Alternate Endings to Great Expectations:
The Elizabeth Gaskell Ending:
Hell is snow-white, and a factory. How I despaired of ever knowing Estella, who was born forty-five yards north of me, as the crow flies, which is to say: she was born in another world. North and South would never be united in our clasped arms, and I would die in this factory. The future is stern, and made of iron, and neither of us could survive in it.
Our own Gloria Yip reflects on how her sense of humor has affected her relationships.
Katie Klabusich explains one strategy she uses to cope with her depression.
Simone Webb on Margaret Cavendish and Anne Conway, two overlooked seventeenth-century philosophers.
Jacquelyn Ardam on love, obsession, research, and Gore Vidal’s sex life.
Nicole interviewed Moira Weigel about her book, Labor of Love!
Kathleen Cooper on the process of acquiring and training her service pup, Belle Star:
My neurologist once chided me for resisting things that would make my life easier. When she signed the DMV form for a handicapped parking permit two years after I became disabled, she said, “You don’t have to be a stoic, you know. You don’t get extra points for suffering.”
For a while I resisted the idea of getting a service dog. Was I handicappedenough? My eminently rational husband pointed out there was no prescribed severity of handicappedness to get a service dog. Unspoken between us was the guarantee that my disease would progress (there is no cure) and the likelihood of me becoming progressively more handicapped. A service dog would not only make my life easier, but happier as well.
Sarah Kuhn on experiencing “rep sweats” as a writer (note: this piece is not about weightlifting):
As more and more Asian women—some longtime sisters-in-arms, some total strangers—told me how meaningful it was for them to see a book starring Asian American superheroes come into existence, I saw everything I’d always felt reflected back at me: the longing for representation, the need for characters who look like us, the hope that we’ll finally see ourselves in a way that’s centered, not stereotypical, and not Othered. I felt uncomfortable being on the other side of that hope for the first time. Because I still thought of myself as a sidekick, and people don’t look at sidekicks with hope.
“If Lea Salonga were your best friend, white musical theatre fans would finally stop congratulating themselves for South Pacific.”
“If Cate Blanchett were your girlfriend, every once in a while you’d wonder if it would have been easier to date Helen Mirren.”
As some of you might have seen on Twitter, I’ve been in the midst of a family health crisis and not on the site as much as I hoped to be in our final weeks. But I’ve already started wordpressing posts for our last week and I promise you will love every single one. I can’t believe we’re here already. Just one more week together! I will cherish it.
I can’t believe it’s only one more week. Between the Toast closing and Brexit, my heart is broken 🙁
I instinctively went for the “hug” button. I’ve been spending too much time on mommy-venting sites. (The have “hug” buttons there, some of them.) Anyway, *hug*.
Thanks, Toast hugs all around. We must look out for each other!
One more week means five potential slots where one last Hey Ladies can go.
Nikki, I’m keeping a good thought for your family health crisis to pass as easily as possible, though they are so often like being pushed off a cliff in a wheelbarrow. I’ll be seeking out your bylines in the post-Toast hereafter.
EVEN NOW THE FINAL HEY LADIES IS BEING WRITTEN, NEVER FEAR.
Thank you so much for the good thoughts. <3
I’m sending good thoughts your way for you and your family.
thank you, I was JUST wondering with DEEP CONCERN about Hey Ladies.
Nicole, you have so very many Toasties sending you good thoughts right now, I hope it is the most warm and lovely feeling <3 <3
HEY LADIES I am so happy to hear this. Thank you, Toast Overladies for making the end more joyful than bitter.
Nikki, I’ve been thinking of you, and am glad you’re able to pull your focus away from here some since your family needs you, and you need them, I’m sure. ((ToastieHugs)) and best wishes to everyone.
HEY LADIES???? We are blessed. Healing wishes to you and your family, Nicole
I am silently shaking with laughter at Totes Magotes. I can’t handle it.
Have you seen what it comes from? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VV52m_wpgQ
Hey Nicole and Mallory, look over there! Puppies!
(Everyone else, while they’re busy, can we talk about all donating during this last week? Could we do that as a Toast body politic, to thank our heroes for all their amazing work over the years? I’m planning to throw something nice in the tip jar. Join me?)
Joined! Yay!
on board
I instinctively went for the "hug" button. I've been spending too much time on mommy-venting sites. (The have "hug" buttons there, some of them.) Anyway, *hug*.
Nikki, I hope your family health crisis gets better soon.
Good luck with your family health stuff Nikki – that’s always hard.
“Gather ye toast while you may” made me laugh-cry.
Good luck with your family health stuff Nikki – that's always hard.
"Gather ye toast while you may" made me laugh-cry.
Now I want to date Helen Mirren. I mean, not that I don’t usually want to date Helen Mirren. But still.
Now I want to date Helen Mirren. I mean, not that I don't usually want to date Helen Mirren. But still.
HUGS, NIKKI.
I’ve been avoiding The Toast recently because y’all make me wanna cry my eyes out every time I come here and realise the countdown timer is REAL. 🙁
I have been avoiding The Toast since The Announcement but one can only run away for so long before you get homesick and HOME PUBLISHES ITS OSCAR ISAAC SIREN SONG AND THE ROPE TETHERING YOU TO THE MAST IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE FIRE IN YOUR HEART and ok what
I love you all. Any Manila/Phils Toasties here? Please show yourselves 🙁
I have been avoiding The Toast since The Announcement but one can only run away for so long before you get homesick and HOME PUBLISHES ITS OSCAR ISAAC SIREN SONG AND THE ROPE TETHERING YOU TO THE MAST IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE FIRE IN YOUR HEART and ok what
I love you all. Any Manila/Phils Toasties here? Please show yourselves 🙁
I’ve been staying away because a) it’s just to sad to read and know that this is last and b) I’m riding my bike across the country and have limited internet access, but I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude and love for this space that the toast team has curated over the past 3 years. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you when I have internet again.