In 2008 my lovely SIL gave me a beautiful box of twelve little note books. I was known for always carrying a notebook and they had become known as SallyBooks. I am coming to the end of the set having just started no 11.
I was looking at the first book today and the first notes I was taking were at a book event, Readers’ Day at Falmouth University, where Marina Lewycka was talking about her first novel, “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian,” recently serialised on BBC Radio 4. I was reminded by my detailed notes, of her warmth and easy discussion style while talking with Mac Dunlop, and was sorry to hear that she had died yesterday. I also made notes of some of her comments – “Humour is the gift that lifts you out of the sh!t. It enables us to keep our humanity.” We need to remember that in these difficult times.
I’ve shared poems by the American poet, Billy Collins before and here’s another for you, taken from his collection, Questions About Angels.. I just love the ‘glass bottomed boats.’
utesmile
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 pm
What wonderful notebooks and great to re- read them. 🙂
mybeautfulthings
November 17, 2025 at 10:26 pm
They are fun to dip into now and again and be reminded of things.I always took detailed notes, there are itineraries and everything I packed for a holiday, what I was reading and menu plans! 🙂
nrhatch
November 15, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Sally Books . . . what detailed observations must lie within!
mybeautfulthings
November 16, 2025 at 11:50 am
Oh, they do! 🙂
snoakes7001
November 14, 2025 at 11:23 pm
I hadn’t heard about Marina Lewycka – how sad. I loved her books.
mybeautfulthings
November 21, 2025 at 9:47 pm
I loved Tractors but haven’t read others. Perhaps I should add them to my pile of ‘to be reads.’