Prose writes, "I find it painful that Mavis Gallant is now so unread that one can claim to have written what's essentially her story and publish it in The New Yorker (where in fact her story first appeared) and it’s okay...It's just wrong."
Prose then goes on to enumerate on her facebook page, with examples, the ways in which the writer, Sadia Shepard, "borrowed" from the Gallant story.
But what really is the most important aspect of this story is the enormous, multi-headed thread Prose has going for her on her page about this. I did a rough measurement, and it's at least fifteen feet long. I'm sure I missed some of it, too, passing by a few "more replies" without clicking on them.
I'm so jealous. I would do anything to have a thread like that. A thread that went on and on, with all sorts of angry rebuttals and hearty affirmations and sidetrackings and bitter renunciations. The importance of this person and what they have to say cannot be denied with a thread like that.
Where is my long thread? Where are my bitter renunciations?
I have none. Not one soilitary bitter renunciation. Not to mention my threads in general are threadbare. They can hardly be called threads. Maybe threadettes would be more accurate. Or quasi-threads.
I want a bigger thread. I know. I know. I can hear you: "Well, say something interesting or provocative. Then your thread will improve."
That's why I'm seeking your help. Can anyone provide me with something I can post on facebook that will get me into the big leagues of threads? I don't mean anything sensational just for the purpose of being sensational. Sure, I could post something like that. But that would be cheating.
Is it too much to ask that before I die that I get just one awe-inspiring, jealousy-provoking thread that goes on and on and on as far as the eye can see?
I don't think so.
