I’ve always meant to participate in one of these things and started this early in the month so I’ve actually been able to remember what I’ve done…. or at least the highlights / lowlights.
However…. I’m only halfway through the month and this blog post is already ridiculously long so I decided – given my long-winded / verbose nature – I’ll include a mid-way update!
So, I’m going to a writers’ retreat in about 13 weeks. I’ve talked about it before…. ie.the writing retreat in Italy. *Flicks hair over shoulder with Cartier-clad fingers*
However, an obvious element to such a retreat is that we need to be writing something.
Indeed, the lovely Vanessa Carnevale has offered to look at our work and provide some feedback in advance.
I was planning to sit down and write one of my usual (exceedingly eloquent and learned) book reviews, this time of The Upside of Over by JD Barrett, but realised much of what I wanted to say is really not about the book, but about the notion itself.
Given I already inject far too much of myself into my reviews I figured I’d touch v.briefly on this book – which I enjoyed – a well-written and easy read – perfect for a sunny day at the beach or when cocooned under blankets in a cold house with rain falling outside…. but really talk more a little about the concept:
That sometimes what feels like the very worst thing that could happen to us, is – in fact – the best.
I’ve delayed writing a blog post about my recent trip to China and Japan (and boat cruise which took me between the two countries).
Initially I wasn’t sure if I just needed time to process it all myself. But… it then occurred to me I just couldn’t work out ‘how’ to structure the post. There was no logical story arc in my mind.
A day-by-day account would usually work, except the days on the boat kinda blended into each other – in a nice way.
Another friend suggested I just go with the brain dump I’d started… which was tempting. Instead however, I’m giving you some combination of both.
I’ve been pretty slack on the non-bookish blogging front lately. Hell, I’ve been slack on the book blogging front as well. It’s partially on purpose. As I’m struggling to sit at my home computer during non-work hours I’ve cut back on my reading so I don’t get behind in my reviewing, which in turn has lead to 2-3 nights a week allocated to television. And yes, my life is the epitome of #firstworldproblems.
I actually read Caleb Carr’s book The Alienist and its sequel, The Angel of Darkness about 20 years ago, but remembered little about both. Indeed, neither remain on my bookshelves now, so I obviously decided at some point to retire and replace them… shelf space always being at a premium.
But when I saw the original book had been made into a Netflix TV series I jumped right in.
I often ask for advice. Indeed, I’m more than happy to admit my inadequacies or insufficiencies and ask to be pointed in the right direction. I mean, I’m not good at actually asking for help, or for someone to DO something for me, but advice, yes… no worries.
And it’s something I’ve done often here.
However it occurred to me recently (and I know my brother gets annoyed at me about this very issue) that I don’t always heed the advice I receive.
I’ve pondered upon this today: I often ask for ideas about tradesmen to use, furniture to buy or help in comprehending my antipathy towards dating. And so forth.
I read a post yesterday by Alana of House Goes Home, written after she’d seen the new Amy Schumer movie I Feel Pretty.
Most of it resonated as Alana talks about worrying less about her looks now she’s older and feeling more confident in general and I would have probably said the same thing a year ago.
However… fairly recently I joined a couple of online dating sites. It’s something I did a dozen years ago, tinkering off and on for a few years before giving up. I’ve always hoped it’d come organically – I’d meet someone. We’d fall in love. Etcetera.
