THE ROOSTER #2
Soup, Chekhov and Buffalo Stance.
Lads.
I accidentally posted this yesterday so apologies if you are receiving this for the second time.
I am writing this on the plane to Dublin where I am going to visit my family and then travel up to Belfast tomorrow for a weekend of DJ gigs. On Friday afternoon I will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Queens University Belfast, where I studied between 1996 and 1999. I feel confused about the dissonance between other peoples reactions to this news and my own feelings. This is huge! the people I have told exclaim, but I don’t get it. I am yet to understand the language of academic honours. I’m not ungrateful! just more unsure what I have done to deserve this, and after that, what’s the fuss? Put it this way, my last google search was ‘what is the point of an honorary doctorate?’.
I might be embarrassed I even expressed this sentiment by the time it’s over. I might be completely won over, sauntering around in my gown and sending my degree certificate (do I get one of these?) to the framers. Whatever happens I intend to write about the experience on here so watch this space. In the meantime, here are this week’s recommendations.
George Saunders - A Swim In The Pond In The Rain
George Saunders A Swim In The Pond In The Rain is a guide to the art of the short story. It takes five nineteenth century Russian short stories, from the likes of Chekhov and Tolstoy, and closely dissects the writers choices, to learn better how a short story is formed. George says,
‘The idea Is that working closely with the stories will make them more available to us as we work on our own; that this intent and, we might say, forced acquaintance with them will inform the swerves and instinctive moves that are so much a part of what writing actually is, from moment to moment.’
Sold? Even if you’ve never wanted to write a short story, this book is so beautifully written and so deeply considered it will inspire you to want to have a go. You don’t just get to read the short stories and their dissection; George’s own musings on how he writes are a delight, I found them deeply inspiring and encouraging. Now I want to enrol in Syracuse University just to join George’s class. And of course follow him on Substack immediately if you haven’t already.
Nenah Cherry - A Thousand Threads
I’m interviewing Nenah Cherry and her daughter Mabel next week and have been reading Nenah’s recent memoir A Thousand Threads as research. This woman has lived. I can’t get over how one person can manage to be at the epicentre of so many huge cultural movements, be it jazz, punk, or hip hop, she was right there with stories to tell. But the most compelling parts of her story for me are when she writes about her relationship with her artist mother Moki and her legendary jazz musician Father Don Cherry. She writes so beautifully, straight from the heart with such detailed sensory memories of her life.
Mr Organic Spicy Mixed Bean Soup.
Can I recommend soup? Looks like I am recommending soup. This isn’t just any soup though. When I have a writing day at home, my staple lunch is two pieces of toast with peanut butter and an apple. When the cold sets in and the leaves turn yellow, I change my lunch to soup. I hereby declare Mr Organic Spicy Mixed Bean soup the perfect soup. First up it’s important to say that this soup is not remotely spicy. It IS however, a profoundly hearty concoction of beans in the richest and tastiest tomato sauce. It is so thick that it’s bordering on a stew to be honest. I always add a little water in the pan when I heat it up (move over Nigella ). You don’t need bread. Heat it up, sprinkle some parmesan or maybe a squirt of lemon juice and lap it up.
Lastly, an FYI
Once a quarter, I invite some of my favourite Irish authors and musicians to the London Irish Centre in Camden to play and to talk about their work. These nights are such good craic. They are not like your typical literary salon; the conversation is broken up with songs and time to order pints! I have just announced the next event, taking place on February 6th 2025, with Dublin writing legend Roddy Doyle and the excellent Derry singer songwriter Soak. Roddy will be signing after. Tickets are available here.
Back next week, grá mór (big love),
A