The Notebook — Newsletter #4

The Poem: The Hill We Climb — Amanda Gorman

"For there is always light, if only we are we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

Amanda Gorman blew the world away with her beautiful, uplifting and soul-stirring reading of her poem The Hill We Climb at President Joe Biden's inauguration on 20th January. A collection of her poetry was due to be published later this year, but since her rendition — her publishers — Penguin Random House have set to printing a special edition with a foreword from Oprah, to be released in April. As the youngest National Youth Poet Laureate, Gorman is already set to reach dazzling heights, shining hope and promise on the world through the power of her written word.

Watch her mesmerising performance here.

Read:

A while away yet, but some reading material I cannot wait for — Sally Rooney's next novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Stanley Tucci's memoir: Taste, My Life Through Food. Both to be published in the autumn, as if that part of the year could get any better!

Living with a Visionary written by Professor John Matthias — this is breath-taking and beautiful and sad. But wonderful. A long read for The New Yorker about the deterioration of his wife's health and the story of their lives together and during her illness. Read here.

Listen:

To the incredible Clemency Burton-Hill on Woman's Hour in her first interview since her brain haemorrhage. A remarkable story of hope, recovery and love. Listen here.

I really enjoyed listening to Camille Charrière on Olivia Petter's podcast Millennial Love on falling in love in your 30s, following a piece she wrote for Harper's a couple of months ago. The pair examine the difference between love in your 20s and 30s, losing friends when you get into a relationship and the complex art of compromise. Listen here.

Watch:

Obama setting the record straight on Jimmy Fallon — watch here.

We watched The Dig on Netflix last week, the film based on the historical novel by John Preston, exploring the true story of the discovery and excavation of Sutton Hoo. Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan were sublime, as was newcomer Archie Barnes as Mulligan's son. There has been criticism of the historical accuracy in the casting, as well as the romance between Lily James and Johnny Flynn, but I'd argue this is a case of never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Well worth a watch. Full review will be up on the website shortly.

Have just finished Giri Haji which was excellent — albeit at moments, slightly far fetched — the script is great and the characters are brilliant and I want to jump on the next plane to Tokyo as soon as I can. Watch here and keep eyes peeled for review in full incoming.

Next on my watchlist is Russell T Davies' It's A Sin — just need to emotionally prepare myself for approx. 225 minutes worth of tears.