More about your relationship with books would be wonderful, thanks. I'm also curious to know the process behind your ability to find quotes from old books. That feels like magic in a world of AI and epubs.
I'm just about to give a short talk at the conference for the Philip Larkin Society at the University of Hull and I am using your Venn diagram analogy of poetry! John Venn also a Hull local. Love this post and your comments on JB.
Thank you for sharing this first favourite from your library. I’ve also found it a challenge to part with my books, but it’s getting easier as I get older: I’m conscious my only child is disabled, so I’m trying to practice what the Swedes call “death cleaning”: getting rid of material possessions before you kick the bucket so that you don’t burden your children or other relatives with having to sort them out.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
PS. Enjoyed your conversation with Howard Jacobson.
Is he killing time? Out on the street
two cops on horseback clop through the April rain
to check the parking meter violations—
their oilskins yellow as forsythia. - Robert Lowell (The Drinker)
Love, love, love that Lowell poem!
I'm his latest convert. Where was he my whole life?
I've been getting into Lowell for the first time recently. Never heard of Betjeman. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you enjoy Betjeman. Lowell is wonderful: envy you a first encounter
More about your relationship with books would be wonderful, thanks. I'm also curious to know the process behind your ability to find quotes from old books. That feels like magic in a world of AI and epubs.
I'm just about to give a short talk at the conference for the Philip Larkin Society at the University of Hull and I am using your Venn diagram analogy of poetry! John Venn also a Hull local. Love this post and your comments on JB.
I’m honoured, Rosie! Thank you. (I expanded on the poetry thing in a previous post in case that’s handy.) Have fun in Hull. What a nice gig!
Thanks so much, it went very well, lots of sage nodding when I mentioned your name! And I read the other post, fascinating. I love your Substack.
Thank you for sharing this first favourite from your library. I’ve also found it a challenge to part with my books, but it’s getting easier as I get older: I’m conscious my only child is disabled, so I’m trying to practice what the Swedes call “death cleaning”: getting rid of material possessions before you kick the bucket so that you don’t burden your children or other relatives with having to sort them out.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
PS. Enjoyed your conversation with Howard Jacobson.
Thank you! Glad you liked Howard, too. I’m in Sweden now as it happens so I’ll try to pick up some tips