This is a must-read book recommendation.
In the ten essays in this book some of our finest authors and passionate advocates from the worlds of science, publishing, technology and social enterprise tell us about the experience of reading, why access to books should never be taken forgranted, how reading transforms our brains, and how literature can save lives. In any 24 hours there are so many demands on your time and attention - make books one of them.
Authors:
Carmen Callil
Tim Parks
Nicholas Carr
Michael Rosen
Jane Davis
Zadie Smith
Mark Haddon
Jeanette Winterson
Blake Morrison
Dr Maryanne Wolf
Dr Mirit Barzillai
Did anyone else catch this book? It was Book of the Week recently on Radio 4 and was brilliant, especially Jeanette Winterson's essay, that was my favourite... but then I love all her writings. I have been musing and trying to write my own essay in my mind but I felt I was just repeating what everyone else had already said. And I have blogged so much in the past about the joy of books and reading, it is my passion after all. Anyway I took a wee walk this morning and from this came a wee poem.
The cottage sits softly on a January noon
The cottage sits softly on a January noon,
soaking up the Winter sun, secure and cosy
in her wrap-around garden ,she still appears
warm amongst the hardness of white frost.
All lies in wait for spring, though daffodils in
January are really not usual,
nothing confuses, nothing will waver,
Nature will cope, only humans falter.
Logs lie about, they too are waiting,
only the dogs are desperate to run.
As usual I am musing, today on
a lifelong passion for the written word,
squiggles on paper, symbols of language,
a love affair that has lasted, can you
think of another the same?
Ah, the smell of books, the look, the feel,
soul linking soul to soul, writers
reaching to me from the heart with prose to
wallow in, dream of, escape to, become lost in
(with no need for rescue)
and the crown that is poetry, which can
be pure magic, living on forever
in one’s memory.
Cait O’Connor
That is lovely, Cait; your poem rings true.
ReplyDeleteSoul to soul, our longest love affair. True, Cait. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up about this book and your words inspire. Happy 2012 to you.
ReplyDeleteThe poem sings, and it is a most beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteCait, I am so glad to have been able to read your poem, with its early observation of nature deepening into heartfelt truthful offerings.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks!
Beautiful. Books are like that to me as well. I have brought home an armful every week since I was five - sixty years of journeying between their covers.
ReplyDeleteI'll look out for the book. Yes, make time for reading.
ReplyDeleteI like the pem,especially the imagery.Will look out for the book,maybe we have it in the library! lol Angela
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how it is with books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out this book of essays. I shall look out for it.
'Nature will cope' - it does and always has, but the line was lovely and appropriate for the winter we're having.
ReplyDeleteYou asked if the house in the photo I posted was mine - no, I don't live on the shore, but I wish I did!
That's a great recommendation, thanks Cait.
ReplyDeleteBooks, essays, magazines, libraries, blogs - the printed word is so important, whatever its form