misc.
One thing I know about marriage.
I wonder what made me think of this? A very very old friend of mine, on his second marriage, constantly tells me that he’s become resigned to the idea that marriage is hard work. “You’ve got to compromise, keep your mouth shut, surf the bad times, think about the kids. Don’t flirt with other people, [...]
What Makes Us Happy?
I usually say that my years at Harvard were a bit of a desert in terms of inspired teaching, but that’s not entirely true. Long before the present government got hold of happiness as a good issue to distract us all from economic decline, psychiatrist George Vaillant taught a course called Adaptations to Life — [...]
I’ll be there for you…
I got a call from one of my favourite writer friends this morning. He sounded morose. “I can’t write anymore,” he said. ”I’ve lost it. The knack. It’s gone.” I’d just that morning finished rereading Mal Peet’s most recent book, Life: An Exploded Diagram. Which is why he phoned. Because I’d phoned him a few [...]
Don’t take candy from strangers. No really. I mean it. Hello?
I was in Norwich today. My daughter set off about the same time to meet a friend in Hyde Park. I sent her a text from the train. It said: Have fun sweetheart. Don’t take any candy from strangers. See you later. xxxx Mum I’m not a particularly protective mother. And weirdly (for a Jew) [...]
When The Hangover Strikes….
I was reminded of this fantastic song (‘I turn on the tap but the water’s too loud’) by Squeeze while listening to David Lasserson’s version for jazz viola (click listen now, then scoot to 8.58 on this link if you can get it). And then, with magical synchronicity, I woke up with a bastard of [...]
Everyone’s a critic.
It’s Carnegie time again. Time to torture poor innocent children with books of so-called literary merit. Here’s a less than enthusiastic review from one of my teen-shadowers. Definitive proof that you can’t please all of the people all of the time. “Another year in the Carnegie Medal and once again another Meg Rosoff book. So [...]
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