The sky is pinky-mauve in the east as the sun sets: a delicate preview of tomorrow’s sunrise.

In joy, we move into an element that is entirely outside of time and reality, but whose presence is perfectly real.
Incandescent, we walk through walls.

Cristina Campo, The Unforgivable (transl. Alex Andriesse) #NYRBWomen26

A great review of one of my favorite books of the past few years.

This is one I regularly come back to in my mind. I view it as essential reading. Dare I say, canon! (in my world at least)

The work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life.

Han Kang, Light and Thread (transl. Maya West)

Pink and yellow magnolia blossoms on the ends of slender branches under a blue and white sky.

This is the last magnolia of the season and my favorite. The tree was so slender and had a heavily damaged trunk but it was also very alive and tossing beautiful big blossoms into the sky.

This made me laugh out loud. I read it for a bookclub but if I hadn't, I would have likely done the same!

"Happiness," he said, always seems nothing. It is like water; one only realizes it when it has run away." "That is true," she said. She thought for a moment and said, "It is the same with the evil we do; it seems nothing, just seems foolishness, cold water, while we are doing it. Otherwise people would not do it; they would be more careful." "True," he said. She said, "Why have we ruined everything, everything?" and she began to cry. She said, "I can't leave this house. I brought up my children here. I have been here so many years, so many years. I can't—I can't leave it." "Then you want to stay here?" he asked. And she said, "No" — and went away the next day. From Voices in the Evening by Natalia Ginzburg

Staggered this evening by Natalia Ginzburg. The usual when reading her!
This scene occurs after WWII as the locals return to the area and resume their lives there. #1961Club

Interior detail: The Glasgow School of Art. Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 1909.
Photo: Martin Charles RIBA.

Awwww, thank you, Peg. 💞 I've had resting serious face since a child. May as well embrace the serious!

The rashes have largely calmed down due to the course of steady treatment but no, they are no fun at all! (what a spring)

I would say: the more information grows, the more knowledge retreats and therefore the more decision is partial (terroristic, dogmatic).

Roland Barthes, The Neutral (203)

I’m sorry you have to deal with sort of thing too. It’s very shocking, isn’t it? The doctor thinks this may be a one time seasonal occurence for me and I’m hoping so. Those who have to deal with this sort of thing regularly have all my sympathy.

Today, information: pulverized, nonhierarchized, dealing with everything: nothing is protected from information and at the same time nothing is open to reflection.

Roland Barthes, The Neutral #AContinuation

This is perfect. Thank you for sharing.

Nevertheless, the artist intends
a mood of celebration.

How beautiful the blossoms are—emblems of the resilience of life.
The birds approach eagerly.

(Final stanzas of Primavera, by Louise Glück)

You’re welcome! Let me know what you think of it. Take care as well and safe travels.

That’s what I thought! Thankfully, I had an emergency medication on hand as this happened last month. I’ve never had such bad allergies in my life.

Is there a word for the shadow of a passing cloud

I didn't think my antihistamine medication was doing much for my spring allergies but then I missed a dose and my face swelled up. So there's that.

It's exciting, isn't it? I didn't expect them to fit together and inform each other so well, one calling to the other.

The first question, the first Neutral, announced subject of the course, is the difference that separates the will-to-live from the will-to-possess: the will-to-live being then recognized as what transcends the will-to-possess, as the drifting far from arrogance: I leave the will-to-possess, I move in the will-to-live.

This flows back so beautifully to some of Barthes' thoughts in The Neutral. #AContinuation

A theme running through Campo's essays is the will-not-to-possess: 'One must be light, must be one with a light heart and light hands, to hold and take, to hold and let go. Life punishes those who are not so, and God shows them no mercy.' (260) #NYRBWomen26

I had much the same experience. I'm still a little shocked I liked it so much! oh yes, the reviews for it were terrible.

and grows. I'd recommend that one. Aside from being a good touchstone, it's among her finest and most polished work.

I haven't read Le piccole virtú yet but I've heard it's excellent. How fun you picked up a copy in Italy! I started Ginzburg with The City and the House. It's her final novel and it's been a great touchstone when reading anything by else by her. It's such a pleasure to see how a fine writer changes

I watched this a few months and enjoyed this oddball film much more than I thought I would as I love the novel it's based on.

But Gemmina said, "No one takes nurse away from me. Nurse stays with me and anyone who interferes with her can look out for himself." Gemmina is tall and thin. Her peroxide hair is cut short. Her face is long and narrow, all chin. Her complexion is mottled. An old rash she had once has left livid marks. In the winter she wears a Casentino overcoat, a beret of

shaggy fur, and skiing trousers. She is always busy and runs backwards and forwards on her motor scooter from Castello to Cignano, and from Cignano to Castello. She has started a hospital at Castello and an arts and crafts shop at Cignano. In the window are displayed knitted slippers, boxes of inlaid wood and pictures of Alpine subjects.

There's been a few odd moments when Wes Anderson's film style suddenly overlaps with Ginzburg's writing. Surely he's read her.

Things not possessed and not coveted, things that--pure mirrors and echoes--allude to other things, are intoxicating.

Cristina Campo, The Unforgiveable (transl. Alex Andriesse) #NYRBWomen26 (112)

And now it’s raining while the sun shines. A fox’s wedding in spring.