Good to "meet" you here on Substack, Caroline. Wow, that is a LOT of books. But maybe I have that many if I stack them up like that. I definitely have some of yours on my shelves.
Good luck with the sorting and packing as you prepare for your move.
I loved your article on memoir and your quiz. “This is Your Life” - was that a nod to Eamon Andrew’s programme on ITV? He lived behind our back garden wall - ours was a semi on a new build 1970s estate - his was a luxury modern mansion.
I am drawn to memoir and find myself weaving childhood memories into my Substack articles. I feel it might be where I am ultimately going with my writing, but I consider it with some trepidation.
Ha, yes! The TV show title was so good I immediately thought of it. How funny that you lived "next" to Eamon Andrews!
I wasn't sure what I was going to write when I started my Substack. I picked up an old diary at random, looking for a prompt as I'd felt blocked for years, had a real itch to write again, but didn't know where to start.
Once I pulled at that thread it kept on going, which has been such a relief and a delight. I try not to limit myself, as I know some weeks I want to write about the here and now, not the past. I know some memories are easier to write about than others, and if it's something sensitive, you have to work out how to navigate it. Also, deciding what's your own story and what is someone else's. That I find tricky.
“ Also, deciding what's your own story and what is someone else's. That I find tricky.” ….that I think is where my trepidation comes from. Definitely food for thought!
Your book spine photographs are easy to enjoy. I love browsing through people's books — one gains so many ideas and suggestions, plus it always feels cosy to recognize books in common. I am still puzzling, trying to decipher and identify an intriguing spine in a photograph of Skye McAlpine's lovely kitchen on her substack.
I loved looking through your collection of cookery books! We have just moved from a big house with lots of spaces for books to a two bedroom flat with decidedly less space, so we had to 'lose' the majority of our collection, which wasn't easy as once I have a book, It's meant to be kept for keeps. My cookery books were hard to whittle down. All of Delia's went as did my Hamlyn recipe book that I needed for my A Level in Home Economics. I could no longer justify keeping my text books that I used in my nurse training or books about baby care. My babies are now in their thirties ! I sadly said goodbye to most of my novels but kept the paperbacks that I'd had since my 20s, including my orange Penguin books and there was no way that I was going to give my childhood books away or the children's picture books that I have bought over the years to share with the children in my class. My husband didn't sort out his books. He just packed them all up in boxes that still need to be emptied and sorting. I've a feeling we will just have to try and squeeze a few more in somewhere. The balcony perhaps!!
I love this! I am also an unrepentant book lover and my husband too. His addiction is also compounded by hoarding tendencies whereas I will throw away train tickets and restaurant bills! I was fascinated by your bookshelves and one book in particular warmed my heart; you have a Waverley edition of the Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. Mine was my late, much adored mother’s and I still cook some of the cakes in there, reminding me of my childhood. We moved our combined book collection of c.4000 books from London to Turin and I NEVER want to do that again! Bon chance!
Oh Jan - my mother had one too. Mum is thankfully still with us but I don’t know where her copy went. I bought my second hand copy in a book shop in Whitstable about 3 years ago, after the pandemic.
Thanks so much for your feedback Marion. The sketch is by a talented, young, local artist who managed to include our 2 beloved cats Sulin & Arthur. I love it. So many memories in that house.
Wonderful article written by a truly wonderful person but I’m biased
The author did have insider knowledge though 🙂
hardly surprising after 36 years together 💜🐈
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Good to "meet" you here on Substack, Caroline. Wow, that is a LOT of books. But maybe I have that many if I stack them up like that. I definitely have some of yours on my shelves.
Good luck with the sorting and packing as you prepare for your move.
I loved your article on memoir and your quiz. “This is Your Life” - was that a nod to Eamon Andrew’s programme on ITV? He lived behind our back garden wall - ours was a semi on a new build 1970s estate - his was a luxury modern mansion.
I am drawn to memoir and find myself weaving childhood memories into my Substack articles. I feel it might be where I am ultimately going with my writing, but I consider it with some trepidation.
Ha, yes! The TV show title was so good I immediately thought of it. How funny that you lived "next" to Eamon Andrews!
I wasn't sure what I was going to write when I started my Substack. I picked up an old diary at random, looking for a prompt as I'd felt blocked for years, had a real itch to write again, but didn't know where to start.
Once I pulled at that thread it kept on going, which has been such a relief and a delight. I try not to limit myself, as I know some weeks I want to write about the here and now, not the past. I know some memories are easier to write about than others, and if it's something sensitive, you have to work out how to navigate it. Also, deciding what's your own story and what is someone else's. That I find tricky.
“ Also, deciding what's your own story and what is someone else's. That I find tricky.” ….that I think is where my trepidation comes from. Definitely food for thought!
Your book spine photographs are easy to enjoy. I love browsing through people's books — one gains so many ideas and suggestions, plus it always feels cosy to recognize books in common. I am still puzzling, trying to decipher and identify an intriguing spine in a photograph of Skye McAlpine's lovely kitchen on her substack.
Thanks so much Annie
I loved looking through your collection of cookery books! We have just moved from a big house with lots of spaces for books to a two bedroom flat with decidedly less space, so we had to 'lose' the majority of our collection, which wasn't easy as once I have a book, It's meant to be kept for keeps. My cookery books were hard to whittle down. All of Delia's went as did my Hamlyn recipe book that I needed for my A Level in Home Economics. I could no longer justify keeping my text books that I used in my nurse training or books about baby care. My babies are now in their thirties ! I sadly said goodbye to most of my novels but kept the paperbacks that I'd had since my 20s, including my orange Penguin books and there was no way that I was going to give my childhood books away or the children's picture books that I have bought over the years to share with the children in my class. My husband didn't sort out his books. He just packed them all up in boxes that still need to be emptied and sorting. I've a feeling we will just have to try and squeeze a few more in somewhere. The balcony perhaps!!
Thanks so much for your subscription and feedback Brigitte. Books - they are so wonderful.
I love this! I am also an unrepentant book lover and my husband too. His addiction is also compounded by hoarding tendencies whereas I will throw away train tickets and restaurant bills! I was fascinated by your bookshelves and one book in particular warmed my heart; you have a Waverley edition of the Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. Mine was my late, much adored mother’s and I still cook some of the cakes in there, reminding me of my childhood. We moved our combined book collection of c.4000 books from London to Turin and I NEVER want to do that again! Bon chance!
Oh Jan - my mother had one too. Mum is thankfully still with us but I don’t know where her copy went. I bought my second hand copy in a book shop in Whitstable about 3 years ago, after the pandemic.
I love the adverts, the recipes and the photos
4000 - goodness, I’m sure we don’t have that many . What an achievement. Bravo
Husband is an academic with all that implies regarding books, journals and manuscripts…🙄📚📚📚📚📚
Best get moving Caroline! Love the illustration of thee house x
Thanks so much for your feedback Marion. The sketch is by a talented, young, local artist who managed to include our 2 beloved cats Sulin & Arthur. I love it. So many memories in that house.