abby
@mlejnas.bsky.social
Good at books, terrible at the world.
I think that place is gone, but there’s an empanada spot on 7th and A, as well as Empanada Mama, one of very few remaining 24-hr spots. Have not had mofongo—will have to ask our wonderful Puerto Rican doorman about it!
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I think that place is gone, but there’s an empanada spot on 7th and A, as well as Empanada Mama, one of very few remaining 24-hr spots. Have not had mofongo—will have to ask our wonderful Puerto Rican doorman about it!
Very sorry to hear that. We just lost the one good bakery in my neighborhood, and I refuse to eat mediocre bread so do without.
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Very sorry to hear that. We just lost the one good bakery in my neighborhood, and I refuse to eat mediocre bread so do without.
All those places are still there! You will have to come back, at least for a visit.
Will have to give up your boulangerie, as the bakeries here are inferior.
Will have to give up your boulangerie, as the bakeries here are inferior.
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
All those places are still there! You will have to come back, at least for a visit.
Will have to give up your boulangerie, as the bakeries here are inferior.
Will have to give up your boulangerie, as the bakeries here are inferior.
You must mean Ess-a-Bagel on 19th and 1st, one of the best! The best bagel place in my ‘hood shut down recently, and I’ve yet to find a replacement. We wound up not going to Barney Greengrass because of the long line, but nabbed the last table at a brunch place with delicious pancakes.
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
You must mean Ess-a-Bagel on 19th and 1st, one of the best! The best bagel place in my ‘hood shut down recently, and I’ve yet to find a replacement. We wound up not going to Barney Greengrass because of the long line, but nabbed the last table at a brunch place with delicious pancakes.
Merci beaucoup, breakfasting at Barney Greengrass (last traditional Jewish deli on UWS) and heading to The Met. Really hoping it warms up soon for
you—be careful of the ice.
you—be careful of the ice.
November 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Merci beaucoup, breakfasting at Barney Greengrass (last traditional Jewish deli on UWS) and heading to The Met. Really hoping it warms up soon for
you—be careful of the ice.
you—be careful of the ice.
And you, mon ami, are a veritable dynamo! Will relish looking into all this tomorrow as my daily round now begins…
November 22, 2025 at 12:11 PM
And you, mon ami, are a veritable dynamo! Will relish looking into all this tomorrow as my daily round now begins…
Enjoyed your footnote immensely—a French prof friend did her diss
on Rachilde, a fascinating figure
indeed! You ably communicated, I think, the flavor of the original, to my mind the distinguishing trait of a good translation.
on Rachilde, a fascinating figure
indeed! You ably communicated, I think, the flavor of the original, to my mind the distinguishing trait of a good translation.
November 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Enjoyed your footnote immensely—a French prof friend did her diss
on Rachilde, a fascinating figure
indeed! You ably communicated, I think, the flavor of the original, to my mind the distinguishing trait of a good translation.
on Rachilde, a fascinating figure
indeed! You ably communicated, I think, the flavor of the original, to my mind the distinguishing trait of a good translation.
Delightful—as, disappointingly, this novel is as yet untranslated into English, perhaps you will want to do the honors once you’ve acclimated to your new place? Must be an audience for this, as several titles have been Englished by Pan Books (not familiar).
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Delightful—as, disappointingly, this novel is as yet untranslated into English, perhaps you will want to do the honors once you’ve acclimated to your new place? Must be an audience for this, as several titles have been Englished by Pan Books (not familiar).
The NYT finally got around to Bellos’ obit, and you may be interested, as I was, in learning that he translated Simenon and Vargas.
David Bellos, 80, Dies; Wrestled French Wordplay Into English
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The NYT finally got around to Bellos’ obit, and you may be interested, as I was, in learning that he translated Simenon and Vargas.
Thank you also for this recommendation,
as I’ve looked at but never committed to reading Malet. Just the push I need! Not surprised at the cross-fertilization between LA and Parisian noir—the slang must be tough to translate, however. Have you read any Manchette? Someone else I’d like to try…
as I’ve looked at but never committed to reading Malet. Just the push I need! Not surprised at the cross-fertilization between LA and Parisian noir—the slang must be tough to translate, however. Have you read any Manchette? Someone else I’d like to try…
November 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Thank you also for this recommendation,
as I’ve looked at but never committed to reading Malet. Just the push I need! Not surprised at the cross-fertilization between LA and Parisian noir—the slang must be tough to translate, however. Have you read any Manchette? Someone else I’d like to try…
as I’ve looked at but never committed to reading Malet. Just the push I need! Not surprised at the cross-fertilization between LA and Parisian noir—the slang must be tough to translate, however. Have you read any Manchette? Someone else I’d like to try…
Thank you, you too! I also enjoy crime novels—any particular favorites?
November 20, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Thank you, you too! I also enjoy crime novels—any particular favorites?
I should add that Perec has been well-served by translators to English. His biographer David Bellos, who just died, is excellent, and John Sturrock and the novelist Gilbert Adair have also, to my understanding, done justice to P’s linguistic puzzles (such as omitting all “e”s). Not to all tastes!
November 19, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I should add that Perec has been well-served by translators to English. His biographer David Bellos, who just died, is excellent, and John Sturrock and the novelist Gilbert Adair have also, to my understanding, done justice to P’s linguistic puzzles (such as omitting all “e”s). Not to all tastes!
I wouldn’t recommend 53 Days because it was only about half completed at P’s death. As you may well know, La Vie mode d’emploi is considered his masterpiece, if you like language games. I enjoyed the little essays in Espèces d’espaces, too. I don’t know “polaires” but wish to be illuminated!
November 19, 2025 at 4:38 AM
I wouldn’t recommend 53 Days because it was only about half completed at P’s death. As you may well know, La Vie mode d’emploi is considered his masterpiece, if you like language games. I enjoyed the little essays in Espèces d’espaces, too. I don’t know “polaires” but wish to be illuminated!
:) A few American reviews (without extolling C. as pioneering in any sense) have intrigued me, though evidently not enough to pick up any of his books. Having fun with Perec’s pastiche
of detective fiction, 53 Days (uncompleted).
Too lazy to read it in my very rusty French. Tant pis!
of detective fiction, 53 Days (uncompleted).
Too lazy to read it in my very rusty French. Tant pis!
November 18, 2025 at 8:35 AM
:) A few American reviews (without extolling C. as pioneering in any sense) have intrigued me, though evidently not enough to pick up any of his books. Having fun with Perec’s pastiche
of detective fiction, 53 Days (uncompleted).
Too lazy to read it in my very rusty French. Tant pis!
of detective fiction, 53 Days (uncompleted).
Too lazy to read it in my very rusty French. Tant pis!
I’m terribly behind on French politics & culture—your essay whets my appetite to read Carrère,
especially V13. Do you like him?
especially V13. Do you like him?
November 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I’m terribly behind on French politics & culture—your essay whets my appetite to read Carrère,
especially V13. Do you like him?
especially V13. Do you like him?
This is powerful stuff
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This is powerful stuff
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
Kudos to you for not only finding time to write, but undertaking such a cogent, thorough analysis! You lay out all the pertinent facts so well. Must be why you’re a journalist :) Had no idea the College de France was repeating
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Kudos to you for not only finding time to write, but undertaking such a cogent, thorough analysis! You lay out all the pertinent facts so well. Must be why you’re a journalist :) Had no idea the College de France was repeating
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Wow, that beats anything I’ve not only seen myself but heard of! Do you still have it?
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Wow, that beats anything I’ve not only seen myself but heard of! Do you still have it?
To vastly oversimplify, as the rural US has declined into obscurity, they’ve clung to notions of their culture (an invented tradition) exemplified by a pro-business, self-reliantly blustering “Heartland” Christianity opposed
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 AM
To vastly oversimplify, as the rural US has declined into obscurity, they’ve clung to notions of their culture (an invented tradition) exemplified by a pro-business, self-reliantly blustering “Heartland” Christianity opposed
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
Thank you, you’re very kind! Stupid people like Trump are all cartoonish types, aren’t they.
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Thank you, you’re very kind! Stupid people like Trump are all cartoonish types, aren’t they.
Hope you have excellent luck finding a first-rate apt! It’s hard work but must move quickly—a good time to look, I would think.
November 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Hope you have excellent luck finding a first-rate apt! It’s hard work but must move quickly—a good time to look, I would think.
That’s so cool! Very little left on the curb doesn’t find a new home, saved from the landfill, especially now that people post photos. People
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
That’s so cool! Very little left on the curb doesn’t find a new home, saved from the landfill, especially now that people post photos. People
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
Good points. I’m speaking more from personal experience than statistically, having watched the people I grew up with turn MAGA, as well as having taught in predominantly GOP areas. My husband teaches at an elite prep school, so we do see the self-serving politics of the rich.
November 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Good points. I’m speaking more from personal experience than statistically, having watched the people I grew up with turn MAGA, as well as having taught in predominantly GOP areas. My husband teaches at an elite prep school, so we do see the self-serving politics of the rich.