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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Oooooh, two of my favorite humans in the same place! I love learning more about Jillian's brilliant mind and big heart. And about a tiny fountain pen that makes you feel like a badass! ❤️

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Jillian Hess's avatar

Thanks Jane!!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Jane! I can vouch for the pen — I bought one after trying Jillian’s last summer and it’s the best!

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David Roberts's avatar

I love Noted and I loved that quote from Middlemarch. I suppose that quote is not a sufficient substitute for reading the entire novel, a reading feat I've struggled with.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Isn’t it a great quote? I loved it, too.

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Jillian Hess's avatar

It’s not a substitute, but Middlemarch is such a long novel!

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David Roberts's avatar

I got a hundred pages or so in. My excuse was I didn't want to spend a lot of time with gloomy Casuabon.

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Jillian Hess's avatar

At the risk of giving too much away…you don’t have to spend too much time with Casaubon

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David Roberts's avatar

I recall him being very sallow, thin, and fragile.

Middlemarch some day, but right now I'm reading Bovary and marveling at the writing. I read it a long time ago, but this feels like my first "real" read.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I really struggled to get into it, as well. But was determined because so many people I admire adore it! I ended up listening to it. I hate to say that I don't get why people love it so much!! But at least I no longer feel pressure to read it...and that's a sigh of relief.

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MM's avatar

Loved this - thanks ladies!!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

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Joyce Ragard's avatar

Thanks for introducing me to Jillian and her incredible substack! So much to explore :) I pretended to read Middlemarch in college (oops), now I might actually have to read it! xo.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

I actually thought of you as I was putting this together, as I think you'd particularly appreciate her work! :)

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Joyce Ragard's avatar

You're totally right. I was feeling really stuck in my novel revision, read Jillian's post on Jonathan Larson's notes On Rent, listened to La Vie Boheme about 30 times, and something shifted! :) This anecdote could be, as the youths say, "cringe" but the older I get the more I respect how being a creative requires figuring out how to be inspired by creatives who came before you.

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Clem Cecil's avatar

Loved the quote from

middlemarch ♥️♥️♥️ - made me weep!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

I’m glad you loved it. ❤️

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Jillian Hess's avatar

Thank you so much for this, Caroline! I adore Between a Rock and a Card Place too!! ⭐️✨

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Kristen Luiso's avatar

So very cool. I loved Eminem’s notes. 🗒️ 🎶

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Jillian Hess's avatar

Me too!

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