28 Comments
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Judith Hannah Weiss's avatar

I love this piece and every piece you ever wrote.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, Judy. Me too, you.

Charlotte Hamrick's avatar

I can relate to not being able to move in bed because a dog is lying on you. 😆

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Hahahaha. Glad to know this.

Nan Tepper's avatar

Love this and you! Glad to see you here. xoxo

Mary Braun Bates, MD's avatar

I am gleeful to have found an ongoing supply of your writing.

Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

No one is more excited than me to find you here! Your writing has had such an impact on me and I admire the way you coax so much out of so few words.

As an aside, I also really appreciate the way you addressed "dread" in your latest book - apparently, I am not alone after all. This helps xo

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Dread is the worst, so sorrry you experience it too. Thank you for uour kind word about my writing. 'm glad it can help. I like knowing I'm not alone either. Have you written about it? If so, can I read it?

Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Thank you Abigail and yes I have written about it briefly, here - https://open.substack.com/pub/everyoneelseistaken/p/down-the-rabbit-hole?r=3qbvt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

I would be extremely excited for you to read ANYthing I've written.

My day is now much improved after this reply. Many thanks!

Danna Schmidt's avatar

Good Night You Crazy-Ass Misbegotten Beautiful World is the bedtime book by Abigail Thomas I didn't know I needed until this endless season of my own 2am living room sofa insomnia bouts. <3

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

I sometimes feel reassured that the clock has moved forward unexpectedly and I think that means I've actually been asleep. Other times, I panic about the passage of time that I think it means I haven't slept. And yes, Thai Thai dog seems unaware of it all.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

insomnia-what goes through an insomnia's sleepless mind? I can' remember my own. Ihoughts. Maube they are old worries, maybe they are all about the clock. Do you ever just give up and getnup?

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

No I don't get up. I find that my typical window is 2 hours , sometimes when really bad it's 3. Knowing that it will "pass" is somehow reassuring. And I sometimes get brilliant (ha ha) thought that I note in my phone. Bad, but I do.

Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

You write with kitschy clarity I understand.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you. Now I have to look up "kitchy" although clarity carries the day. So glad you liked it.

Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

Yes. I enjoyed its lack of fluidity. I misused the verb or adjective clarity. My faux pas. Between 2am and 245 you were going thru at least 5 different mental directions. My M.O in life and writing before i attempt to edit my path way.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

IF I STARTED WRITING BY EDITING MYSELF I WOULD NEVER GET ANYWHERE.

Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

How very true ! I write stories then rip them apart edit is for me 80 percent of writing

Anoushka's avatar

oh my gosh THIS WAS AMAZING!!!!

Molly Boxer's avatar

Two in the morning is scary unless it’s time to take dilaudid. Then it’s a relief.

Cheryl Cato's avatar

Abigail, I am thrilled to have found you on Substack. You, J. F. Riordan, and Dan Rather are my go-to people in this quickly devolving country!

Right now I’m reading Still Life at Eighty again. I’m gearing up for eighty; I still have about a year and a half to go. You’re my irreverent heroine!

Amanda Dowd's avatar

I read this piece, or perhaps the last three all in a row, and suddenly plunged into writing an essay that has been evading me for over a year. Ahhhh. Thank you!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Honestly? I can't think og a better compliment. I am so very pleased if my writing somehow got you into what you'd thought about for so long. Thank you very much.Please let me know if you post it, and thank you aafain.,abby

Abigail Thomas's avatar

I meaht again, not aafain!

Helen Klein Ross's avatar

This made my morning. Thanks for it and for all you write, Abby ❤️