49 Comments
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Jess Pan's avatar

Thanks for interviewing me, Jane!!!! xoxoxo Jess P.S. NBO

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Thanks so much for doing this, Jess! Your answers went right to my heart! ❤️

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John Lovie's avatar

Thank you both! This was lovely, and far from ordinary.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

So glad you enjoyed it, John!

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Abigail Cerquitella's avatar

i'm gonna fangirl over your reading life a bit here, sorrynotsorry

sloane crosley! cannot get enough of her writing too. after i read cult classic, all my library books were her backlist for a few weeks.

nora's heartburn! just re-read for an upcoming newsletter post and cackled then stared off into space just mulling over her wit so many times. there can only be one nora amen.

also i felt the same for babysitter's club; was always annoyed during child minding shenanigans, i wanted it all the club all the time.

(ps. just listened to your book and as a fellow introvert -who also worked in a bookstore!- i'm very inspired thank you for living it and writing it!)

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Fangirl away! So glad you enjoyed it, Abigail! 🌸

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Jess Pan's avatar

oh thank you!!!! xoxoxox

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

So that’s where the it’ll be fun they said name comes from? The luncheon?

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Jess Pan's avatar

ha! I hadn't thought of it like that, but kind of!!

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

It’s a great name! This is the second time in two days where I realise how author and their Substack handle matches.

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Frances Brown's avatar

Loved this interview! I think I want to be like you, Jess, when I grow up! (I'm 66... when can I expect that to happen?

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Me, too! Glad you enjoyed it, Frances!

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Katie's avatar

This was a fun read. Always happy to read any writing from Jess! I especially loved the bit about Freya, the chocolatiest lab and her/your description of outfits. I don’t know how I’ve never picked up a David Sedaris book, but just borrowed Me Talk Pretty from my library. 😄

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Same here: I'll read anything Jess writes! And I loved Freya, as well. Enjoy MTP!

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Asha Sanaker's avatar

The Pickle Jumper is my favorite bit of this very delightful interview. I actually laughed out loud. I mean, even just saying it out loud is enough to make you snort! I think wearing a Pickle Jumper might be the epitome of NBO, but maybe I don't understand what it is to be a London hipster.

Thank you for this, Jane. And Jess, thank you for being your delicious, unapologetic self.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I tried my darnedest to get a photo of Jess in the pickle jumper and failed! Glad you enjoyed the interview, Asha!

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Asha Sanaker's avatar

I think a picture of Jess *in* the Pickle Jumper might exceed my delight quotient for a single day. :)

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Yes!

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Leyla Kazim's avatar

Aww look at this - hihihihihi Jess!! 👋👋👋

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

You're up soon enough! ❤️

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Can’t wait!

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Zach Sczesny's avatar

Oddly enough, after reading Jess’s latest newsletter the other day, I was reminded of David Sedaris. I immediately went to my bookshelf and pulled out Me Talk Pretty One Day and read a few essays. So glad to hear she’s a fan of his. I love both David and Jess’s writing.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Wow -- you were having a psychic moment! So glad you enjoyed this, Zach!

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Amy's avatar

Such a fun interview! Thank you Jess and Jane! NBO 💪🏼

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

So glad you enjoyed it, Amy!

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Melissa's avatar

I loved this interview. Funny and fun. Makes me want to work in a small Indie bookstore in London wearing a Pickle jumper. Jess, I decided to become your new follower on Instagram and make you that less cool! Insta followers are overrated. Great seeing what other writers read. I too read several books at once, all in different genres. I'm going to need 10 more of me though to read everything I'd like to read. Keep writing both of you. Meanwhile, I'll be singing in the car driving in California, windows down..

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Oh my gosh, this made me laugh out loud! I'm glad you enjoyed it, Melissa!

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Matthew Long's avatar

Great interview. I always enjoy Jess's writing.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Me, too! And glad you enjoyed the interview, Matthew!

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Emma Gannon's avatar

🥹🥹🥹❤️

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

❤️

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Gary Gruber's avatar

Thanks to both of you, Jane and Jess. I might have said (written) J & J but not a big fan of Johnson & Johnson, so there's that. I have always liked, "why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary" although did not know it was a quote attributed to Alan Dapre. For reasons I won't elaborate here, I have seldom fit the status quo, more often an outlier disguised as "normal" and a huge fan of "think different" via Steve Jobs. This is why I love these interviews and seeing the slices in the lives of others that are so joyful, at least most of the time.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Gary! And thank you for the kind words!

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Lisa's avatar

Dr. Michael Greger is amazing!! Check out his videos too.

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Great interview! NBO is a good practice. I failed to get the whore reference… do explain pls.

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Lisa's avatar

NBO! Love that:)

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so glad!

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Cristina Carmona Aliaga's avatar

I read Me Talk Pretty One Day as an exchange student in North Carolina, where Sedaris is from, and that was a game-changer. I don’t remember laughing out loud so hard (to the point of crying and people asking me if I was ok) and it opened my mind to things it is possible to write about. It’s still one of my favourite books by him and of all time.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I love the story! Thank you for sharing. And I could really do with some good laughs right now, so you’ve inspired me to reread that book. Thank you! 🌸

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Ayesha Falak's avatar

Loved your story, Jess! Especially Freya and the outfit descriptions. Me Talk Pretty is next on my list!

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