What a lovely share ... I am slowly catching up with my reading here and your Friday delight was a lovely Tuesday bonus. The Wolf Hall read-along is something I am looking forward to immensely. A very different path for me to follow. 'Treacle Walker' sounds magical.
PS ... hoping you are regathering your strength as the bout of illness hits the rearview mirror. JoJo is coughing this morning and I am avoiding her studiously as I am a VERY bad patient and I don't want a single germ.
Keep your distance! It's been a dreadful bout of Covid, and the worst I've felt for two years since when last I had it. The good news is I'll be better in time to enjoy Christmas. So stay well!
"Treacle Walker" is such a beguiling and bewildering book. I found it wonderful, but perplexing, but that is what makes Alan Garner so worth reading. ( I must read Lanny too.)
Yes! There is this amazing list of "treacle tangents" here: http://alangarner.atspace.org/linkstwt.html which I explored while reading the book. It really helped me get more from the book. I've got Thursbitch to read next.
I've not come across Treacle Walker before, but looking forward to checking it out!
I made myself a little analog tracker for W&P today, and figured I'd pass along in case anyone, like me, loves the feel of a good pen making a checkmark on paper. I may share in a chat thread, too, if that's okay with you?
I remember it dividing opinion quite strongly! I was smitten... Cadhay House really couldn't be further for me, so it will be something of a pilgrimage to get to. Great if you could make it!
I hope your strength and health returns sooner than soon. Thank you for this intro to Treacle. I knew nothing of it. It's very mythical, symbolic, Jungian. Just my speed. I have always loved the phrase or variation thereon of "meeting myself coming back". I've seen it used as an expression to convey being in a hurry. I like how it's used here... Evoking a bit of Sisyphus. Yay to Amy Cowen for getting notion up and running for tracking. I love it! She's the best. And so are you! I'm planning a trip to England in 2024... Maybe I should plan it to coincide with the Wolf Hall gathering!
There is a lot of Jung in Treacle Walker, and I think I explored the connection in another piece. My reading of it now feels somewhat mythic and in the distant past, even though it was only last year!
Do you know Nicola I still haven't got past the first page! These read-alongs have swallowed up all reading time these past few months. But I'll make it a priority soon.
Really like the story and prose. Many lines to quote, but I particularly loved this one: "He'll be carrying a bag, of ancient things. Born in stars and held in hands. All loved and learned. Stones and bone."
This is a beautiful piece. I hope you are feeling better. “He is me at sunrise. When dreams are caught on the wing, and memories swirl in the mist. He is me at dusk. When colours run and corners come, creeping and crawling, back to life.”
Thanks Pipp! Yes, Garner's writing made me want to write things, which is always the best impulse I get from reading. Everything becoming more extraordinary and possible with each word.
So lovely to revisit Treacle Walker. A little like Dead Pappa Toothwort (Lannny) he seems to inhabit this season of diminishing light best of all...
And I'm STILL to get to Lanny!
I know you will. Do it before the leaves start to unfurl...
Wow. Just wow.
Thank you!
What a lovely share ... I am slowly catching up with my reading here and your Friday delight was a lovely Tuesday bonus. The Wolf Hall read-along is something I am looking forward to immensely. A very different path for me to follow. 'Treacle Walker' sounds magical.
PS ... hoping you are regathering your strength as the bout of illness hits the rearview mirror. JoJo is coughing this morning and I am avoiding her studiously as I am a VERY bad patient and I don't want a single germ.
Warmly
Barrie
Keep your distance! It's been a dreadful bout of Covid, and the worst I've felt for two years since when last I had it. The good news is I'll be better in time to enjoy Christmas. So stay well!
Tolstoy’s Tea parties! I’ll sugar and milk, please! Also, Treacle Walker is a find! Thanks!
"Treacle Walker" is such a beguiling and bewildering book. I found it wonderful, but perplexing, but that is what makes Alan Garner so worth reading. ( I must read Lanny too.)
Yes! There is this amazing list of "treacle tangents" here: http://alangarner.atspace.org/linkstwt.html which I explored while reading the book. It really helped me get more from the book. I've got Thursbitch to read next.
Thank you very much!
I've not come across Treacle Walker before, but looking forward to checking it out!
I made myself a little analog tracker for W&P today, and figured I'd pass along in case anyone, like me, loves the feel of a good pen making a checkmark on paper. I may share in a chat thread, too, if that's okay with you?
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7ia5gsxl61xrz5ui47oxf/2024-W-P-Reading-Schedule.pdf?rlkey=ex56pdnlmulohmt1thhikxa33&dl=0
Oh nice! Yes so share it and I'll link to it as well.
I just didn't get on with Treacle Walker. Just one of those things.
I have noted the dates for Cadhay House - that's not far from me.
I remember it dividing opinion quite strongly! I was smitten... Cadhay House really couldn't be further for me, so it will be something of a pilgrimage to get to. Great if you could make it!
I hope your strength and health returns sooner than soon. Thank you for this intro to Treacle. I knew nothing of it. It's very mythical, symbolic, Jungian. Just my speed. I have always loved the phrase or variation thereon of "meeting myself coming back". I've seen it used as an expression to convey being in a hurry. I like how it's used here... Evoking a bit of Sisyphus. Yay to Amy Cowen for getting notion up and running for tracking. I love it! She's the best. And so are you! I'm planning a trip to England in 2024... Maybe I should plan it to coincide with the Wolf Hall gathering!
Oh I hope so, let us know when you're coming!
There is a lot of Jung in Treacle Walker, and I think I explored the connection in another piece. My reading of it now feels somewhat mythic and in the distant past, even though it was only last year!
Just as beautiful second time round.
Did you find echoes of Treacle in Thursbitch? Or maybe it should be the other way round. Or nor. Circles...
Do you know Nicola I still haven't got past the first page! These read-alongs have swallowed up all reading time these past few months. But I'll make it a priority soon.
Ah well, no good reading comes from forcing it. You still have it to look forward to 😊
Nothing will rush me. 😉
I've just read Hilary's closing words in The Wolf Hall Picture Book. She mentions Alan Garner. I actually can't believe it 😂 so many threads...
Nooooooo.... I'm going to have to go and look. Thanks Nicola!
Hope you feel better soon, Simon.
Really like the story and prose. Many lines to quote, but I particularly loved this one: "He'll be carrying a bag, of ancient things. Born in stars and held in hands. All loved and learned. Stones and bone."
Thanks Nathan. Alan Garner must take the credit for most of the words, I have rearranged them to say how I feel. His work is well worth exploring.
Great, will have to check him out.
Wonderful to revisit these words from you Simon and what a treat to have you read them to us. Get well soon 💕
Thank you Sarah. And yes, it's nice to find a permanent home for these words and get them recorded too.
So sorry that you have been poorly Simon. Take good care and get well soon 💕
Thank you Liz.
Hope you feel
Better soon Simon! I
Loved this reading - beautiful words 📖
This is a beautiful piece. I hope you are feeling better. “He is me at sunrise. When dreams are caught on the wing, and memories swirl in the mist. He is me at dusk. When colours run and corners come, creeping and crawling, back to life.”
I have goosebumps listening to you read these words Simon, your Treacle Tangent.... I’m sighing, I’m smiling...
I have not read Treacle Walker but I will... you say you were ecstatic, to read the book - well I am equally so to read yours... 🙏🏽
Thanks Pipp! Yes, Garner's writing made me want to write things, which is always the best impulse I get from reading. Everything becoming more extraordinary and possible with each word.