This was a lovely kick in the pants to read a post of yours and not just enjoy your presence on here. The piece France linked is excellent. It’s interesting the way middle age or having kids can be a bridge back to boyhood. But I totally agree with your assessment. Seems like as a society girlhood is interesting (and fraught) and boyhood is mostly uninteresting (and fraught in generally less literary ways). That’s part of why I loved reading Playworld so much this year.
thanks blake! yeah i do manage to post actual writing occasionally hahaha. i definitely think that nails the societal outlook for boyhood right now. i’ll have to read Playworld for sure.
Not to butt in, but thanks, Blake, for mentioning Playworld. I’d like to give this one a read soon as well, and will be in my rather short list of trad published books to read for 2026.
This is such a nice compliment to receive, especially coming from you, JLG. Glad to have met you here on Substack and can’t wait to read more of your awesome work.
Cheers, France. I’m excited to read these!
You’re not too shabby in my book, Blake.
blake I love your stuff on youtube, glad to have found you on substack and to be included on frances' list here with ya
This was a lovely kick in the pants to read a post of yours and not just enjoy your presence on here. The piece France linked is excellent. It’s interesting the way middle age or having kids can be a bridge back to boyhood. But I totally agree with your assessment. Seems like as a society girlhood is interesting (and fraught) and boyhood is mostly uninteresting (and fraught in generally less literary ways). That’s part of why I loved reading Playworld so much this year.
thanks blake! yeah i do manage to post actual writing occasionally hahaha. i definitely think that nails the societal outlook for boyhood right now. i’ll have to read Playworld for sure.
Not to butt in, but thanks, Blake, for mentioning Playworld. I’d like to give this one a read soon as well, and will be in my rather short list of trad published books to read for 2026.
Awww… France! Thank You! 🙏
Thanks for writing beautifully, Peter.
“Jelly? Then make your own list.” Made me laugh out loud!
Jelly is such a millennial slang yes 😂
Yes and I’m not ashamed to say it!
Thanks so much for putting me in ur list france. ur a polished stone amidst Substack's sea of algorithmic dreck
This is such a nice compliment to receive, especially coming from you, JLG. Glad to have met you here on Substack and can’t wait to read more of your awesome work.
Great post, France. Thanks for the new folks to follow.
My absolute pleasure, Olivia!
Awwwe! Thanks so much for including me!
You’re so welcome!