It was an immense solace to live for a few days with James Merrill’s great poem “Rescue,” in which a story about saving a turtle crossing a busy road becomes a profound vision of human meaning. We are more than cruelty and war. Full essay here: garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/james-merr...
Sharing again for the evening crowd: To celebrate James Merrill’s centenary, a very close, very nerdy reading of his impossibly great poem, “Rescue,” in which he miraculously turns Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse gay. Full essay here: garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/james-merr...
I just finished @garthgreenwell.bsky.social's perfect explication of James Merrill's poem "Rescue," and it makes me wish I were more committed to the act of reading and understanding poetry—entirely free of the blind urge to insturmentalize it. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/james-merr...
Thank you so much!
No greater pleasure on James Merrill's centenary than nerding out over his great "Rescue," a miraculous poem about a miracle, which has 1) the gayest line of poetry I know & 2) a talking turtle. Also: our first ever audio feature. Link: garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/james-merr...
Oh hello! Just to say: I wasn’t involved in the review / acceptance process at all. I’m sorry it didn’t work out this time! I don’t know if there’s any plans for sharing work, but if the class goes well maybe I will try to offer it again in a more accessible way.
The idea of ”genius” has become problematic in our anti-exceptionalist moment. Ruth Asawa’s work & life show why we can’t do without it. Full essay (no paywall) here: garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/how-small-...
Please join us as we read Brenda Navarro's extraordinary EATING ASHES, tr. Megan McDowell. Meetings are open to all Founding Members of the newsletter. You can read my thoughts on book clubs (& why I love them) & sign up here: garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/an-ideal-o...
I wrote about Ruth Asawa, the relationship between art & life, & why we can't do without the idea of "genius." Free post, no paywall. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/how-small-...
Thank you to the folks at @literaryhub.bsky.social for publishing this essay about, among other things, what I learned from my teacher Louise Glück, and from reading @garthgreenwell.bsky.social
We're thrilled to welcome Richie Hofmann and @garthgreenwell.bsky.social to Yale for a day of events next Wednesday! A generative workshop, a tea and informal Q&A, and a reading and conversation. More details: yalereview.org/events
He’s so wonderful.
Brilliant advice that applies to nonfiction, too, I think.
Thinking about literary “hype,” I shared some practical tips for writers publishing a first book. But the most important advice is this. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/some-thoug...
This is so kind. Thank you!
Ten years ago, I published a debut novel that got much more attention than anybody expected. Some people suspected a plot. I wrote about how that seemed from the inside—& about literary “hype” in general. Plus a few tips for publishing a first book. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/some-thoug...
I don’t know him at all and wish him only the best!
When a debut novel gets a lot of attention, is it because a cabal of powerful insiders is pulling the strings? I wrote about “hype”: what it is, where it comes from, who controls it. Also: some tips on publishing a debut. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/some-thoug...
Friends in Boston, I’m reading at Boston University on February 4th at 7:30pm. Please come say hi!
An attempt to describe the beauty of Lisette Oropesa’s voice. Link to full essay below. No paywall. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/absolute-m...
📚 Dans «Petite Pluie» de Garth Greenwell, un patient hospitalisé à l’été 2020, en pleine épidémie de Covid, est traversé par la poésie.
among my favorite writers for critical / emotional responses to art objects...
Thank you so much, Kyle!
Can opera still produce historic performances? Watching Lisette Oropesa in I Puritani at the Met is maybe the first time I’ve thought yes. Also: I’m back in NYC for a while. Free post, no paywall. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/absolute-m...
Pain Is Not the Opposite of Pleasure: A close reading of Garth Greenwell's "Small Rain." www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/pai... @garthgreenwell.bsky.social @fsgbooks.bsky.social #booksky
Torre del Mar.
From menopause as modern epic to hot flashes of summer rage, reality’s secret matrix, death poems from Eileen Myles, and @garthgreenwell.bsky.social's Kentucky boyhood—read our favorite pieces of the year now. pioneerworks.org/broadcast/be...
Granada.
I wrote about my favorites of 2025: 10 books, 4 movies, and songs by Cameron Winter, Lido Pimienta, & Big Thief. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/2025-favor...
I wrote about my favorites of 2025: 10 books, 4 movies, and songs by Cameron Winter, Lido Pimienta, & Big Thief. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/2025-favor...
