ClioStorm In reply to Vigilo [2013-03-02 21:23:47 +0000 UTC]

No worries, I'm pretty busy most of the time and I think we have a fairly awkward time difference

I tried to comment on your journal, but dA is apparently feeling rebellious, so I'll reply here instead .

Congrats on the Stephen Dodson thing! I wasn't following that blog before, but I've added it to my bookmarks now, I'm getting steadily more interested in linguistics as CERTAIN PEOPLE on the internet keep writing such interesting things about it... -.- It means I've developed a habit of walking round the language/literature section of bookshops making quiet whimpering noises as I have dramatic internal arguments with my bank account. Thanks very much

I met Armitage a few years ago! It was at the Hay Festival, but he seemed rather morose when I saw him (I guess that's understandable, considering how many books he'd signed by the time I got to him). He did say he wasn't really keen on his poetry being on the UK GCSE syllabus, though, which upset me as that's where I first came across it. I couldn't get hold of Book of Matches at the time either, which was a shame because it's got my favourite poems of his in. I got Kid instead.

Also: Sappho and E.E. Cummings! I wish I'd thought of that for my comparative coursework. I did The Book Thief and If On A Winter's Night A Traveler in the end, which was fun. I'm doing a feminist critique of Ariel for my other piece, which feels decidedly unoriginal but is actually really hard.

I'm doing really well - finalised my uni application, I accepted Southampton (I COULD DO LATIN AS A SIDE SUBJECT WHICH IS RIDICULOUSLY EXCITING) and hopefully I'll be able to get the grades for that, although I'll struggle with the Biology (my class is having a lot of trouble with our teachers at the moment). The University of West England was my second choice, much lower grades but they're much more career orientated and have links with the BBC - and the first module of the first year is on fairytales and children's literature, so I feel spoilt for choice!

I've also been reading a lot, which is nice, as I spent a long time not reading much at all because I 'didn't have time' (which is never true, because I've always been able to make time for reading). So I finally read Pride and Prejudice, and read some more Gaiman - I'm kind of obsessed with him - and have continued in my unfortunate habit of spending money on books that I won't read for another three years. But at least I'm gradually getting through some of my to-read pile now.

Oh, I'm trying to write a fairytale myself at the moment, so I'm not getting much poetry done - I read an article by Neil Gaiman on how he wrote Stardust by hand in a notebook, so I decided to try it (I told you, I'm obsessed with the man) and I'm really enjoying it so far, but my determination to defy tradition will probably become a problem later on, since it's such a traditional form.

I'm feeling talkative tonight, clearly - I always seem to write you ridiculously long replies. How are you, lovely?

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ClioStorm In reply to livholland [2012-12-19 16:56:12 +0000 UTC]

haha I hope you enjoy!

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livholland In reply to ClioStorm [2012-12-24 19:52:52 +0000 UTC]

I know I will!

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ClioStorm In reply to Vigilo [2012-12-10 21:19:50 +0000 UTC]

ah, you know I always get very excited by your work I was actually meaning to comment... I don't know if you're still doing the non-fiction book thing? But I've just got this book called 'On Poetry' by Glyn Maxwell which is a series of essays about poetry and I'm only halfway through but it's kind of beautiful and fantastic xD you should definitely read it

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Vigilo In reply to ClioStorm [2012-12-28 08:15:09 +0000 UTC]

(So sorry for the late reply!) Aw. I'm always editing that list, aye! That sounds lovely, I am definitely going to put that on my Amazon list. Speaking of, have you heard of Alberto Manguel? He writes the most beautiful books on reading - A History of Reading and The Library at Night are two of my favourite ever books that are by him.

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ClioStorm In reply to Vigilo [2013-01-04 15:01:17 +0000 UTC]

Ooh! I'll have to add those to my Amazon wishlist (I really like the look of The Library at Night in particular). I'm hopelessly addicted to books about books, it seems. The more meta, the better! (Oh God, that rhymed awfully). But seriously, I just find the study of stories really interested - folktales and the oral tradition and how reading is changing and just... ashiaoghoigh I get so excited about it haha. When I had my interview (I had an interview at Oxford!!! I'm still not over it!! ) I just kind of ended up talking about all that stuff very enthusiastically. I'm not sure if that's good or bad... Anyway, thank you for the recs! And I hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it

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