Writers and thinkers find meaning by examining life's disorder

by Ingrid Solheim About Ingrid SolheimNovember 6, 20266 links · ~86 min read · ~1 min for the TL;DR

Marginal Notes by Ingrid Solheim: six links on Culture every week.

TL;DR

Australian author Helen Garner achieved global recognition five decades into her career after weathering three marriages, being labeled a rotten feminist, and publishing unsparing true crime and fiction.
Min Jin Lee spends a decade writing each novel, focusing her latest work, American Hagwon, on the promises and perils Koreans encounter while pursuing Western education.
Stacy Keltner points out the irony of Anne Carson winning the Nobel Prize in literature after spending her career examining how fulfilled desires leave people feeling empty.
Hilton Als examines the portraits of love created by French writer and photographer Hervé Guibert.
An essayist reflects on how physics initially provided order and purpose, but offered far deeper insight only after personal life turned messy.
A guide marks 100 years since the birth of British critic John Berger by surveying his genre-bending writing on art, mortality, sex, and love.

From the curator

Writers and thinkers find that lasting insight comes from confronting personal disorder rather than achieving clean resolutions. In a 14-minute article from the Guardian, Australian author Helen Garner discusses finding global recognition five decades into her career while enduring controversy and three marriages. Stacy Keltner's 6-minute article for The Conversation highlights how Anne Carson won literature's highest award after spending her career examining the emptiness of fulfilled desire. Meanwhile, NPR's 34-minute article shows Min Jin Lee spending a decade on each novel to chart the perils and promises facing Korean students. Whether looking at art, love, or physics, these creators demonstrate that understanding life requires accepting its persistent turbulence.

Ingrid Solheim

Curated for this issue

the Guardian14 min read‘Being hated is very bracing’: Helen Garner on surviving three marriages and being called a ‘rotten feminist’
Her unsparing fiction and true crime writing have made her one of Australia’s most controversial and celebrated authors. The author discusses relationships, resilience – and…

NPR34 min readMin Jin Lee on 'American Hagwon' and why it takes a decade to write each novel
Lee's new novel is about the promise and perils for Koreans who pursue a Western education. Her previous book, the 2017 novel Pachinko, was a finalist for a National Book Award.

The Conversation6 min readWhy achieving your goals can leave you feeling so empty
There is an irony in Anne Carson’s Nobel win: The highest award in literature has gone to a writer who has spent her career exploring the emptiness of a desire fulfilled.

Stacy Keltner · curated 1 time

The New Yorker8 min readThe Unclassifiable Talent of Hervé Guibert
The French writer and photographer’s portraits of love.

Hilton Als · curated 1 time

aeon.co18 min readHow to use physics to make sense of the messiness of life | Aeon Essays
Physics offered me a sense of order and purpose. But when life got messy I realised it had a much deeper insight to give

the Guardian5 min readWhere to start with: John Berger
The influential British writer and critic was born 100 years ago today. Here’s a guide to his genre-bending writing on art, love, sex, mortality and more

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From the curator

NPR34 min readMin Jin Lee on 'American Hagwon' and why it takes a decade to write each novelLee's new novel is about the promise and perils for Koreans who pursue a Western education. Her previous book, the 2017 novel Pachinko, was a finalist for a National Book Award.

The Conversation6 min readWhy achieving your goals can leave you feeling so emptyThere is an irony in Anne Carson’s Nobel win: The highest award in literature has gone to a writer who has spent her career exploring the emptiness of a desire fulfilled.

The New Yorker8 min readThe Unclassifiable Talent of Hervé GuibertThe French writer and photographer’s portraits of love.

aeon.co18 min readHow to use physics to make sense of the messiness of life | Aeon EssaysPhysics offered me a sense of order and purpose. But when life got messy I realised it had a much deeper insight to give

the Guardian5 min readWhere to start with: John BergerThe influential British writer and critic was born 100 years ago today. Here’s a guide to his genre-bending writing on art, love, sex, mortality and more

NPR34 min readMin Jin Lee on 'American Hagwon' and why it takes a decade to write each novel
Lee's new novel is about the promise and perils for Koreans who pursue a Western education. Her previous book, the 2017 novel Pachinko, was a finalist for a National Book Award.

The Conversation6 min readWhy achieving your goals can leave you feeling so empty
There is an irony in Anne Carson’s Nobel win: The highest award in literature has gone to a writer who has spent her career exploring the emptiness of a desire fulfilled.

The New Yorker8 min readThe Unclassifiable Talent of Hervé Guibert
The French writer and photographer’s portraits of love.

aeon.co18 min readHow to use physics to make sense of the messiness of life | Aeon Essays
Physics offered me a sense of order and purpose. But when life got messy I realised it had a much deeper insight to give

the Guardian5 min readWhere to start with: John Berger
The influential British writer and critic was born 100 years ago today. Here’s a guide to his genre-bending writing on art, love, sex, mortality and more