Journal
Ray Bradbury’s advice to writers
Every morning jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is you. After the explosion, spend the rest of the day putting the pieces together.
‘Only criminals and idiots don’t read.’ Albert Camus
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Journal
Review: “My Name is Asher Lev”
My name is not Asher Lev, but I too have disappointed my parents with art. Asher looks and draws and paints. His father frowns. His mother wrings her hands and stares at the window. Chaim Potok’s ultra-orthodox coming-of-age novel feels like dust and unspoken guilt. It’s a story
Journal
Creativity
Creativity is the key differentiator. Not creativity for the sake of juicing the algorithms, for boosting followers, for chasing money. Creativity for creativity’s sake. For producing stories and art and song and dance for the thrill of it, the pleasure of it. For the self-revelation and continuous astonishment at
Journal
Review: “Caledonian Road”
It’s a heavy book. Not just in weight but in literary posturing. Andrew O’Hagan’s novel is about, well, it’s about a lot of things. About London. About money. About class. About art. About politics. About despair. About the past and how it sways and colours the
Journal
Freefall
Knowledge and meaning are in freefall. We’re seeing system collapse before our very eyes. Everything we thought we could trust is slipping through our fingers, evaporating. Presidents no longer follow the law, politicians no longer practice decency. Scientists are doubted, experts are despised. Education is crumbling. Business is imploding.