I was delighted — in the mad, action-packed, over-filled days before my departure — that the much anticipated last-I-swear-splurge-before-imminent-unemployment arrived: the Folio Society edition of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Many of you know how much I delight in Susanna Clarke’s novel, but with the addition of illustrations and glorious endpapers by Charles Vess, is…
A Blow on A Bruise
“A blow, expected, repeated, falling upon a bruise with no smart or shock of surprise, only a dull and sickening pain and the doubt whether another like it could be borne.” Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited
Ripley on the ‘flix
I had equal parts of anticipation and dread for this new adaptation of Patricia Highsmith‘s The Talented Mr Ripley especially as it was by schmaltzy Spielberg’s pal who wrote Schindler’s List and the film Hannibal. I take it all back: he read the book — or rather books as it became clear. Even better, he…
Elena Steier
It’s so hard to lose people and then to try to say something about that loss. Elena was my friend, sometimes my collaborator, always bringing the unexpected and what would she say? ‘Oh well. What can you do?’ and then she would do it: write a story, sketch out a comic, go to spin class….
Dundee Tapestry
Because I am missing Dundee, I finally remember to upload some photos of the Dundee Tapestry at the V&A as well as one from before the talk with Iain R. Webb for his exhibit The Fashion Show, which was also great fun. Yes, The Cundeez feature in the tapestry, which is pretty cool. This year…
Write 4 a Day: 14 Apr 2024
Join us for the next of our monthly one-day writing retreats in beautiful surroundings in Berne NY.
Charlotte Brontë: The Professor
An impulse at the Oxfam Book Shop — AKA my local kryptonite dealer (must weed some more to donate)! Undoubtedly it’s due in part to the end of my career as a tenured professor (though in this story it is ‘professor’ in the French sense of teacher). Anyway, I always enjoy spending some time with…
Generator Projects Members Show
The Generator Projects Annual Members Show runs this Friday, 17 February until 3 March, 2024. I am happy to say I have a piece in this. Looking forward to the opening! There’s a performance night too, on the 29th: find your way to Mid Wynd off the Perth Road. Dundee folk are resourceful about finding…
Live Gold
This slim volume is packed with insightful wisdom from the philosopher Ken McCraigzie. It’s like a conspiracy theory but for good! Hidden within the classic B-movie Latitude Zero, he has found wisdom that will allow anyone to learn how to live well and thrive in the hectic, dog-eat-dog world of today. Here’s the blurb: Live…
K. A. Laity 