Claire Tomalin at Ways with Words

I am going to the Claire Tomalin event at Ways with Words tomorrow where she will talk about her biography of Thomas Hardy the Time torn Man. I have also bought a copy of Thomas Hardy poetry which Claire has edited and I am looking forward to reading both of the books soon. I will write a post after the talk for those who coul;d not make it to dartington but I hope I may see some other reading group people there tomorrow.

Ways with Words has been a bit mixed for me this year. I really enjoyed the Christina Lamb Martin Bell session where Christina talked about her life as a foreign correspondent and the problems in countries likes Zimbabwe, Iraq and Afghanistan that have made free reporting so difficult. She also talked about her early career in the 1980s when she was invited to Benazir Bhutto's wedding and was free to explore both the cities and rural areas of Pakistan and made to feel very welcome. Now of course this is not possible for a female british journalist.

Less successful was a journal writing workshop which I felt was just a pile of quotes from other people's journals and no opportunities for interaction - quite dull.

I also attended a session on the St Ives artists which although interesting and illustrated did not include any of their work. I can appreciate the reasons but not sure if I would have gone if I had known this.

Tomorrow I am going to a talk about the Buddhist way of life which I have developed an interest in since reading a book called "The Miracle of Mindfullness" which I would strongly recommend. I will try and post a review of this as well.

Happy reading - Anyone started/finished Northern Lights yet?
Paula

Northern Lights

How is everyone getting on with Northern Lights. Sorry but I am not looking forward to this book so have treated myself to "Love in the Time of Cholera" first. What a wonderful book I am sure many of you have already read it. Sensitive and beautifully written but I am nearly at the end so will have to read Northern lights soon.
Is anyone else going to Ways with Words this weekend. i will put a post up for th events I attend and hope that sonme of you will too.

Paula