APS TOGETHER
Day 11
New Grub Street by George GissingChapter 11
November 16, 2023 by Yiyun Li
A short chapter of misery, which reminds me of a line from an ancient Chinese poem. A direct translation would mean: a husband and a wife in poverty live with a hundred woes.
Reardon, without real talent, writes with such hatred and contempt. One wishes that he had never thought of becoming a writer. At least nowadays the thought of supporting a family with writing alone is a fairy tale.
If anyone wants to write for money or fame or success, Reardon should be a cautionary tale. The only thing that makes writing a worthwhile pursuit is the joy one gets out of putting words together.
