This year. Holy crap. This year.
Last year was so awful, by the way. I checked my journal from exactly a year ago, when I was slinking out of town to New Orleans, my tail between my legs, soiled and trampled, humbled by New York City. I wrote a lot about how whatever I was doing wasn’t working, nothing in my life was working, and I was throwing all in with this new plan. I needed a perspective shift. It felt like my life depended on it.
And when I actually left town – a few days in advance of my planned exit, saying goodbye to no one, because that’s how awful I felt – I wrote down this weird little story. I had gone to get a bagel at six in the morning before I hit the road, where I witnessed the tail end of a conflict between the store manager and a customer. He wanted her to smile, and she wouldn’t. “Come on smile for me,” he said. She stood there, polite and quiet, her lips flatlined. A thin veneer of hassled. I thought: Oh god, New York, I must leave you immediately.
After the man left she told me he was a troublemaker, he pestered all the men who worked there, he cursed and complained, and she would never, ever smile for him. But of course she smiled for me. And then I was extra nice to her just so she wouldn’t hate humanity all day long. But stuff those tip jars when you can, that’s all I’m saying. You never know what you missed right before you walked in the door.
Anyway, now it’s today, now I’m going to go walk downstairs in my pajamas and flip flops and pick up my copy of The New York Times sitting bound in blue plastic in the lobby of my apartment building. Now I’ve got the cover review of The New York Times Book Review. Julie Orringer, an amazing, amazing writer, wrote it, and it is beautiful and thoughtful and more than I could have ever wanted. Holy crap! Holy crap.
I don’t know what I did to deserve this year. Not all of it was easy. There was definitely a strong finish. I can tell you that I now feel a sense of completion with this creative project. I got to write what I wanted to write, and I received professional recognition for it. There was a precise beginning, middle, and happy ending. A story to my story. It was deeply satisfying.
I can also tell you that it is not always like this. I had three books that did not do well before this book. The last one did so poorly that my publisher dropped me. And I am grateful every day that Helen Atsma and Grand Central Publishing picked me up, dusted me off, and said, “We’ll take her.”
Every writer I know, even the most successful, will tell you that it is up and down over the course of your career. But they will also tell you to enjoy it when it works. So I am enjoying it. And I am glad I get to do it with all the wonderful, supportive people in my life.
As for the lady on the cover of the Book Review, god, isn’t she gorgeous? Sad, beautiful, wise. I like what they did there, those editors, putting her front and center. I like that they made you look at her. I like that they made you think about it.
OK, so think about it a little bit. And I’ll see you next year, when I start writing the new book.
Jami, I’m reading The Middlesteins right now – it was one of my Christmas gifts – and I cannot get ENOUGH. I feel like Edie at the Chinese restaurant. What a beautiful book. I feel lucky that I get to read it. Thank you for writing it!
So. Proud. You have always deserved these things (the good parts, though of course they come with the hard parts) and it has been a beautiful year watching you live it out!
I’m so happy that this happened for you when it did (the NYT, I mean)–how often do we get perfect endcaps that let us stop and enjoy everything for a moment? A rare, deserved bonus!
So I’m doing my laundry in Clinton Hill this AM, and a lovely lady is reading the newspaper. We smile at each other over our specs and I crack open NW. As she is getting ready to leave, she organizes her sections and hands one to me: “Would you like this?” And there’s your review!
Blessed be, Jami! Blessed be!!
this is so wise and epic. you are helping with your art. i salute you.
Ordered my copy and expect it from Amazon on Monday. It is my New Year’s Eve present to myself. Congratulations on a huge achievement. No pun intended…
Holy crap, it takes balls to admit your publisher dropped you. Mine did too! I fucking loved penguin as well. You give me hope!
Jami, The Middlesteins is one of those extraordinarily rare gifts to readers. A deeply felt, elegantly crafted, exquisitely written piece of work. Your heart is so expansive, you embrace each and every one of us. You are a great writer and a great woman. Thank you.
Absolutely lovely. True and heartening.
We’re lifting every bottle, glass, and can in the house, celebrating with you tonight.
I read your book when it first came out. Loved all the very accurate and spot on Suburban Chi-town references and quips. The characters were so very real to me as I work with families in a hospital setting where your book is set and I feel as if I knew Edie, her kids, the ex. You caught all of her neediness, her self loathing, zest, greed and goodness. Morbid obesity is such a difficult medical/emotional issue to address.
Congrats on a wonderful review and keep writing..please!
Um…yay! YAY! yay.
What a nice blog post. how heartfelt.
Congrats Jami. To a happy and healthy 2013, as well.
Many congratulations. As a writer who’s latest book came out today (and who’s seen the previous sell in the mid three-digits), this was especially nice to see. Heading downstairs to read Review section — and what an excellent illustration, to boot.
Bravo!!!!
I was consumed by this novel. So well written and moving.
This will turn into an amazing screen play and hopefully movie.
I look forward to reading your past and future novels.
Thank you,
Tammy( Ontario Canada)
Congrats, Jami, on this wonderful book. It has great characters and is so well-written. As a high school friend of your dad’s, I’m enjoying seeing your parents kvelling. I’m glad my daughter and I got to meet you at Old Orchard. You rock! Here’s wishing you continued success!
I began reading your blog a couple of years ago, and your writing has always made me feel as though I know you, that we are friends–your brain and your thought are feeling comforting and familiar. And your tumblr is awesome!
I hadn’t read any of your books (I was in Chinese med school and was reading nothing fun for four years) but left for a six month adventure in Asia in October. I bought The Middlesteins and read it on the plane to Bangkok. The whole thing.
I am in a really cold hotel room in Hanoi right now, and I just saw the NYT book review. I want to high five you so hard. Congrats, girl! I love a good survivor story, and you, my dear, have made and are all the more incredible for your journey. Happy New Year.
(Jesus, sorry for the typos. iPhones, man.)
Wow, I loved The Middlesteins! Loved the subtle hook that kept me up late reading. Great idea describing the b’nai mitzvah from the neighbors point-of-view. It made it seem like I was sitting at the table.