And this is also very odd that this week I interviewed Lucy Cooke the zoologist and she said exactly the same thing to me about her beach hut! One more mention and we have a trend
I love The Cure for Sleep - that's what brought me here! I haven't read the Patti Smith - am I too old for it?
Last year, I read Heavy Time by Sonia Overall - it's her account of a secular pilgrimage she made from Canterbury to Walsingham. It inspired me to think about pilgrimage in general, and to try to plan some kind of pilgrimage of my own. I also love it because she is very honest about how she has to manage childcare, about being a woman travelling alone. There a lot of heroic psychogeographers out there who seem to be able to drop everything in their lives and head off into the wilderness as the fancy takes them (what does Mrs MacFarlane think of it all?), so it was really inspiring to read a book that does things within constraints and is honest about those constraints. I think that creativity within constraint is one of the aspects of Tanya's account that I really respect and appreciate.
You and I getting to meet finally after being linked on here and Twitter for ages now was one of my highlights of the year - especially given it was on the cliffside by the Bucks Mills Cabin. I hadn't heard of this book by Sonia Overall at all, so I'm adding it to my reading list for a (very rare) solo trip to the French Alps that I've just booked for next month. The concept of constraint, yes, is what interests me as it does you (because we've had to adapt to it; but beyond that it now interests me as a chosen creative practice too: I think you've found the same?).
I think my struggle has been to accept the constraints! And then, once you've accepted them, there's validity in exploring them, and using them. Finding people who work within their own constraints is really inspiring.
Great idea, I look forward to the future choices. I have read Tanya's book and just suggested it to my book group, so it will be fascinating to hear their responses to it as I totally loved it, also it means I 'have to' read it again! I have had 'Just Kids' on my shelf for about 5 years now. I will start reading it tonight, it sounds perfect.
Clare - I’d love to join you & your book club for a chat about The Cure for Sleep if/when everyone has read it - but even more to join you in a chat about your wider thoughts about your own writing/creative practice. Just let me know if that by zoom would ever interest you.
And please do come back here to comments with your thoughts on Just Kids if you read it.
That would be brilliant! Our next meet up is at my beach hut, towards the end of June. Would be fab to see you there and yes please a Zoom chat would be really appreciated, I'd love that. x
I’m speaking at Wealden Lit Fest in nearby Tenterden on Sunday 26 June. I was due to drive up & back from Sussex same day. But if you’d all be free to see me on Saturday 25 in afternoon I could try and book a premier inn up your end & drive to Wealden from there. Make a weekend of it. Would be lovely to see you again there in Whitstable where we first met at Between the Tides… xxx
I really love this concept and I am so curious to find out what rabbit-hole I will next find myself tumbling down. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Emily! And I've just subscribed to you, so will enjoy discovering your thoughts/writing in turn.
And this is also very odd that this week I interviewed Lucy Cooke the zoologist and she said exactly the same thing to me about her beach hut! One more mention and we have a trend
so glad you enjoyed the idea Emily. We have some great ideas lined up stay tuned
I love The Cure for Sleep - that's what brought me here! I haven't read the Patti Smith - am I too old for it?
Last year, I read Heavy Time by Sonia Overall - it's her account of a secular pilgrimage she made from Canterbury to Walsingham. It inspired me to think about pilgrimage in general, and to try to plan some kind of pilgrimage of my own. I also love it because she is very honest about how she has to manage childcare, about being a woman travelling alone. There a lot of heroic psychogeographers out there who seem to be able to drop everything in their lives and head off into the wilderness as the fancy takes them (what does Mrs MacFarlane think of it all?), so it was really inspiring to read a book that does things within constraints and is honest about those constraints. I think that creativity within constraint is one of the aspects of Tanya's account that I really respect and appreciate.
You and I getting to meet finally after being linked on here and Twitter for ages now was one of my highlights of the year - especially given it was on the cliffside by the Bucks Mills Cabin. I hadn't heard of this book by Sonia Overall at all, so I'm adding it to my reading list for a (very rare) solo trip to the French Alps that I've just booked for next month. The concept of constraint, yes, is what interests me as it does you (because we've had to adapt to it; but beyond that it now interests me as a chosen creative practice too: I think you've found the same?).
I think my struggle has been to accept the constraints! And then, once you've accepted them, there's validity in exploring them, and using them. Finding people who work within their own constraints is really inspiring.
Great idea, I look forward to the future choices. I have read Tanya's book and just suggested it to my book group, so it will be fascinating to hear their responses to it as I totally loved it, also it means I 'have to' read it again! I have had 'Just Kids' on my shelf for about 5 years now. I will start reading it tonight, it sounds perfect.
I am a little jealous you are starting it - such a wonderful story especially how she came to NYC
OK, I'm looking forward to it even more now!
Clare - I’d love to join you & your book club for a chat about The Cure for Sleep if/when everyone has read it - but even more to join you in a chat about your wider thoughts about your own writing/creative practice. Just let me know if that by zoom would ever interest you.
And please do come back here to comments with your thoughts on Just Kids if you read it.
Tan xx
That would be brilliant! Our next meet up is at my beach hut, towards the end of June. Would be fab to see you there and yes please a Zoom chat would be really appreciated, I'd love that. x
I can’t think of a more enticing invitation than, ”our next meet up is at my beach hut!”
I’m speaking at Wealden Lit Fest in nearby Tenterden on Sunday 26 June. I was due to drive up & back from Sussex same day. But if you’d all be free to see me on Saturday 25 in afternoon I could try and book a premier inn up your end & drive to Wealden from there. Make a weekend of it. Would be lovely to see you again there in Whitstable where we first met at Between the Tides… xxx