Wonderful essay about two fascinating writers. You're inspiring me on many levels here, but most specifically to simply read more Rhys. 'Quartet' seems interesting right now because of several recent trendy literary novels about love triangles I've come across, which makes me feel that love triangles are having a moment.
Thank you! 😊 I hadn't realised that about the trend of love triangles, but yes, read ‘Quartet'! It was the first novel of Rhys that I read and introduced me to her work.
It was such an astounding book! Her others are pretty different to that one, I would say, but worth checking out. Her short stories are also good. Thank you for reading 😀
Great essay, this is such a fascinating subject. I often find it hard to separate Sylvia Plath's life from Esther Greenwood's - but I like to think her writing would be appreciated today either way. It's interesting to see how writers use their lives to inform their writing or to tell their stories. Thank you for sharing :)
Me too! It’s tricky when she used so much of her personal experience in the novel. But I think her writing is so much more than just ‘confessional’. Thank you for reading :)
What a fascinating essay, Kate. I’ve gone down a literary rabbit hole now thinking about biography, fiction, gender versus genre. Plus, it’s about time for another trip to Heptonstall… Thank you, as always, for your great research and writing! :)
Thank you so much, Victoria! I would definitely recommend Claire Dederer’s book; I read it flat out over a weekend :) I still haven’t visited Heptonstall, but it’s on my list…
Such a great topic, Kate. It certainly makes the rounds in different iterations in the fiction community on Substack, although typically without the research (I just mean people’s own experiences). I guess all writing comes from within, but that can take so many forms! Judgment is the bad part that you bring up so eloquently. I hadn’t thought lt of it in terms of gender but you may be right. Thanks for these ideas to think on!
Thank you, Kate! I thought you may have thoughts on this, being more involved in the fiction community here (and of course, writing it yourself!) My inclination towards wondering if it was a gendered assumption was based initially on my own experience of writing short fiction several years ago. On more than one occasion, readers assumed that the characters in the stories were based on my own life experiences.
Hope you are getting some writing time amidst all the summer plans! :)
I’ve felt this at well. But to be honest, it’s been make writers on here who have expressed the concern. So I’m not sure! I think the other side of this is that there is also a style and history of “women’s writing” that takes place in interiors and the domestic. These would easily be mistake for someone’s own experiences. Another thought: we (still) read many more male authors at school. Perhaps if one is accustomed to that voice (great generalisation here!) then the female voice sounds like it must be personal and not literary somehow.
Think that makes a lot of sense! Such a rich vein of enquiry. True about the 'domestic' I think, (something I have been researching for this week's Sunday essay, coincidentally!)
This essay is so interesting, Kate. Like yourself, if I understand correctly, I would think that utilising own life experiences would add to writing rather than be a negative.
Thank you, Maureen! Yes, I think so, and I think that realistically, it would be very difficult not to utilise something of yourself in your writing. Thank you for reading :)
Wonderful essay about two fascinating writers. You're inspiring me on many levels here, but most specifically to simply read more Rhys. 'Quartet' seems interesting right now because of several recent trendy literary novels about love triangles I've come across, which makes me feel that love triangles are having a moment.
Thank you! 😊 I hadn't realised that about the trend of love triangles, but yes, read ‘Quartet'! It was the first novel of Rhys that I read and introduced me to her work.
“… love triangles are having a moment”. I love that :)
Yes, perhaps I feel an Austenesque essay coming on here! 🤗
I'm coming to this one a bit late, but was delighted to see Jean Rhys featured - I read Wide Sargasso Sea at school and was quite swept away by it.
It was such an astounding book! Her others are pretty different to that one, I would say, but worth checking out. Her short stories are also good. Thank you for reading 😀
Great essay, this is such a fascinating subject. I often find it hard to separate Sylvia Plath's life from Esther Greenwood's - but I like to think her writing would be appreciated today either way. It's interesting to see how writers use their lives to inform their writing or to tell their stories. Thank you for sharing :)
Me too! It’s tricky when she used so much of her personal experience in the novel. But I think her writing is so much more than just ‘confessional’. Thank you for reading :)
What a fascinating essay, Kate. I’ve gone down a literary rabbit hole now thinking about biography, fiction, gender versus genre. Plus, it’s about time for another trip to Heptonstall… Thank you, as always, for your great research and writing! :)
Thank you so much, Victoria! I would definitely recommend Claire Dederer’s book; I read it flat out over a weekend :) I still haven’t visited Heptonstall, but it’s on my list…
I definitely recommend it. It’s such a peaceful place 💚
Such a great topic, Kate. It certainly makes the rounds in different iterations in the fiction community on Substack, although typically without the research (I just mean people’s own experiences). I guess all writing comes from within, but that can take so many forms! Judgment is the bad part that you bring up so eloquently. I hadn’t thought lt of it in terms of gender but you may be right. Thanks for these ideas to think on!
Thank you, Kate! I thought you may have thoughts on this, being more involved in the fiction community here (and of course, writing it yourself!) My inclination towards wondering if it was a gendered assumption was based initially on my own experience of writing short fiction several years ago. On more than one occasion, readers assumed that the characters in the stories were based on my own life experiences.
Hope you are getting some writing time amidst all the summer plans! :)
I’ve felt this at well. But to be honest, it’s been make writers on here who have expressed the concern. So I’m not sure! I think the other side of this is that there is also a style and history of “women’s writing” that takes place in interiors and the domestic. These would easily be mistake for someone’s own experiences. Another thought: we (still) read many more male authors at school. Perhaps if one is accustomed to that voice (great generalisation here!) then the female voice sounds like it must be personal and not literary somehow.
Thinking as I write. Not sure if this holds up!
Think that makes a lot of sense! Such a rich vein of enquiry. True about the 'domestic' I think, (something I have been researching for this week's Sunday essay, coincidentally!)
Ohhh exciting :)
*it’s been male writers
Wonderful post, thank you! So helpful to become aware of that fine line.
Thank you! :)
This essay is so interesting, Kate. Like yourself, if I understand correctly, I would think that utilising own life experiences would add to writing rather than be a negative.
Thank you, Maureen! Yes, I think so, and I think that realistically, it would be very difficult not to utilise something of yourself in your writing. Thank you for reading :)
Yes, that’s very true.