Fragile Things

Another post about Neil Gaiman.

I am a fan of his, based largely on his comic book work, and have been getting into his writings recently. I’ve just finished reading this collection of short stories, short fictions and poems, which vary from pastiche to homage, horrific to magical, enchanting to mystifying. They are all very readable; amusing, entertaining and diverting, peopled with lost souls, dark characters, and mysterious individuals. Many stories have a cinematic feel to them, a very visual quality, and one can easily imagine them as films or graphic novels.

It is interesting to read in the introduction the inspiration and development of the ideas behind most of the contents. It gives an insight into his motivation and creative process.

   Visit his interesting and rich website and blog. http://www.neilgaiman.com/

Recommended as a good read, with some interesting twists and turns in the plots. These tales of loss and danger, of the fragile lives and unexpected events are well worth reading.

Lyme Regis Holiday

We spent a few days in Lyme Regis and along the Dorset coast during the last Easter break. We hadn’t been for quite a few years, and had very good memories of the area. 

The beaches have a character and history all their own. The landscape is an affecting mix of rising and falling, curvaceous green-clad hills, of cracking and crumbling cliffs, and beaches of rock, rubble and pebble.

Here are a few of my simple sketches, done very quickly whilst the children were playing. You have to grab a few moments when you can, quickly and loosely recording aspects of the form and character of the landscape, hoping to be able to develop these further at a later date. I have also added some photographs.

The landscape of the area is mythologised and anthropomorphosised in many writers such as Hardy, Cowper-Powys and Fowles, to name a few. I once spent a Romantic (and wet) summer exploring the coast and inland landscape of Dorset and Wessex, on mini Grand Tour!

The Idler

A great periodical this. Though I’ve generally just dipped into it in bookstores, it does require longer attention as the articles are usually thoughtful and thought-provoking. 

A recent issue is co-edited by the chaps from QI, and is based around the notion of intelligence and meaningful (creative) activity.

The article on William Morris intrigued me, as I have a long time interest in his life, art and ideals, and I am always interested to see how he is reinterpreted and represented for the present. I do think he continues to be relevant, particularly as many people now seem willing to listen to what used to appear to be fanciful and radical notions of ownership and lifestyle.

His own work and life exist in the place where the artistic and political meet. What is it about artistic practice that has a relevance to the wider society and lifestyle in general? And to the inner life of the individual in particular?

In these days when some people are questioning a life of consumerism and transitory experiences, Morris’ ideal of creative labour and an imaginative and empathetic response to the world around us has great resonance.

http://www.morrissociety.org/

http://www.william-morris.co.uk/