75 Comments

"the one-geared efficiency, the smug delectation of sailing past peak-hour Melbourne traffic, the upward fury at hills followed by gravity’s downward joy." Great writing, Nathan

Expand full comment
author

Thank you sir! This was a lot of fun to write, so thanks. Over to you now ... :P

Expand full comment
Aug 4, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

I chuckled a few times in that post. (I'm glad you have an outlet for your crazy dreams now.)

...and of course the book has riddles. Don't make Terry fulfil your dreams of an escape room-esque book.

Expand full comment
author

Ooo, now there's an idea 😜

Expand full comment
Aug 3, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

Terry NEEDS to write that book!

Expand full comment
author

Hehehe, he sure does. 😅

*grabs popcorn*

Expand full comment

I'd love to! 😊

Expand full comment

This conversation actually just unfolded in our home:

David, walking into the room: “Have you read Nathan’s recent post?”

Me: “I’ve literally just started, I’m about to read the review”

David: ”Oh it’s brilliant, it’s not a real book!”

Me: “What?”

David: “It’s not a real book, he made it up!”

Me: “Could you perhaps have waited for me to read it & find that out myself?”

David: *Backs slowly out of the room*

All that to say that I was denied the opportunity to believe it, but I absolutely do wish that the book existed! And I love the whole premise of not-real-book reviews!

Also, I think I see ‘yuzu & matcha’ in the ingredients of the morsels in which case I beg you to beg Mörk to sell them in the UK. Thank you, Nathan. Blessings to the morsel tree 💗

Expand full comment
author

Haha, David David, tsssk! Sorry you were denied the opportunity, though soon enough a part of that book will be real ;) (Plus, you gave me a good morning grin reading the unfolding.)

Good spot on the morsels. I have yet to sample these, but I shall procure some and let you know how they are and I could always post you some after I beg Mörk to get (most likely M&S) the UK to sell some.

Expand full comment

You’re a gem, I enjoyed it very much in spite of it being sabotaged.

They do look very M&S-y! Thank you Nathan, always a joy to read you 😊

Expand full comment
author

Always a joy to have you here 🤩

Expand full comment

😊 David should be ashamed of himself

Expand full comment

Yes, thank you, Terry, yes he should. I'm glad we're all on the same page.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

🤣 classic!

Expand full comment

I literally shouted at him “You’re a walking spoiler!” so this is beyond appropriate 🤣

Expand full comment
author

bahahaha

Expand full comment

😎 spoilerman! Sorry, couldn’t resist

Expand full comment
Aug 3, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

I love these posts!

1. A post written entirely in “Here’s wot I fink” language would be most appreciated by this American who often reverts to terms like wah-ah-bah-ol when reminding her children of things they need on the way to school.

2. I totally believed the book was real, was going to ask for a copy and mimic your exact experience from my own couch. Tell Terry to write it!

3. I just started Lane’s story. Very well written and a great feature for other readers.

Expand full comment

Hi Shaina. That is definitely a convincing review Nathan wrote! I'm on the case already.

Expand full comment

Not quite the same as a story written completely in "wot i fink", but not too far removed is one I wrote in cockney rhyming slang: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/i/102837452/the-cockney-rhyming-slang-version-a-rotten-on-the-loaf

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Shaina, very happy to hear you enjoyed!

Terry would be best placed to run the full cockney version, hehe. Oh, I see he has linked something of the sorts.

PS I'm closing in on the end of the Marsten House... looking forward to your breakdown next week!

Expand full comment

Such delicious morsels! I love the fictional book review idea. It sounds kind of familiar to me, maybe I read about it somewhere or came up with it myself before (without executing it... so far). The bike book made me think about my experience biking around Vienna as a student until (predictably) my bike got stolen too.

And the undergraduate student dream! Is it weird of me to think this could actually happen? Reminds me of a story someone told me once of some students coming up with a 'fare evasion fund'. Everyone would contribute a small sum to the fund & if someone got caught on public transport during the semester, they could pay the fine out of that fund. (I love random weird stories like that.)

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Vanessa. Wow, that's pretty crazy clever about the fare evasion fund. A sort of group insurance for the unscrupulous 😅

Bikes are far too much of an easy theft unfortunately, even when locked up.

Expand full comment

That was so unexpected! You're a talented fake-book reviewer. Please do more!

Expand full comment
author

Heh, thanks Nadia. Well, I'm going to have to come up with the real-fake goods whenever Terry returns the "favour".

Expand full comment

Hahahah. You should do one of a fake poetry book ;D.

Expand full comment

Indeed. Fear not, Nathan. I shall be avenged

Expand full comment

He's definitely good at this.

Expand full comment

This extreme experimentation collaboration is everything. I’m on the edge of my seat, Terry...

Expand full comment
author

I'm glad I'm not in Terry's shoes.

But soon I'm in Terry's shoes when he returns the favour ... 😬

Expand full comment

Let the fear and trembling begin

Expand full comment

I hope I will not disappoint, Kathleen 😊

Expand full comment
author

I have every confidence you won't.

Expand full comment

aw, shucks

Expand full comment

Write it or we're going to have to sort you out, mate!

Expand full comment

What a clever ruse. You don't pull the wool over my eyes, though! There must be such a book! 😂

Write it already, Terry. Great stuff, fun writing all around, I second Terry's choice for best sentence and as such will have to restack with fervour.

Expand full comment
author

PS there is a bit of film intertextuality in this one. Not sure if you'll know it, but I dropped it in there...

Expand full comment

You make me read it again but my mind is stuck on Ladri di biciclette, one of the greatest films ever made. 😎 https://www.criterion.com/films/210-bicycle-thieves - I am sure that’s not it, and if you haven’t seen, you’re in for a treat. Now... intertextual hunting will continue

Expand full comment
author

I have not, so that is not it, but thanks for the link. As usual, I have not heard of this piece of art plucked from your mind 😄

Expand full comment

That you have! I can recommend Bicycle Thieves, in fact, I watched it recently, as it is on my top 100 films to see before you join the choir invisible.

As for your reference, I fear I will need help from Nadia. 🙃

Expand full comment
author

Haha, perhaps there is such a book after all. Either way, there will be soon! No pressure for Terry...

And thank you!

Expand full comment

Most welcome, and ya, no pressure... Terry! 😎

Expand full comment

Thanks, Alexander. I feel I ought to write it now.

Expand full comment
Oct 28, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

"Omgosh". I'm sleepily reading this post this morning during my... ahem... "morning routine". Somehow not realising that browser subscription dream was a dream. Had so many questions.

Expand full comment
author

Hahaha 😅😅

Expand full comment

Ha! What a fun experiment! I had no clue the book wasn't a thing until you told me it wasn't a thing. Wishing books into reality through the joy of deception!

Expand full comment
author

It's certainly been a fun experience 😄 Thanks for reading, Elnora.

Expand full comment

Just thinking, Nathan, maybe this should be updated with a link to what I wrote in response.

Expand full comment
author

Great idea, sorry I hadn't done this already. Will update now.

Expand full comment

I've only just thought of it myself!

Expand full comment

Was SPITTING FIRE when I thought some kids actually had hacked your browser history (which is absolutely no reflection on anything untoward in MY browser history, I assure you) so I was enormously relieved by proxy when I realized it was all a dream... Lovely concoctions this week, Nathan, as always!

Expand full comment
author

No, I'm sure, of course not Troy 😉

Thanks for swinging by as always my friend. I'm looking forward to getting to your BOOK CHAPTER (!) I see you posted about.

Expand full comment

What a post! I’m especially interested in the dream morsels (I love to interpret dreams).

Both dreams having to do with your “ancient” history is an appealing theme. Some thoughts, feelings, day occurrences you’d rather go extinct but refuse to die for good!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Taegan, and yes very much, such things never truly go extinct. They just lay there, dorment in the mind.

Expand full comment
Aug 4, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

Is the browser history thing true? How? WHY?

Expand full comment
author

Hahah no no, that was merely a dream/nightmare I had 😅

Expand full comment
author

I hope!!

Expand full comment
Aug 4, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

Phew!

You're good at making shit up. 🤣

Expand full comment
author

Haha, why thank you 😁

Expand full comment