237. READ. LOOK. THINK.

Franzen on Franzen, writes and write-nots, unfreedom comes as a relief, Sally Rooney on the climate crisis (a must-read).

Ruth Park, author of classic timeslip novel Playing Beatie Bow, at home with one of her children, December 1951.

READ.

How Jonathan Franzen learned to write a Franzen novel - such an amazing resource on his process for The Corrections, it was amazing how long it took to come together and then how quickly he wrote it when it did.

‘Freedom is a burden, unfreedom comes as a relief.’

Jessica Mitford’s escape from fascism.

The writes and write-nots.

‘I don’t particularly care to have my awareness raised; I’d rather view art that tears open my consciousness, that opens portals into the mysterious. I like art the most when it doesn’t mean a thing, or otherwise when its beauty or strangeness transcends its subject. Stop making so much sense. Art should do more than communicate: it should move us; it should make us weep; it should bring us to our knees.’ / ‘Complaining that most art sucks is like saying that all new music is bad because you don’t like Spotify’s Top 50 playlist.’

Virginia Woolf’s idea of privacy.

...and Ennis, not big on endearments, said what he said to his horses and daughters, “Little darlin.”

Teared up reading Brokeback Mountain at the hairdresser.

Also reading: Bellies, Modern Nature, The Divided Self, V13, various trial/judge memoirs, Out by Tim Shipman.

LOOK.

‘Seaside Rendez-Vous’ (2024) by Victor Siret. ‘Queer makers are using embroidery to challenge centuries of gender norms.’

Miso butter sesame noodles. One pot chicken, brown rice and greens.

Via Sonya Gee’s excellent cooking newsletter, I found cabbages.world.

‘When you’re living communally, everybody has responsibility and power.’

‘If you were to walk under one of the bright blue, riveted steel railway bridges on London’s busy Kingsland Road, you would find one such peculiarity: a small door in the side of a Georgian brick building which seems to have pushed its way into the gap between a railway bridge and a 90s concrete apartment.’

Monk-mode morning. (Tempting.)

Very touched by the drama version of Say Nothing. Really enjoying a silly show: The Day of the Jackal.

THINK.

Just one today because it’s so important.

‘If we want the children of today to have a future on this planet, we cannot keep obediently colouring inside the lines.’ Sally Rooney: when are we going to have the courage to stop the climate crisis?

Jess

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