38 Comments

I recently finished reading Weathering by Ruth Allen and loved it. I highly recommend it!

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I haven't gotten around to this yet but definitely on my 'to read' list!

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

The Japanese poem structure Haiku has been capturing my attention.

Japanese poem structure, Haiku.

3 lines.

17 syllables 5,7,5.

Seasonal reference.

Cutting word.

I’ve been writing one for each month based on what’s happening in the seasonal calendar and nature. 😊

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

I am reading….. you! Like Glennon, I came to the books in semi-reverse order; Wintering then Enchantment now The Electricity of Every Living Thing. I took my time with the first two to savour them but am just blasting through Electricity because I cannot put it down! I am almost 47 and a working artist, and similar to how you described, I stumbled by sheer chance across my diagnosis only last year. Reading your book is like looking into that mirror in The Neverending Story. I feel so seen and I am reevaluating basically my whole life to date. At this late date, is a lot of me to gather up and restore. Thank you for writing *all* of these books. They were each exactly what I needed.

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🤍

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May 6Liked by Katherine May

This happened to me too. Reading Wintering, then Electricity - Age 46 and discovered my diagnosis. These delightful books were my doorway. 💚

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Same, only I’m 62. Recently came across a study which said that many women only discover their autism when they go through menopause because their lifetime of masking techniques no longer work due to the massive hormonal changes. Although I’m 12 years into menopause those changes are still happening and, what I now recognize is autism, is getting more pronounced. I burst into tears when I read that study, finally seeing myself!

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For me the penny dropped in my 40s. Found the books much later, and oh, the bliss of seeing it so beautifully articulated

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I just finished an advance copy of David Nicholls' new novel "You Are Here." It's possible it's ruined me for other books for a little while - it's so, so good. It follows two divorced middle-aged people who hike England's Coast to Coast Path. It's about loneliness and connection and letting nature draw you out of your own head. I've hiked a bunch of long distance paths like the West Highland Way and I adored how it captured the strange feeling of time on those journeys.

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

I’m in the middle of it now and loving it. The characterisation and observational detail are brilliant. And I’m rooting for them!

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Placed a hold at my library. Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds great!

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I keep hearing great things about it

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I am in the middle of reading it and have to keep putting it down and read something else as I want to prolong the experience. I could have devoured it already - it's wonderful.

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Catching my attention: lilacs and dogwoods in bloom and so many shades and layers of green. I’m listening to “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. Wonderful. Trying to decide what book to start next. Contenders: Leif Enger’s new book, “I Cheerfully Refuse,” “Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange or (finally) “North Woods” by Daniel Mason.

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

also listening to Heaven and Earth. It has been a while since I have read complex character driven fiction and place as character fiction. my sweet spot....

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

North Woods is wonderful (for what it’s worth)- have not read the others but Wandering Stars is in my tbr pile 😊

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I recently streamed the breathtakingly powerful "Estonian Salt Sauna Sisterhood" and can't recommend it enough.

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Wonderful film!

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I finished reading Olivia Laing’s The Garden Against Time, which is beautiful. I watched All Of Us Strangers and have had some intense and beautiful conversations about it. It was so sad though, so I binge watched Sophie Willan’s Alma’s Not Normal afterward to cheer myself up. I also watched a fascinating documentary on iPlayer called Tish about the photographer Tish Murtha.

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

So many tears for All of us Strangers

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Devastating. I can't stop thinking about it.

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Just finished listening to Rebecca Solnit’s “Recollections of My Nonexistence” and also working my way through “Life Worth Living” by a team of Yale professors. As Mary Vermillion mentioned above, the greens of emerging spring where I live in Minnesota are also capturing my attention. 🌱

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I'm slowly making my way through "Everything, Beautiful: A Guide to Finding Hidden Beauty in the World" by Ella Frances Sanders, and I recently finished "Little Weirds" by Jenny Slate. I've been delighted by both.

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I watched The Zone of Interest last weekend and then watched it two more times. Something in the final five minutes.

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May 5Liked by Katherine May

Reading all I can by Claire Keegan, watching the series “after the party” great viewing from New Zealand, and as we head in to winter in Australia in crocheting while listening to podcasts , the shift, where is my mind, the Garrett and Lucy and sams perfect brains just to name a few.

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May 6Liked by Katherine May

I enjoyed the movie Challengers this weekend. And I finally finished a book about mushrooms called Entangled Life. Since moving to Vancouver Island a few months ago, I’ve been immersing myself in books about how to live in deeper relationship with nature.

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I love that: "a deeper relationship with nature." I believe that is the answer to all evil.

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I’m glad I now know that about Marcia Lucas! I’m reading Skid Dogs by Emelia Symington-Fedy and I’ve just come back from watching the film Back To Black. I feel a need to embrace my raw and real side more after these two.

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Looking forward to the book set in the Scottish 90s as this will bring me back floods of memories. Skid Dogs is set in USA 90s so there are some things that are going over my head. Also, I watched Fern Brady’s new Netflix show and had some laughs.

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I'm reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks. It's a great book, moves along quickly and is very well written. I saw the film Anatomy of a Fall three times and finally figured it out. I think. What has been capturing my stray attention are the new small flying bugs I see when out hiking. They were not there a few weeks ago and they seem to flit around in pairs. I also got the Merlin app and have been thrilled to hear a Baltimore Oriole. It has a beautiful song. Thanks for all the great book recommendations.

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I love the Merlin app. It’s addictive!

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I'm an addict. My phone battery almost died the first time I took it on my hike. Note to self: Bring a battery charger on hikes.

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Discovered a budding poet that I really, really love: Georgia Clyde Blair, through a friend’s recommendation. Unfortunately her work is only on her Facebook page and a self-published book on Amazon entitled, “Where the Foxfire Glows.” I may post about it. No, I will likely do so. Her work is truly exceptional and deserves a wider audience.

Also, as genealogy and history are great interests of mine, have been watching a few episodes of “Who Do You Think You Are?” Charles Dance was especially touching. The matter-of-fact way he pursued the scant breadcrumbs of his father’s life, a journey fraught with shocking and emotional consequences, was so engrossing. It was remarkable to see and feel his joy in discovering he had a great-niece, and great-great nephews alive and well in South Africa, and how he flew to meet them. His quiet “Blimey!” at another clue revealed, as he perused documents and images that helped him to know and understand the father who had died when he was very small. Have always loved his work, which seems daring and often demonstrates important, feminist work that might otherwise be lost but from the perspective of the “wrong side of history” - and his lesser-known activities in directing “Ladies in Lavender“ and left-aligned political advocacy. He has always been excellent in grey areas, showing the multi-dimensional qualities of humanity and refusing easy black-and-white portrayals. My kind of person.

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May 8Liked by Katherine May

Also reading Enchanted, so good ✨ crocheting a blanket for a new baby & enjoying the Seek app too, I just love finding a new plant that I didn’t know before!

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