Writing novels as a kind of magic in Graham Swift’s Here We Are (2020) London, Simon & Schuster UK Ltd Graham Swift’s novels often deal with a moment in the remembered past that has to be relived by witnesses, such as the characters who might have been present in that past or those asked to … More Writing novels as a kind of magic in Graham Swift’s ‘Here We Are’ (2020)

Reflecting on why biographies satisfy! Fiona MacCarthy (2019) Walter Gropius: Visionary Founder of the Bauhaus London, Faber & Faber (read in 2020 Paperback ed.)  I absolutely loved this book but find it interesting now, after reading it, to ask myself why I was motivated to read it and what I enjoyed it. Of course authors … More Reflecting on why biographies satisfy! Fiona MacCarthy (2019) ‘Walter Gropius: Visionary Founder of the Bauhaus’.

Reflecting on free ethical action in Aravind Adiga’s Amnesty (2020) London, Picador Amnesty (from the Greek ἀμνηστία amnestia, “forgetfulness, passing over”) is defined as: “A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of people who are subject to trial … More Reflecting on free ethical action in Aravind Adiga’s ‘Amnesty’ (2020) London, Picador

A Night Out with Eugene Onegin at the Durham Assembly Theatre @DStudentTheatre Worn out by the ballroom’s noise And turning morning into night Sleeps peacefully in blissful joy The child of luxury and delight. He wakes at noon, or even later, His life till dawn the same as ever, Monotonous and varied, say, Tomorrow just … More A Night Out with Eugene Onegin @DStudentTheatre

What is the point of art history? Saving the world in T. J. Clark’s (2018) Heaven on Earth: Painting and the Life to Come London, Thames and Hudson. Questioning the point of art history is often a naïve exercise. After reading this book it may become a more urgent one and demand more than a … More What is the point of art history? Saving the world in T. J. Clark’s (2018) ‘Heaven on Earth: Painting and the Life to Come’ London, Thames and Hudson.

Watching Director’s Bong Joon-ho‘s Parasite: Symbolic Fantasy, Horror, Class and the Excremental Vision. Seen 26/02/20. Beware: you may consider this to contain spoilers. This film is self-evidently worthy of its accolades and, perhaps, of even more than it got – the acting was finer than any, maybe outside Joker, in any US film of the … More Watching Director’s Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’: Symbolic Fantasy, Horror, Class and the Excremental Vision. Seen 26/02/20.

Reflecting on Garth Greenwell’s Cleanness (2020) New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. Page references are to this edition. This novel is welcome and important to every reader because of its take on what it means to write on and about relationships, including those between storytellers and hearers, storywriters and readers. Indeed, I think the very … More Reflecting on Garth Greenwell’s ‘Cleanness’ (2020) New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.

Reflecting on the author talk at Forum Books, Corbridge 18th February 2020, 7p.m.: Deepa Anappara (2020) Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line London, Chatto & Windus. Link to pre-talk reflections on reading novel itself here. This was an exciting evening, not least because the author spoke of a new historical novel in preparation. For more … More Reflecting on the author talk at Forum Books, Corbridge 18th February 2020, 7p.m.: Deepa Anappara (2020) ‘Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line’

WARNING: Contains spoilers. For short account of Forum Bookshop account see: https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2020/02/19/reflecting-on-the-author-talk-at-forum-books-corbridge-18th-february-2020-7p-m-deepa-anappara-2020-djinn-patrol-on-the-purple-line/ Reflecting on a debut novel by Deepa Anappara (2020) Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line London, Chatto & Windus. Prior to seeing the author talk at Forum Books, Corbridge 18th February 2020, 7p.m. Anappara speaks very usefully about her debut novel in an … More Reflecting on a debut novel by Deepa Anappara (2020) ‘Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line’ London, Chatto & Windus.

Reflecting on a study day based on Mikhail Karikis’ exhibition, For Many Voices, held at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), part of Teesside University. @mimauseful (some phrases from the MIMA description are lifted here to ease the typing project). Further information in links. MIMA has a good record of bringing artists and academics together to … More Reflecting on a study day based on Mikhail Karikis’ exhibition, ‘For Many Voices’, held at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA).