13 Comments
Dec 9, 2022Liked by Helen Lewis

I was obsessed with Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising books! Other brilliant book she wrote set in London WWII about 2 boys, best friends. 40

Years later the memory of the ending still chokes me up. Think that book was her best kids novel

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If Owen asks himself why people hate him, he doesn't have the curiousity to look for the answer because it's extremely easy to find out why. It's the teenage mix of absolute certitude with ignorance, fallacious argument and an unwillingness to see any complexity in the world that grates.

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Sage advice for OJ from Raylan Givens: https://youtu.be/LG4hOjJ9tEs

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I loved Ground Hog Day at the Old Vic and would love to see it again. Alas, I won’t patronise the Old Vic any longer since they used my ‘Let’s build more female toilets’ campaign donation (£100!!) towards building unisex loos - which, as we all know, are more men’s toilets. That’s what peaked me.

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Can you ask for your money back?

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I did! And got a wet, woolly response about diversity and inclusion. They did not return my donation.

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I think I have said it before but your interview with Peterson seemed fine to me. His reaction made me wonder if he was coping with the pressure. I feel a bit sad for him nowadays not least as I think he really does have plenty to offer. He doesn’t need to pretend to be an all knowing sage.

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author

Yeah I think those kind of multi city tours are tough on anyone, even without health or family issues.

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Enormous fun as ever, but as a fellow childhood carrier-of-Susan-Cooper books I have to gently point out that The Dark is Rising is set in a snowy Buckinghamshire/Berkshire. The Thames features heavily, as does Windsor Great Park!

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author

Oops! Thanks for the correction.

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No worries, thanks for alerting us to the new reading! Definitely on my Christmas listen list.

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Very much enjoying the newsletter and it's a great idea to provide your wishlist so we can support. There was a book about the Chinese language when I first looked, which has been purchased already. Was it Kingdom of Characters? Want to get it for someone!

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author

Yes, that’s the one. It’s not out in paperback until after christmas so be careful if you order that it doesn’t come up as a preorder.

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