And I've got all these half-formed, but exciting, ideas brewing. But they're ideas I need time to spread out in front of me and I can't do that until I go away. So, I feel like I'm living in the threshold and being stuck there for another few weeks makes me hoppy. But I know it's frustrating when people blog about half-formed ideas they're not ready to share so I'll stop doing that right now.
Instead, I'll tell you about something I finished this week; rereading Lucy Gault. That evening was basically a write-off because all I could do was cry afterwards. Lucy is one of my favourite characters written, Trevor that perfect balance of emotive storyteller and master wordsmith. It's all deceptively easy, sublime and crisp... ah, just read it. I never tell, I always recommend, but I'm telling you this time.
And some links: Anna Emilia's last two posts blew my mind with their beauty... especially the raindrops on the surface of water. Love the mood in these shots! Over on Anne's blog, this chalky pastel palette wooed me.
And back to bookish matters: Alice Munro is another favourite, of course, and I loved this post over on new-to-me blog, A Crack in Everything. Of course, I'm have a recurring interest in our inability to truly know each other, so this post, and thinking about that in a parental light, intrigued me.
Finally, I'm including a link to a post that I haven't yet read all the way through. But I've read half of it and Hila never disappoints. The images have stayed with me all week, so that I wanted to carve out real time to wallow and reflect on her words. Definitely a good one to read over coffee tomorrow morning!
Have a great weekend!
Thank you Jane, just bought Lucy Gault.
ReplyDeleteHooray! Enjoy it!
DeleteOkay, I've been told - I've just bought Lucy Gault. Looking forward to it now.
ReplyDeleteActually, I don't find people blogging about half-formed ideas annoying at all, although now I've very curious what you're working on!
And I'm so glad you started reading my art post. I'm immensely insecure about this one, especially when I get complaints that I write like an 'inaccessible academic'. Sigh, maybe they're right, but I can't help what I am. But no, mustn't end this comment on a note of complaint, so I'll just echo your admiration of Philipp and Amy's art - they're such warm people too. I hope I get to see their work in person one day.
Yay - I hope you like William Trevor... he is one of our finest.
DeleteI loved your post about romanticism... it's something I think about and, knowing me, I'm sure you can imagine I have mixed reactions to. It seems so self-centred and anthropomorphizing at times... but I'm drawn to it visually and, especially, to notions of the Sublime, philosophically.
Saying you write like an inaccessible academic is a defensive move for those who can't be bothered to confront their own lack of comprehension. I feel like if I didn't understand what you were writing, I would just ask you... that's hardly somebody you would call inaccessible now, is it?
Thank you, Jane! I'm so flattered you liked my post. And I returned from four days camping to the lovely surprise of a jump in my traffic.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading Trevor, too, his story collection 'After Rain". I read the story "A Day" compulsively, leaning over the kitchen counter while my partner packed for our trip. (I confess: I ignored him.) And at the end, I cried. I've just ordered "Lucy Gault" and Harold Bordkey's "First Love and Other Sorrows".
I'm excited to have your recommendations.
And, I hope you keep dreaming of the sea.
He's amazing! I hope you enjoy Lucy and also Brodkey - one of my most favourite recent reads.
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