Rachael, I don’t know how you do it, but I’m so glad you do. The reading and interpretation, followed by the weaving of insights into beautiful writing is masterful. As a fan and reader, the journey of your essays reorders parts of my insides as your perspectives shape my view of the world and of myself long after I’ve finished the final word.
I found this especially beautiful:
“But it is possible to find a different mirror. The infant who arrived defenseless, whose only strategy was to be held, is still there beneath the armor, waiting to be reflected in a loving gaze.”
James, thank you for this. I never quite know if what I’m reaching for on the page will reach anyone else, so hearing that it resonated means everything. I find disorganized attachment so fascinating and heartbreaking, and I’m glad I was able to convey some of that here. I’m grateful for your deep reading and encouragement!
Rachel... no words, really . . . but I'll make an attempt.
First, you've described the path a number of my friends encountered as they entered their world.
The book, Normal People, (that inspired the BBC series) is achingly beautiful, as you've described, and hauntingly familiar all at the same time.
However, I don't believe I've ever read anything that so aptly illustrates the seeming impossibible conundrm faced by those dealing with disorganized attachment as what you've shared here.
Thank you for shedding such a meaningful light on the challenge that so many face.
Christopher, thank you so much for this. Normal People really is such an incisive and nuanced portrayal of what this looks like inside a real person. I kept coming back to it because Rooney captures that impossible bind with so much restraint and honesty.
It means a lot to hear that this felt like an accurate reflection of what some of your friends have lived. I was really hoping that by laying the dynamic out clearly, it might help a few people recognize themselves in it, or make sense of patterns they’ve struggled with for a long time. I’m grateful you took the time to read and share this.
"When love and fear have been braided together in disorganized attachment, true emotional intimacy feels more dangerous than even rejection."
Rachel, this is just one of the many gems you created for this essay, gems that compel me to dive deeper into disorganized attachment. That's because so much of what you unpack here hit me like an eloquent gut punch. There were so many "That's me!!" moments in this essay.
And what'll facilitate this deep dive: your detailed footnotes, which *alone* are impressive. They are such a great place to start. Thank you!
Larry, this really moved me. I’m genuinely thrilled that the essay felt so reflective of your own experience.
I love that it’s sending you deeper into your own exploration of disorganized attachment. It never stops amazing me how profoundly our earliest attachment experiences shape us, often in ways we don’t fully see until much later. I truly believe the world would be a much gentler, happier place if we did a better job helping our babies feel loved and secure from the start.
And thank you, deeply, for your thoughtful notes on the first draft and for the way you consistently show up for writers on this platform. Your care, curiosity, and encouragement really matter, and they’ve meant a great deal to me.
Rachel, I was struck with a thought as I was reading through your, yet again, insightful interpretation of this book dealing with a very common scenario in so many children's lives. And that is the frequency of this behavior which is often handed down through several generations... and sadly not dealt with because it has become "normalized". The old adage, "pick yourself up by your own bootstraps" was a popular saying among the elders a generation or so ago, I vividly remember my maternal grandfather saying that quite often. He had a very troubled childhood due to his father's temper and detachment. So many historians would speak of this behavior as the "norm" of those tough years ( two world wars, the Depression, widespread poverty, etc)
Cycles obviously can be broken, but oftentimes the behavior patterns are so ingrained that they become status quo and are the sad realities of many lives.
Thanks Mom, I’m really glad you shared this. I completely agree about the generational hand-off, how certain ways of coping get passed down, especially in families shaped by hardship and survival. What you’re pointing to is exactly the kind of environment where those confused patterns of closeness and fear take root and then quietly repeat themselves. And you’re right, they can feel so ingrained that no one even questions them anymore.
Thank you for always reading so carefully and for reflecting on it this way ◡̈
Thank you, Claire ◡̈ Always love seeing your name in the comments, as you set a high writing bar. And yes, Normal People was a great read on many levels.
I had to let this sit for a while before commenting. It explains so much. One of the footnotes with the toddler crawling towards, then away from its father, then crawling to a wall, looking at its father then covering its eyes pretty much sums up my early living room although eyes stayed open in case of clearly-trusted mood swings or flying objects.
This all makes me reflect on how my dad tried his hardest to embrace patriarchy while being a boy at heart, reveling in its male privileges but resenting its responsibilities like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to be an unfettered, respected, admired man without the emotional tools, meanwhile finding himself with 4 kids, a wife and house on his hands.
I’ve had to learn to climb out from beneath him and his psyche and set it and him to the side. He meant no harm but he caused a bunch of heartache and fear in our family.
I know you’ve mentioned your dad was a lovely human being. I love hearing “great dad stories.” They recalibrate my own psyche.
This is an exceptional essay. Thank you for writing it.
How do you choose your novels? Do you first choose a topic, research it, then find a supporting novel, or the opposite? Find a riveting novel then research the topic it explores?
Kathy, I had to sit with your comment for a while too. It really touched me. The image you shared of yourself as a small child in that living room is heartbreaking, and at the same time, the clarity and compassion you bring to understanding your father’s limitations is incredibly moving. Being able to see both the fear and the humanity in a parent is no small thing.
These dynamics are so tender and so nuanced, and I’m deeply grateful you shared something this personal. It’s very clear how much awareness and care you’ve brought to making sure that cycle doesn’t quietly continue. That kind of self-reflection matters more than most people realize.
As for the novels, it’s usually a bit of both. Often a psychological concept has been circling my attention for a while, and then I find a novel that illuminates it in a deeply human way. With this essay, I felt especially fortunate that Normal People offered such a striking and compassionate portrayal of a concept that’s still being revealed by researchers.
Thank you again for reading so closely and for sharing something so honest and generous here.
Your writing is eminently clear, concise, gentle, hopeful, readable, and insightful. You have a rare and powerful gift, Rachel. Thank you for sharing it with the world in this way. It was impossible for me to read this one at arms'-length. It touched on something tender inside me and drew tears. I will be musing on it for some time. Thank you. ❤️
Susanna, this honestly made me blush. Thank you so much for these generous words. I’m really humbled to hear that the essay touched something tender for you. Revisiting these deep attachment wounds can be incredibly vulnerable, and also, at times, incredibly healing. I’m wishing you so much gentleness and care as you sit with it.
I’m truly grateful for your support and for taking the time to share this with me. It means a great deal. ❤️
I meant to comment when this first appeared in my mail. I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoy your pieces. You have a great talent in choosing an interesting and relevant topic and tying your words and research to a literary work. I’m always engaged and find myself wanting to reread whatever novel you choose to thread your theme around. Thank you.
Judy, I can’t thank you enough for your continued reading and encouragement. It truly means so much to me. It really means a lot to know the pieces stay with you and make you want to revisit the books. Thank you for taking the time to share this.
Rachel, again, kudos to you for diving deep and bringing up the pearls of insight for us. This whole topic of attachment theories was a new one for me prior to your essay on anxious and avoidance attachments. I'm working on going deeper myself into what I now see so clearly as my own avoidance pattern... and how that both created / influenced my life's journey and what I'd like to do about it now. How can I shift that into new states of being for myself?-- partly out of concern for what I pass on to my grandsons...but also to open up more to my own Life. Thank you for showing us the way to share profound concepts in relatable ways.
Linda, I’m so glad these essays have helped bring attachment theory into your awareness. To me, it really is foundational to how we move through the world and relate to others, and understanding it has had a huge impact on my own relationships—not just with other people, but with myself too.
I really appreciate you sharing that you’ve started to notice avoidance in yourself. For avoidance in particular, learning to stay with our embodied feelings instead of immediately intellectualizing or defending can be a great place to start. I have a feeling you've probably already been working on this through the other fields of wisdom you follow ◡̈
If you’re interested in going deeper, especially in the context of intimate relationships, I really admire Julie Menanno’s work. She has a book called Secure Love, and she also hosts a podcast where she walks real couples through these patterns and helps them see and gently interrupt the loops they get stuck in: www.thesecurerelationship.com
Thank you so much for reading so thoughtfully and for taking the time to reflect so openly here.
Rachel, Thanks for sharing more info to follow up with these attachment patterns. I'll check out Julie's work. And yes, it's that immediate jump up to the head, intellectualizing and getting lost in there is such a key.
This is a beautiful essay. I’ve seen this unfold firsthand and it is quite sad indeed. We often at those who have wealth and who appear happy but often they too are often plagued with generational trauma. Your essay does a lovely job illustrating that point and expounding upon it. Your references only deepen the impact.
Glad you took the time to take the deeper dive! And that you shared it with all of us!
Thank you so much, Brian. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. You’re absolutely right that generational trauma doesn’t belong to any one socioeconomic group. It can hide behind comfort and success just as easily as anywhere else. I’m really glad that came through, and that the deeper dive and references added something for you.
Thanks again for reading so thoughtfully and for your kind words.
Rachel - so well done, a bit disheartening, but an important piece reminding us of the pain so many innocent children live through.
One additional thought, Recently, I was at my much-loved grandson's very well-attended 1st birthday party. One of his favorite things to do is to crawl to the window, turn, smile, look at his mother, and vigorously shake the living room floor-to-ceiling window blinds-- laughing the whole time. It's funny, but his parents, of course, don't want him to do this. They repeatedly pick him up and return him to a distant part of the room and gently tell him no.. Still, the child persists in this humorous game, crawling back, making sure his parents are watching before shaking the blind,
It's as he's saying, "I'm more than you, Mom and Dad. I'm my own person, and I can crawl, and I'm going to play this game ." I wonder if there is something more to this-- if maybe we all are born with some sort of innate instinct for individual autonomy that allows us --with a bit of luck and some help --to escape from the prison of disorganized attachment you so eloquently outline,
Ed, thank you so much for reading so closely and for taking the time to share this. I loved that image of your grandson at the window, checking back, laughing, making sure his parents are watching before heading off into a little mischief. To me, that’s such a beautiful picture of what security looks like in a child. He feels safe enough to crawl away and explore, curious and confident, knowing his parents are there when he needs them.
That back-and-forth you’re noticing, the independence paired with the checking in, is exactly what allows autonomy to grow without fear. It sounds like his parents are doing a wonderful job giving him both freedom and a steady home base.
Thank you again for your thoughtful reflection and for sharing such a tender moment. I really appreciate you reading and engaging with this so generously.
I'll be printing this one to read again, Rachel. The way you weave themes in literature with the struggles of every day life and the intricate depths of the human mind is masterful. I have seen threads from my own life in several of the pieces you have written.
Lori, hearing that you see parts of your own life in these essays is honestly the greatest compliment to me. That’s exactly what I hope for. My hope is that by untangling some of these dynamics, they start to feel a little more understandable and less overwhelming, which I think is often the first small step toward healing. Thank you so much for reading so thoughtfully and for taking the time to share this. It really means a lot.
Superb analysis! The unsolvable fear framework is devastatingly accurate becuase it names that imposible bind where seeking comfort means approaching danger. I watched a freind cycle through this exact pattern in relationships, always drawn to what felt familar rather than what was healthy. The way Rooney captures Marianne's internal monologue around being unloveable shows how those early templates just keep running.
Thank you for this. I can only imagine how painful it must have been to watch someone you care about get caught in that cycle. You’re right, Rooney does such a good job putting words to that inner experience. Having language for that impossible bind can be a real relief, especially after years of assuming the problem was you. I was really hoping that putting words to it might help some people recognize what they’re living with, and maybe feel a little less alone in it. I really appreciate you reading so thoughtfully and taking the time to share this.
This was so interesting and insightful. I haven't read the book but will add it to my list. I was fascinated with your explaining the disorganized attachment theory and it's contradictory push-pull. It explains a lot about people who are raised by untrustworthy caregivers.
Thank you, Suzanne. It really is such a fascinating and heartbreaking dynamic. When you remember just how vulnerable a child is, and how much they depend on that one relationship for safety, the push-pull makes so much sense. If the person you need is also someone you can’t fully trust, confusion becomes a kind of survival. I’m glad the explanation resonated, and I hope you enjoy the book if you do pick it up. Thanks so much for reading and sharing this.
Excellent character analysis using the disorganised attachment theory. I never liked Normal People but will definitely now go back and read it again with all this in mind. Thank you for this superbly and sublimely written essay.
Thank you so much, Dana. I really appreciate that. I hope you enjoy Normal People more if you revisit it with this perspective. Thanks again for reading and for your generous words.
Rachael, I don’t know how you do it, but I’m so glad you do. The reading and interpretation, followed by the weaving of insights into beautiful writing is masterful. As a fan and reader, the journey of your essays reorders parts of my insides as your perspectives shape my view of the world and of myself long after I’ve finished the final word.
I found this especially beautiful:
“But it is possible to find a different mirror. The infant who arrived defenseless, whose only strategy was to be held, is still there beneath the armor, waiting to be reflected in a loving gaze.”
Well done. Well done. 🙏
James, thank you for this. I never quite know if what I’m reaching for on the page will reach anyone else, so hearing that it resonated means everything. I find disorganized attachment so fascinating and heartbreaking, and I’m glad I was able to convey some of that here. I’m grateful for your deep reading and encouragement!
Rachel... no words, really . . . but I'll make an attempt.
First, you've described the path a number of my friends encountered as they entered their world.
The book, Normal People, (that inspired the BBC series) is achingly beautiful, as you've described, and hauntingly familiar all at the same time.
However, I don't believe I've ever read anything that so aptly illustrates the seeming impossibible conundrm faced by those dealing with disorganized attachment as what you've shared here.
Thank you for shedding such a meaningful light on the challenge that so many face.
Christopher, thank you so much for this. Normal People really is such an incisive and nuanced portrayal of what this looks like inside a real person. I kept coming back to it because Rooney captures that impossible bind with so much restraint and honesty.
It means a lot to hear that this felt like an accurate reflection of what some of your friends have lived. I was really hoping that by laying the dynamic out clearly, it might help a few people recognize themselves in it, or make sense of patterns they’ve struggled with for a long time. I’m grateful you took the time to read and share this.
I don't mind outing myself here; I'm one of those friends, and anyone who knows Chris is One Lucky Human. :)
While I don't know Chris personally, based on his exquisite writing I must agree ◡̈
You're hope was fully realized, Rachel, in such a powerful way.
"When love and fear have been braided together in disorganized attachment, true emotional intimacy feels more dangerous than even rejection."
Rachel, this is just one of the many gems you created for this essay, gems that compel me to dive deeper into disorganized attachment. That's because so much of what you unpack here hit me like an eloquent gut punch. There were so many "That's me!!" moments in this essay.
And what'll facilitate this deep dive: your detailed footnotes, which *alone* are impressive. They are such a great place to start. Thank you!
Larry, this really moved me. I’m genuinely thrilled that the essay felt so reflective of your own experience.
I love that it’s sending you deeper into your own exploration of disorganized attachment. It never stops amazing me how profoundly our earliest attachment experiences shape us, often in ways we don’t fully see until much later. I truly believe the world would be a much gentler, happier place if we did a better job helping our babies feel loved and secure from the start.
And thank you, deeply, for your thoughtful notes on the first draft and for the way you consistently show up for writers on this platform. Your care, curiosity, and encouragement really matter, and they’ve meant a great deal to me.
Rachel, I was struck with a thought as I was reading through your, yet again, insightful interpretation of this book dealing with a very common scenario in so many children's lives. And that is the frequency of this behavior which is often handed down through several generations... and sadly not dealt with because it has become "normalized". The old adage, "pick yourself up by your own bootstraps" was a popular saying among the elders a generation or so ago, I vividly remember my maternal grandfather saying that quite often. He had a very troubled childhood due to his father's temper and detachment. So many historians would speak of this behavior as the "norm" of those tough years ( two world wars, the Depression, widespread poverty, etc)
Cycles obviously can be broken, but oftentimes the behavior patterns are so ingrained that they become status quo and are the sad realities of many lives.
Thanks Mom, I’m really glad you shared this. I completely agree about the generational hand-off, how certain ways of coping get passed down, especially in families shaped by hardship and survival. What you’re pointing to is exactly the kind of environment where those confused patterns of closeness and fear take root and then quietly repeat themselves. And you’re right, they can feel so ingrained that no one even questions them anymore.
Thank you for always reading so carefully and for reflecting on it this way ◡̈
Best first paragraph I’ve read in a while.
Normal People is excellent but you’ve picked up on some points that I missed, a brilliant breakdown.
Thank you, Claire ◡̈ Always love seeing your name in the comments, as you set a high writing bar. And yes, Normal People was a great read on many levels.
I had to let this sit for a while before commenting. It explains so much. One of the footnotes with the toddler crawling towards, then away from its father, then crawling to a wall, looking at its father then covering its eyes pretty much sums up my early living room although eyes stayed open in case of clearly-trusted mood swings or flying objects.
This all makes me reflect on how my dad tried his hardest to embrace patriarchy while being a boy at heart, reveling in its male privileges but resenting its responsibilities like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to be an unfettered, respected, admired man without the emotional tools, meanwhile finding himself with 4 kids, a wife and house on his hands.
I’ve had to learn to climb out from beneath him and his psyche and set it and him to the side. He meant no harm but he caused a bunch of heartache and fear in our family.
I know you’ve mentioned your dad was a lovely human being. I love hearing “great dad stories.” They recalibrate my own psyche.
This is an exceptional essay. Thank you for writing it.
How do you choose your novels? Do you first choose a topic, research it, then find a supporting novel, or the opposite? Find a riveting novel then research the topic it explores?
Kathy, I had to sit with your comment for a while too. It really touched me. The image you shared of yourself as a small child in that living room is heartbreaking, and at the same time, the clarity and compassion you bring to understanding your father’s limitations is incredibly moving. Being able to see both the fear and the humanity in a parent is no small thing.
These dynamics are so tender and so nuanced, and I’m deeply grateful you shared something this personal. It’s very clear how much awareness and care you’ve brought to making sure that cycle doesn’t quietly continue. That kind of self-reflection matters more than most people realize.
As for the novels, it’s usually a bit of both. Often a psychological concept has been circling my attention for a while, and then I find a novel that illuminates it in a deeply human way. With this essay, I felt especially fortunate that Normal People offered such a striking and compassionate portrayal of a concept that’s still being revealed by researchers.
Thank you again for reading so closely and for sharing something so honest and generous here.
Your writing is eminently clear, concise, gentle, hopeful, readable, and insightful. You have a rare and powerful gift, Rachel. Thank you for sharing it with the world in this way. It was impossible for me to read this one at arms'-length. It touched on something tender inside me and drew tears. I will be musing on it for some time. Thank you. ❤️
Susanna, this honestly made me blush. Thank you so much for these generous words. I’m really humbled to hear that the essay touched something tender for you. Revisiting these deep attachment wounds can be incredibly vulnerable, and also, at times, incredibly healing. I’m wishing you so much gentleness and care as you sit with it.
I’m truly grateful for your support and for taking the time to share this with me. It means a great deal. ❤️
I meant to comment when this first appeared in my mail. I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoy your pieces. You have a great talent in choosing an interesting and relevant topic and tying your words and research to a literary work. I’m always engaged and find myself wanting to reread whatever novel you choose to thread your theme around. Thank you.
Judy, I can’t thank you enough for your continued reading and encouragement. It truly means so much to me. It really means a lot to know the pieces stay with you and make you want to revisit the books. Thank you for taking the time to share this.
Rachel, again, kudos to you for diving deep and bringing up the pearls of insight for us. This whole topic of attachment theories was a new one for me prior to your essay on anxious and avoidance attachments. I'm working on going deeper myself into what I now see so clearly as my own avoidance pattern... and how that both created / influenced my life's journey and what I'd like to do about it now. How can I shift that into new states of being for myself?-- partly out of concern for what I pass on to my grandsons...but also to open up more to my own Life. Thank you for showing us the way to share profound concepts in relatable ways.
Linda, I’m so glad these essays have helped bring attachment theory into your awareness. To me, it really is foundational to how we move through the world and relate to others, and understanding it has had a huge impact on my own relationships—not just with other people, but with myself too.
I really appreciate you sharing that you’ve started to notice avoidance in yourself. For avoidance in particular, learning to stay with our embodied feelings instead of immediately intellectualizing or defending can be a great place to start. I have a feeling you've probably already been working on this through the other fields of wisdom you follow ◡̈
If you’re interested in going deeper, especially in the context of intimate relationships, I really admire Julie Menanno’s work. She has a book called Secure Love, and she also hosts a podcast where she walks real couples through these patterns and helps them see and gently interrupt the loops they get stuck in: www.thesecurerelationship.com
Thank you so much for reading so thoughtfully and for taking the time to reflect so openly here.
Rachel, Thanks for sharing more info to follow up with these attachment patterns. I'll check out Julie's work. And yes, it's that immediate jump up to the head, intellectualizing and getting lost in there is such a key.
This is a beautiful essay. I’ve seen this unfold firsthand and it is quite sad indeed. We often at those who have wealth and who appear happy but often they too are often plagued with generational trauma. Your essay does a lovely job illustrating that point and expounding upon it. Your references only deepen the impact.
Glad you took the time to take the deeper dive! And that you shared it with all of us!
Thank you so much, Brian. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. You’re absolutely right that generational trauma doesn’t belong to any one socioeconomic group. It can hide behind comfort and success just as easily as anywhere else. I’m really glad that came through, and that the deeper dive and references added something for you.
Thanks again for reading so thoughtfully and for your kind words.
Rachel - so well done, a bit disheartening, but an important piece reminding us of the pain so many innocent children live through.
One additional thought, Recently, I was at my much-loved grandson's very well-attended 1st birthday party. One of his favorite things to do is to crawl to the window, turn, smile, look at his mother, and vigorously shake the living room floor-to-ceiling window blinds-- laughing the whole time. It's funny, but his parents, of course, don't want him to do this. They repeatedly pick him up and return him to a distant part of the room and gently tell him no.. Still, the child persists in this humorous game, crawling back, making sure his parents are watching before shaking the blind,
It's as he's saying, "I'm more than you, Mom and Dad. I'm my own person, and I can crawl, and I'm going to play this game ." I wonder if there is something more to this-- if maybe we all are born with some sort of innate instinct for individual autonomy that allows us --with a bit of luck and some help --to escape from the prison of disorganized attachment you so eloquently outline,
Ed, thank you so much for reading so closely and for taking the time to share this. I loved that image of your grandson at the window, checking back, laughing, making sure his parents are watching before heading off into a little mischief. To me, that’s such a beautiful picture of what security looks like in a child. He feels safe enough to crawl away and explore, curious and confident, knowing his parents are there when he needs them.
That back-and-forth you’re noticing, the independence paired with the checking in, is exactly what allows autonomy to grow without fear. It sounds like his parents are doing a wonderful job giving him both freedom and a steady home base.
Thank you again for your thoughtful reflection and for sharing such a tender moment. I really appreciate you reading and engaging with this so generously.
I'll be printing this one to read again, Rachel. The way you weave themes in literature with the struggles of every day life and the intricate depths of the human mind is masterful. I have seen threads from my own life in several of the pieces you have written.
Lori, hearing that you see parts of your own life in these essays is honestly the greatest compliment to me. That’s exactly what I hope for. My hope is that by untangling some of these dynamics, they start to feel a little more understandable and less overwhelming, which I think is often the first small step toward healing. Thank you so much for reading so thoughtfully and for taking the time to share this. It really means a lot.
Another fantastic essay! Every piece you write is layered with so much depth.
Thank you, Gil. I really appreciate that.
Superb analysis! The unsolvable fear framework is devastatingly accurate becuase it names that imposible bind where seeking comfort means approaching danger. I watched a freind cycle through this exact pattern in relationships, always drawn to what felt familar rather than what was healthy. The way Rooney captures Marianne's internal monologue around being unloveable shows how those early templates just keep running.
Thank you for this. I can only imagine how painful it must have been to watch someone you care about get caught in that cycle. You’re right, Rooney does such a good job putting words to that inner experience. Having language for that impossible bind can be a real relief, especially after years of assuming the problem was you. I was really hoping that putting words to it might help some people recognize what they’re living with, and maybe feel a little less alone in it. I really appreciate you reading so thoughtfully and taking the time to share this.
This was so interesting and insightful. I haven't read the book but will add it to my list. I was fascinated with your explaining the disorganized attachment theory and it's contradictory push-pull. It explains a lot about people who are raised by untrustworthy caregivers.
Thank you, Suzanne. It really is such a fascinating and heartbreaking dynamic. When you remember just how vulnerable a child is, and how much they depend on that one relationship for safety, the push-pull makes so much sense. If the person you need is also someone you can’t fully trust, confusion becomes a kind of survival. I’m glad the explanation resonated, and I hope you enjoy the book if you do pick it up. Thanks so much for reading and sharing this.
Excellent character analysis using the disorganised attachment theory. I never liked Normal People but will definitely now go back and read it again with all this in mind. Thank you for this superbly and sublimely written essay.
Thank you so much, Dana. I really appreciate that. I hope you enjoy Normal People more if you revisit it with this perspective. Thanks again for reading and for your generous words.