Malinowitz’s opening paragraph of E-Love seems incongruent with the other parts of her essay. Outside of that, the remainder of her essay engaged me. I quickly identified with Malinowitz’s voice. Her honesty about feeling ostracized in elementary, middle and high school, the secrecy of writing and writing honestly, the observations, the awkward quirky phase of adolescence, all resonated with me.
Malinowitz, unbeknownst to her was participating in synchronicity. She met her most inspirational and influential writer, Adrienne Rich. The combination of an obscure book, technology and ingenuity Malinowitz, changed her life’s trajectory. Malinowitz’s essay reminds me of the correspondence between Julia Childs and Avis DeVoto. By opening up to a stranger, in the right place at the right time made all the difference.
Malinowitz’s findings with regard to computer mediated communication is spot-on. Depending on the type of communication, face to face, phone or texting, one’s personality is absolutely malleable. She understands this but thrusts through the awkwardness of the physicality and finds that you can have love at first word.
