july round up
And just like that another academic year retreats into the distance. A completely unique and hopefully never to be repeated year. One of lockdowns, homeschooling, lateral flow tests, classroom assemblies, no leavers show, no nativity, no school parties, bubbles bursting and cancellations. We are hoping to enjoy these summer holidays. We have two weeks in Devon and then the kids have two weeks in camp and then we have two weeks of pottering before the next academic year starts. Let’s hope that’s it for the cancellations.
What I Read This Month
1. The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
2. Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud
3. When All Is Said by Anne Griffins
4. How Do We Know We Are Doing It Right? by Pandora Sykes
I had seen the cover of The Mars Room a lot over the past few years and for good reason. This book was so real in it’s explanations and so desperately despairing of her part in and victimhood of the American judicial system that I find it hard to believe that it isn’t a true story! I loved Kushner’s characters and having a son called Jackson myself I felt so deeply the love of her son and the pain of the full on annihilation of her life in the seedier side of San Francisco.
Love After Love is based in Trinidad and follows the lives of a dysfunctional family, a single Mother and their lodger, it is beautiful and heartfelt and based in a country I knew nothing about, which was fascinating. I have never been so hungry reading a book; Trinidadian food sounds absolutely delicious!
MONTHLY FAVOURITES
Turned Up Online For… Kate Hamilton from the brilliant Sonder & Tell led a workshop called Creative Copywriting for Social with Planoly. I really recommend giving this a watch Kate was named as one of Forbes 30 under 40 and gave a lot of clarity on how to make social engaging and create a strong brand voice.
Watched… Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. This documentary shows a lot of old footage which Maya recorded herself from London to Sri Lanka and charting her rise to fame and activism on stage. I have always loved her music and wish she had made more. What a strong, inspiring woman.
Listened… I have completely fallen in love with an artist called Alice Phoebe Lou this month and nothing sounds as good as her music. I started off loving Witches, then watching her live street performances, then became spell bound by Galaxies and listening to her speak in any and all ways.
Sending love out to you for some rest and recoup this summer holiday.
