Enough said.
Writing Time
I’m working away on the Ireland section of my book, which is harder than I thought it would be. It occurs to me that while I’ve been telling you about my writing process, I haven’t told you much about what my book is actually about. When I was a first-year in college (1991), I entered into a relationship with a much older man which ended up lasting about six years. He was a very important person in my life; last year he died. I was pretty messed up for a while, but as I’ve started to come back around I decided I wanted to write about it, so that’s what I’m doing. Will anyone want to read about it? Time will tell.
After I graduated in 1995 I went to Ireland for four months on a work visa. While I’ve written 95% of the rest of the story I skipped over this chapter (the one in my life and the one in my book) because I was having a hard time finding my way in. I’m not all the way there yet but I’ve got a start. The section will go through a couple of iterations before I add it to my manuscript but I think I know what I’m doing now anyway. I do still have my diary from this time, which has been a boon. After my ex died, like the week after, I threw out a large percentage of the written record of the relationship, but I kept this much anyway. I think this could be another book someday, maybe, but for now I’m going to try to be true to the experience while also staying on topic.
I’ve been missing my daily writing group these past few weeks. I still get in the chair every day, at more or less the same time, and write till I’ve done what I wanted to for the day, but I miss the camaraderie and smiles and cheering-on we gave each other. I’m hopeful I’ll find another one at some point soon, or I’ll just continue on my own.
Movie Rec
Flora and Son is a 2023 movie from John Carney, who brought us 2007’s treasure, Once. Like Once, Flora and Son is set in modern day Dublin and tells a story of music saving souls. It’s about a mother, Flora (Eve Hewson) and her son Max; both are troubled and lost in their own way and one day Flora picks up a guitar and learns to play, with the help of her online teacher played by Joseph Gordon-Leavitt. Music helps rebuild their relationship and her self-esteem. Fun fact: Flora’s ex Ian is played by Jack Reynor, whom you might remember as the older brother from another Irish movie about music, 2016’s Sing Street. Flora and Son is a delightful Sunday morning movie- basically family friendly (with some typical Irish profanity) and perfect to enjoy with breakfast and a cup of coffee. I had to watch Once again after seeing Flora and Son; watch either or both (and Sing Street too) if you love Ireland and/or music. It’s available to stream on several services. I watched it on Apple+ where it was included with my monthly subscription.
Wheel of Time Update
I’m on volume 2, The Great Hunt, and loving it. My husband has started to re-read the series and has just started on volume 1, The Eye of the World. I’m going to try to finish the series by Halloween 2024. I have more or less given up lunchtime YouTube videos in favor of a chapter or two per day.
We finished the Prime series last week and while it was some tough viewing, it wasn’t as bad as I thought and there were even some big cheers as our characters finally had some wins. I can’t wait for season three. And really I was more emotionally devastated by the genuinely creepy Hulu series
The Other Black Girl,
a 10-episode thriller based on Zakiya Dalila Harris’s 2021 novel of the same name, about a young Black woman named Nella who works in the sea of white people that is the book industry, and is relieved and excited to meet Hazel, an intern who is also Black. They become fast friends, but all might not be what it seems. Anyway I haven’t read the book but the show is addictive viewing. Each episode is about 30 minutes and 2 per sitting was good for me. I hope there is a season two!
Music Time
Last thing this week, I wanted to tell you about Clemency Burton-Hill’s wonderful book Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day. This is simply a book of 366 musical selections, one for every day of the calendar, giving background and stories about a different piece of classical music. Burton-Hill includes names you know and some you may not; I learn something new every time I dip in.
You can find playlists for every month on Spotify because what’s the point if you can’t actually listen to the music?
I seriously love this book and have had so much fun with it. I don’t listen every day but it’s always a treat when I do.
Trash Haiku
Lime's tart balances
the blueberries' soft sweetness-
the perfect muffin.
Thanks for reading and have a great week!
I was fully absorbed in the part of your memoir that I saw. I can't wait to read more.