Now

WHAT I’M READING

I just finished Susanna Clarke’s short story The Wood at Midwinter, which includes a short essay about the roots of her novels Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, both of which I’ve read and liked a lot, as well as this story, which was a Christmas story written for BBC Radio 4. Beautifully illustrated, and mysterious, a reflection on saintliness. And about the sense that the nobody else in the world cares about what you care about. And that message resonated with me.

I’m also reading several nonfiction books about literary theory, philosophy, political movements and other such things, none of which are gaining a foothold in my imagination.

I find myself wondering why I am reading such things, and not novels, stories, and plays.

WHAT HAVE I WRITTEN?