This is an extremely interesting reading that allows us to peek into the inner world of the great writer.

It offers a unique perspective on the thoughts, emotions, and experiences that shaped the writer's works.

Through this reading, we can gain a deeper understanding of the creative process and the inspiration behind the masterpieces.

It is like opening a door to a hidden realm, filled with the writer's imagination and creativity.

We can explore the various themes and motifs that recur in the writer's works, and see how they are intertwined with the writer's personal life.

Overall, this reading is a fascinating journey into the mind of a great writer, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who engages with it.

Stream of consciousness in blocks. The scrawled life here and there of a sensitive homosexual who is hetero married (to a woman) and has children, and whose role as a husband sits ill with his nature, producing a perceptible vital tension that gives birth to a muddled consciousness.

It is pleasant and likeable, but I couldn't wait to move on to something else. This kind of existence seems to be a contradiction in itself. On one hand, there is the social facade of a married man with a family, fulfilling the traditional roles. On the other hand, there is the inner turmoil and conflict within the homosexual self. The struggle between these two aspects creates a complex web of emotions and thoughts. It's as if there are two parallel lives running simultaneously, and the individual is constantly being pulled in different directions. This muddled consciousness not only affects the person's mental state but also has an impact on his relationships and overall quality of life.

This is the best diary that I have ever read in my life.

It is not just an ordinary diary. The words in it seem to come alive, painting a vivid picture of the writer's experiences, emotions, and thoughts.

Every page is filled with sincerity and authenticity. I can feel the writer's joy, sadness, excitement, and confusion as if I were right there with them.

The diary also has a unique charm. It is written in a simple yet profound way, making it easy to understand and relate to. It makes me realize that even the most ordinary moments in life can be extraordinary if we look at them with a different perspective.

Overall, this diary has had a profound impact on me. It has made me appreciate the beauty of life and has inspired me to be more aware of my own feelings and experiences. I will always cherish this diary and the lessons it has taught me.

This is an audiobook.

An audiobook is a wonderful medium that allows you to enjoy the written word in a whole new way. Instead of sitting down with a physical book or an e-reader, you can simply put on your headphones and let the narrator bring the story to life.

Listening to an audiobook can be a great way to pass the time while you're commuting, exercising, or doing household chores. It can also enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the story, as the narrator's tone, inflection, and pacing can add depth and nuance to the words on the page.

Whether you're a voracious reader or someone who struggles to find the time to sit down with a book, an audiobook can be a great addition to your literary diet. So why not give it a try and see how it can enrich your reading experience?

Literary pastries!

They are like little treasures that combine the art of literature with the deliciousness of pastries. Just as a well-written story can transport you to another world, a literary pastry can tantalize your taste buds and bring a smile to your face.

Imagine biting into a flaky croissant that is filled with a rich and creamy custard, just like the layers of a complex and engaging novel. Or perhaps a decadent chocolate cake that is as indulgent as a passionate love story.

Literary pastries can also be a source of inspiration for writers. The unique combinations of flavors and textures can spark new ideas and help them to create more vivid and memorable characters and plots.

So the next time you are looking for a sweet treat, why not try a literary pastry? It might just be the perfect way to satisfy both your hunger and your love of literature.

4.5, Cheever at his personal best. A taste, from page 393, 1982:

So, feeling as if I have conquered cancer, I stroll happily around the house. A loaf of bread is needed, and I will search for one. What could be a more simple and universal pursuit than a man looking for a new loaf of bread? The last of the unseasonable snow has melted, and there is a curious greenness of fragrance in the air that represents what - death!

I have not conquered cancer; I have merely worsened. So off I go to the supermarket, which is closed. The sight of this place without lights, without delivery trucks, and without a full parking lot is like some apocalyptic vision. In this society, in this world, at this time of day, finding the supermarket closed is an upheaval.

I go to the lesser, and the losing, market and deeply hope that it will not have been forced to stay open in competition; but it too, happily, is closed. Christ the Lord is risen.

It is at the bakery that I find the new bread. And how for me a bakery is the heart - and sometimes the soul - of a village! I remember the bakery in the little town north of Rome. I remember stopping at a restaurant in Romania with C. and being told that we could not yet have lunch; the bread hadn't been baked. One smiles at the girls in the bakery and wishes them a happy Easter.

John Cheever tells his story. He does so with honesty, without filters but always gently, never falling into the pathetic despite the undeniable problem with alcohol, the attraction towards men, the money problems, the family atmosphere, being a writer and being themselves.

More than 500 pages in which we find a man conscious of his own contradictions, the same ones loved and hated or almost ignored but necessary to be a great artist and manage to tell us about humanity in his stories in such a pure way.

It is also an essay on feeling alone, different, outsiders. Intense and divinely written.

John Cheever's work is a fascinating exploration of the human condition. His willingness to be open and vulnerable in his writing allows readers to see the complexity and beauty of life. Through his stories, we are able to understand the struggles and joys of being human, and to appreciate the power of art to connect us with one another.

Whether we are dealing with our own personal demons or simply trying to make sense of the world around us, Cheever's words offer a source of inspiration and comfort. His work reminds us that we are not alone in our experiences, and that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for something better.

Overall, John Cheever's writing is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the ability of art to transform our lives. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in exploring the depths of the human psyche and understanding the true meaning of life.

*What is this kind of tenderness that I seem to need so violently that it obscures my good sense?*

I turn the book and read, "The only certainties I have are the importance of love, the smell of fried food, and the music of the rain."

Perfect.

But then why does it weigh eight kilograms when I turn it? I turn it again.

And I find a boy with tousled hair as if he had put his fingers in the current - presumably naked, presumably deep in thought (or sleepy?) - who is holding a very thin she - presumably on the verge of giving in (or is she clinging?). It's not clear who is holding on to whom. How much is reciprocal in the way those two silent and pale bodies hold each other in the blackness that surrounds them.

That "solitude" sounds so bad above their close heads..

And yet it is about solitude. About John Cheever, who *attention* could be the type you meet every morning at the bar in your little town, the father of a friend of yours, you in another life. In this one, no, because the idea is enough to make you feel more alone and desperate than you are.

But then you also find the lavender and lemon-colored skies eh..

Not everything is desolation in the pages of these diaries. Which you don't like because they are so real that they don't seem to belong to a writer. What has he invented when he talks about his interiors that hardly work? When he tells of a sexuality that fails to live, when he hides behind the drop that bores his soul? Sorry John, where the hell are you?

"Something rough and real like the hairs on the belly."

Hello tenderness. Hello cover with the two milk cartons that cling to each other etc.etc.

And yet no.

The importance of love, the smell of fried food, and the music of the rain.

You try, not to have even these certainties.

I really don't have the slightest interest in reading about a godless, alcoholic narcissist. It seems rather unappealing and unedifying. Such a character portrayal might be filled with negative traits and behaviors that could potentially have a harmful impact on the reader's mindset.

There are so many other wonderful and inspiring stories out there that can offer valuable lessons, evoke positive emotions, and expand our perspectives. Why would one choose to engage with the life of someone who seems to lack any moral or spiritual compass, drowns in alcohol, and is overly self-absorbed?

I believe that our reading material should be a source of inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment that enriches our lives rather than dragging us down into the cesspool of such unwholesome characters. Let's focus on the good and the beautiful in literature and leave the godless, alcoholic narcissists to their own devices.

This passage presents an interesting situation. The person starts reading "Crime and Punishment" and is initially excited by the first sentence. However, by the middle of the third page, they give up and turn on the TV. It shows how sometimes, even the greatest books can seem overwhelming or lose their appeal. Maybe the reader was distracted, or perhaps the book didn't meet their expectations.

<¿De dónde habré sacado que viviría eternamente?>

This question makes one wonder about the source of such a belief. Where did the person get the idea that they would live forever? It could be from a religious or spiritual belief, or perhaps from a personal experience or hope. The thought of eternal life is a fascinating and complex one, and it has been the subject of much debate and speculation throughout history.

Much of the writing in this book is truly beautiful, and I usually have a soft spot for such literary elegance. However, I really struggled to get through this particular work.

I understand that it is as honest as the author could make it, or perhaps as honest as Gottlieb could compile it, considering that the book represents only a very small portion of Cheever's journals. So, in that sense, it has validity as an intimate portrayal of a man.

I also recognize that while I don't particularly like the person depicted, that might not be entirely relevant. After all, there are many fine novels with unlikable protagonists.

Still, a book of this length about a man who is a serial philanderer (with both sexes, eventually), an alcoholic, egocentric, and easily wounded feels like a burden to me.

So, why didn't this book work for me? I'm trying to figure that out. It's simply too long. Moreover, it is repetitious. There are definitely a few entries that are repetitive, but more so because the same ideas keep resurfacing. Cheever loves himself, his private parts, his children, the weather, watching people, doing physical tasks, exercise, and undoubtedly a few other things. (Oh, yes, alcohol and pills too, although he does give them up eventually). Four hundred pages of rather banal observations became tedious for me, despite the fact that they were usually well-written.

Maybe the problem is that there is just an overwhelming amount of sadness in these pages. So much of John's marriage to Mary reminds me of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff." Cheever is achingly lonely for much of the time. Mary more than once reminds him that he has no friends. He has a social life, but if there is any intimacy in it, it is not described (except to some extent with M. at the end).

For me to enjoy reading a book, the characters need to come to life. The sad marriage of John and Mary does manage to achieve that to some extent. Their three children, however, are less vivid. They are loved, but they don't really emerge as individuals in the narrative. It doesn't help that Gottlieb decided to replace people's full names with initials. As a result, the reader is unable to trace any relationships over time (or at least that was the case for me).

The entries were not dated by Cheever, and there is no real continuity or story line. It's just a never-ending stream of musings. You have to look at the top of a page to figure out the year of an entry.

Anyway, I have no problem with the readers who found this book poignant and moving. I just couldn't quite get there myself.

At times, it is heartbreaking,

as the words on the page seem to bleed with the pain and sorrow of the author.

Other times, it is shocking,

revealing secrets and emotions that one would never have expected.

But always, it is incredibly insightful and human,

offering a window into the inner world of a treasured author.

This fascinating collection of private writings is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to understand the mind and heart of the writer.

It is a journey through the author's life and experiences,

filled with joy, sadness, love, and loss.

Each piece is a gem,

shining with the author's unique voice and perspective.

Whether you are a fan of the author or simply someone who appreciates good writing,

this collection is sure to touch your heart and leave you with a deeper understanding of the human condition.