Striking in the way it makes you think about the war, about the bubble of the elites. Committed to truthfulness, engagingly written. Turned me on to Mark Strand. Ends on kind of a week note about Shawn’s sex writing, about which we’re supposed to be familiar? As to being understood and acceptance, it does come back to me that I simply failed to stay awake during the Designated Mourner–couldn’t make it through that. Still, Shawn is one of a kind–you feel as if you know him and count him among the most valued friends.