Be Curious #14 - 21 August 2025
Re-emergence
Welcome to Be Curious, a newsletter where I consider the books I have read, the life I lead and the world I live in. I am so pleased you are here.
It has now been two months since I wrote this newsletter. I have been both busy and not busy during that time, but mainly I have not written anything because I have been cocooning in our new city, our new home and allowing myself to slow right down.
We are loving our new home, a three storey townhouse where we have painted our living room with a Highland Green feature wall, our bedroom a dar dusky pink and my library a dark purple. The shelves are a dark Magic Forect green with fairy lights and colour is added through furnishing and books.
This space is now where I feel safest, happiest and most myself.
I have, in amongst the moving and unpacking and a bout with Influenza A, been reading.
What I have been reading:
A DIFFERENT KIND OF POWER by Jacinda Ardern
I have to say this from the top: I am a big Jacinda Ardern fan.
THE YEAR I MET MY BRAIN by Matilda Boseley
I was recently, at 47 years of age, diagnosed with ADHD. The diagnosis has not really come as a surprise - I think I have known this about myself for a couple of years, as I have become more aware of…
EMILY OF NEW MOON by L.M. Montgomery
I have to commence this review with what I consider a bizarre confession (if you know me, you’ll appreciate this): I had never read Emily of New Moon until now, despite being a devotee of the Anne of…
REAL ONES by katherena vermette
Real Ones is the latest novel of Canadian Metis author katherena vermette, whose wonderful Strangers trilogy has been one of my favourites in recent years. While not part of the trilogy, this new boo…
And I have another review coming (tomorrow).
What I have been watching:
Earlier this week I watched the Netflix adaptation of My Oxford Year. I’ve seen it get pretty mixed reviews and while I would not call it life changing, I thought it was good. I quite like actor Corey Mylchreest, I think his work on Queen Charlotte is wonderful - he shows real complexity as King George.
I have watched the first episode of Season 2 of Wednesday but I think, with such a gap since Season 1, I need to rewatch that before going further. I absolutely LOVED season 1 and Jenna Ortega, so this is something I’ll do over the next couple of weeks.
What comes next?
I am headed overseas on 8 September for two months in Canada. I am looking forward to returning to my favourite Canadian bookstore, Bookmark.
I am also looking forward to the inaugural Cavendish Literary Festival, the AFL Atlantic Canada Finals and the PEI Fibre Festival.
I’m also looking forward to seeing Mumford and Sons in Montreal!
On return, I’ll be commencing my job search or, if that comes to nothing, returning to some part time study. I do battle a little with the lack of routine and dignity of work, but I also recognised my need for rest, after some crazy years.
I am still largely absent from social media - life is much nicer offline. I continue to be dumbfounded by the actions of some international governments and, sometimes, the response of my own. I just hope that somehow the world can survive this period without catastrophic loss of life and irrepreable damage. As ever, I look to the young people around the world and marvel at their capacity to call out the rot - my positivity is rooted in their progressive ideals and refusal to buy into right-wing conspiracies, genocide and cruelty to fellow humans. The kids really are alright.
I look forward to sharing the next few months with you.
Thankyou for your patience and kindness as I have quietened my online presence, my mind and my world. I’m not far away from re-emergence.
Love,
