your weekly newsletters and I'm thrilled that it does!
Thanks for that powerful memory!
Adjoa Andoh's performance, as you might expect, was chilling!
Thank YOU for triggering that memory. YES, I can imagine her performance - she’s an amazing actress and that’s one of the meatiest parts a woman could ever ask for, of course!
Brilliant!