"The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem" is another book I savour slowly - "Goodtime Jesus" by James Tate is on my mind these couple of days. https://poets.org/poem/goodtime-jesus
I’ve been reading ‘Set me on fire’ a poetry anthology by Ella Risbridger - her notes in the margin are wonderful, it feels like I’m reading along with her
I’ve also been spending a lot of time on the Poetry Pals Substack - there’s a poetry prompt every Sunday and we share them with each other on Fridays. It’s really beautiful ✨
Ooh...Set Me on Fire sounds great. I put a book-buying moratorium in place at the end of 2023 (for budget reasons), but that is going on my list for when I'm "allowed" to buy books again in March!
Just watched The Holdovers for a second time - I know some of it is deliberately playing on emotions and nostalgia, but I willingly let it. Such a great story about characters interacting and changing each other, even for a moment. It’s one of my favorite films this year.
I just read The Fallback by Eleanor Goymer (I got a netgalley review copy) and really enjoyed it! I loved seeing a smart intelligent protagonist (she’s a virologist) who’s killing it in her day job but has a chaotic personal life, and really related to her complicated feelings about what other people in her life were doing.
Just finished Maggie Smith's You Could Make This Place Beautiful in anticipation of this week's True Stories Book Club. She's, as ever, brilliant. I'm now dipping into The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. A few pages in and it's already teaching me how to slow down, how to soften. I love how many of us are reading and savoring The Comfort of Crows. Wishing everyone a restful Sunday.
Oooh I recently finished The Comfort of Crows and loved it!
This week I finished reading Weyward (also a bit about crows in there!) and am currently reading Opinions by Roxane Gay and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
I am still mourning 'Shuggie Bain' which I finished last week and can't settle to anything else. The library is struggling to unearth it's one county wide copy of 'The Three Body Problem', my March reading group book. It is always an adventure when our book is non library and I try to source a bargain. 'Black Mountain Poets' was last night's film at home. I like a bit of Alice Lowe's darkness. Nothing can live up to 'Poor things' or 'All of us Strangers' for me at the moment. I was truly spoilt for culture in February!
Pondering the end of true detective, reading excessively?? (No such thing!) while on holidays. Contemplating picking up my watercolours after this weeks guest post by Rebecca (thanks Katherine and Rebecca)
I just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig which had been on my to-read list for some time. Interestingly since finishing it I’ve had several conversations with people (prompted my them) about decision making, the small decisions that shape our lives, and the impact they have on our lives.
I’ve lucky enough to be in Adelaide for the Fringe festival where I’m swimming in cultural events and the program is as thick as a novel 😅🫶🏼 Drinking it in as much as my crowd avoidance tendencies allow 😁
I just started “The Electricity of Every Living Thing” as my 21 year old son was just diagnosed with Autism. I am also reading “Worthy” by Jamie Kerns-Lima. And just finished “Homecoming “ by Kate Morton. I am excited to check out some of the books and shows listed in these comments!
A resounding “Yes” to the Comfort of Crows. Gorgeous in every way. I am reading it one week at a time along with the season, but it’s hard discipline to keep from devouring it all at once.
Also re-reading Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Kimmerer, it’s just chock full of wisdom and story. Recently finished a re-read of the novel Fellowship Point, by Alice Elliott Dark, a lovely saga centered around the lifelong friendship of two octogenarians.
Just started The Comfort of Crows and my brain immediately bounced back to Braiding Sweetgrass! That oneness, seeing, is so similar and the lyrical writing.
I'm reading Lisa Marchiano's The Vital Spark, a Jungian analyst's delicious book for women who want to reclaim their 'outlaw energies' buried under 'six feet of niceness'. Loved Anatomy of a Fall which has gotten awards and is now available for streaming.
I am loving Margaret Renkles The Comfort of Crows beautiful, thought provoking book, I am metering it out, it’s not a devouring type of a read, I enjoy a chapter and digest it. However, one book I couldn’t stop myself from gulping down was “One Of The Good Guys” by Araminta Hall.. I was totally hooked from first page.., now I’m reading Imperfect Women, also good but a bit slower moving. Watching Love On The Spectrum on Netflix about Autistic people looking for love..
Reading Art Monsters by Lauren Elkin and looking for more things to read about being more embodied, especially in art as I’m finding I can express myself more fully there than in writing or speaking. Living in a more embodied way is something I’m finding myself more and more in pursuit of.
I am currently reading "Dancing the Dream" by Sams Jamie.
Also David Wagoner's poetry collection "Who shall be the sun?" - his poem "Lost" already engraved in me. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=31967
"The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem" is another book I savour slowly - "Goodtime Jesus" by James Tate is on my mind these couple of days. https://poets.org/poem/goodtime-jesus
And I just discovered Michael Young's Substack "Life Crumbs" https://lifecrumbs.substack.com/
Have a great week, all of you!
I have that David Wagoner poem saved on my phone - it’s SO good!
My heart aches every time I read it.
Oh thank you for sharing that David Wagoner poem—Lost. Sigh. I’m smitten with the forest and that poem is just… Thanks :)
Oh I like this ❤️
I’ve been reading ‘Set me on fire’ a poetry anthology by Ella Risbridger - her notes in the margin are wonderful, it feels like I’m reading along with her
I’ve also been spending a lot of time on the Poetry Pals Substack - there’s a poetry prompt every Sunday and we share them with each other on Fridays. It’s really beautiful ✨
Oh I love marginalia! I have to see this!
Ooh...Set Me on Fire sounds great. I put a book-buying moratorium in place at the end of 2023 (for budget reasons), but that is going on my list for when I'm "allowed" to buy books again in March!
I did the same for book buying and mercy that list is growing legs LOL!
Just watched The Holdovers for a second time - I know some of it is deliberately playing on emotions and nostalgia, but I willingly let it. Such a great story about characters interacting and changing each other, even for a moment. It’s one of my favorite films this year.
I just read The Fallback by Eleanor Goymer (I got a netgalley review copy) and really enjoyed it! I loved seeing a smart intelligent protagonist (she’s a virologist) who’s killing it in her day job but has a chaotic personal life, and really related to her complicated feelings about what other people in her life were doing.
Just finished Maggie Smith's You Could Make This Place Beautiful in anticipation of this week's True Stories Book Club. She's, as ever, brilliant. I'm now dipping into The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. A few pages in and it's already teaching me how to slow down, how to soften. I love how many of us are reading and savoring The Comfort of Crows. Wishing everyone a restful Sunday.
I LOVED the sound of a wild snail eating- what a gorgeous book!
Oooh I recently finished The Comfort of Crows and loved it!
This week I finished reading Weyward (also a bit about crows in there!) and am currently reading Opinions by Roxane Gay and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
I did not expect Demon Copperhead to grab me the way it did—riveting!
I recently read Demon Copperhead. It was so incredible. I was hooked, and heartbroken, from page 1.
I am still mourning 'Shuggie Bain' which I finished last week and can't settle to anything else. The library is struggling to unearth it's one county wide copy of 'The Three Body Problem', my March reading group book. It is always an adventure when our book is non library and I try to source a bargain. 'Black Mountain Poets' was last night's film at home. I like a bit of Alice Lowe's darkness. Nothing can live up to 'Poor things' or 'All of us Strangers' for me at the moment. I was truly spoilt for culture in February!
Agree - the cultural world has been full of good things lately! It’s not always the case.
Pondering the end of true detective, reading excessively?? (No such thing!) while on holidays. Contemplating picking up my watercolours after this weeks guest post by Rebecca (thanks Katherine and Rebecca)
No such thing as reading excessively :)
I just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig which had been on my to-read list for some time. Interestingly since finishing it I’ve had several conversations with people (prompted my them) about decision making, the small decisions that shape our lives, and the impact they have on our lives.
I’ve lucky enough to be in Adelaide for the Fringe festival where I’m swimming in cultural events and the program is as thick as a novel 😅🫶🏼 Drinking it in as much as my crowd avoidance tendencies allow 😁
I just started “The Electricity of Every Living Thing” as my 21 year old son was just diagnosed with Autism. I am also reading “Worthy” by Jamie Kerns-Lima. And just finished “Homecoming “ by Kate Morton. I am excited to check out some of the books and shows listed in these comments!
A resounding “Yes” to the Comfort of Crows. Gorgeous in every way. I am reading it one week at a time along with the season, but it’s hard discipline to keep from devouring it all at once.
Also re-reading Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Kimmerer, it’s just chock full of wisdom and story. Recently finished a re-read of the novel Fellowship Point, by Alice Elliott Dark, a lovely saga centered around the lifelong friendship of two octogenarians.
Just started The Comfort of Crows and my brain immediately bounced back to Braiding Sweetgrass! That oneness, seeing, is so similar and the lyrical writing.
I'm reading Lisa Marchiano's The Vital Spark, a Jungian analyst's delicious book for women who want to reclaim their 'outlaw energies' buried under 'six feet of niceness'. Loved Anatomy of a Fall which has gotten awards and is now available for streaming.
Oh the Marchiano sounds excellent!!
I am loving Margaret Renkles The Comfort of Crows beautiful, thought provoking book, I am metering it out, it’s not a devouring type of a read, I enjoy a chapter and digest it. However, one book I couldn’t stop myself from gulping down was “One Of The Good Guys” by Araminta Hall.. I was totally hooked from first page.., now I’m reading Imperfect Women, also good but a bit slower moving. Watching Love On The Spectrum on Netflix about Autistic people looking for love..
I am LOVING Samantha Harvey’s *Orbital*.
Reading Art Monsters by Lauren Elkin and looking for more things to read about being more embodied, especially in art as I’m finding I can express myself more fully there than in writing or speaking. Living in a more embodied way is something I’m finding myself more and more in pursuit of.
Adding this one to my list Shelley!
Just finished The Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler. Arch wisdom and practical cooking—a good combo.