Dear December Reader, Since we’ve had the thermostat set lower, when I wake early I’ve enjoyed staying nested beneath three layers of blankets and duvet covers until I absolutely have to get up. But a few mornings ago, the first thing I read was this poem by Dick Davis (with its glorious puppies and children and pig-pen - I love his fond terms for a racing mind), and something about that final line seemed to prise me from my bed.
Having spent the last 27 years in rural France with just a log burner and gas cylinder fire for heating I was so looking forward to my first winter in UK with central heating! Oh bliss to wake up to a warm bathroom - and it is, even though the thermostat is set lower than I had anticipated. It is just what you get used to. Thanks for another interesting newsletter - hope we get to see the finished jacket. xx
I second Elizabeth Strout but my first thought was Louise Erdrich. I read a book 'Tales of burning love' by her years ago and meant to read more but somehow didn't. So now I'm collecting her back catalogue second hand but this year read her most recent in hardback 'The Sentence' which gets a five star review from me. I too loved this meandering piece- thank you!
sad to say, i have no alcove! but your description puts me in one. on book choices, if you haven’t yet read When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, and read by Julia Whelan (❤️), i highly recommend! exquisitely crafted, clever and interesting and lovely. happy holidays!
I think the word you are looking for that describes that cozy feeling of being inside when it is freezing outside is, coincidentally, the Swedish word “hygge”! I hope you start to enjoy “Lessons” soon. I just bought both “Lessons” AND “Demon Cooperfield” a couple of days ago for my husband. At least I know that “Demon” will be a hit. My husband is a huge Dickens fan!!
My book recommendation would be anything by Meg Mason “Sorrow and Bliss” and “You Be Mother”. Any book that reminds me to be a kinder person is welcome to me and these do just that. I felt such compassion for all (okay most) of the characters.
As you mention David Copperfield, you could/should use your 3rd credit for Martin Jarvis's virtuosic reading of it - very worth a listen even if you know the book already I think. If you have the pie in hand or on a plate it will seem like you're offering it to us, so if the book turns out well perhaps you'd better arrive with pie in gob (and yes, humble pie does sound quite tasty and like it probably has currants in; feeling inclined now to check if the recipe isn't in the old Cranks book 😆). x
Lovely letter, thank you. Humble pie is about umbles, old word for things like kidneys, liver, etc, so it might be pretty good, savory, hot in a cold house. Just sayin! There's worse things than humble pie.
I love the poem-accurately describes how I wake up in the morning. I wholeheartedly agree with changes in perception. My son used to play football regularly and we would happily drive him to practice and his games. Then we relocated to the USA and very soon realized that the drive to his away games took longer than the actual match! I now think nothing of driving 60 miles to pop in for a quick visit to see my son during his lunch break at work.
Thank you so much for the Demon Copperhead recommendation; I started listening today and it’s brilliant. In return, I don’t know if you’ve listened to Richard Armitage reading David Copperfield, but if not you’re in for a treat (and it ties in nicely with Demon Copp too;)
Lovely meandering piece! (Intended as a compliment!). Another book - anything you haven’t already read by Elizabeth Strout xx
Having spent the last 27 years in rural France with just a log burner and gas cylinder fire for heating I was so looking forward to my first winter in UK with central heating! Oh bliss to wake up to a warm bathroom - and it is, even though the thermostat is set lower than I had anticipated. It is just what you get used to. Thanks for another interesting newsletter - hope we get to see the finished jacket. xx
I second Elizabeth Strout but my first thought was Louise Erdrich. I read a book 'Tales of burning love' by her years ago and meant to read more but somehow didn't. So now I'm collecting her back catalogue second hand but this year read her most recent in hardback 'The Sentence' which gets a five star review from me. I too loved this meandering piece- thank you!
sad to say, i have no alcove! but your description puts me in one. on book choices, if you haven’t yet read When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, and read by Julia Whelan (❤️), i highly recommend! exquisitely crafted, clever and interesting and lovely. happy holidays!
I think the word you are looking for that describes that cozy feeling of being inside when it is freezing outside is, coincidentally, the Swedish word “hygge”! I hope you start to enjoy “Lessons” soon. I just bought both “Lessons” AND “Demon Cooperfield” a couple of days ago for my husband. At least I know that “Demon” will be a hit. My husband is a huge Dickens fan!!
My book recommendation would be anything by Meg Mason “Sorrow and Bliss” and “You Be Mother”. Any book that reminds me to be a kinder person is welcome to me and these do just that. I felt such compassion for all (okay most) of the characters.
As you mention David Copperfield, you could/should use your 3rd credit for Martin Jarvis's virtuosic reading of it - very worth a listen even if you know the book already I think. If you have the pie in hand or on a plate it will seem like you're offering it to us, so if the book turns out well perhaps you'd better arrive with pie in gob (and yes, humble pie does sound quite tasty and like it probably has currants in; feeling inclined now to check if the recipe isn't in the old Cranks book 😆). x
Lovely letter, thank you. Humble pie is about umbles, old word for things like kidneys, liver, etc, so it might be pretty good, savory, hot in a cold house. Just sayin! There's worse things than humble pie.
Have you read ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ by Holly Ringland. We’ll worth reading.
I love the poem-accurately describes how I wake up in the morning. I wholeheartedly agree with changes in perception. My son used to play football regularly and we would happily drive him to practice and his games. Then we relocated to the USA and very soon realized that the drive to his away games took longer than the actual match! I now think nothing of driving 60 miles to pop in for a quick visit to see my son during his lunch break at work.
Thank you so much for the Demon Copperhead recommendation; I started listening today and it’s brilliant. In return, I don’t know if you’ve listened to Richard Armitage reading David Copperfield, but if not you’re in for a treat (and it ties in nicely with Demon Copp too;)