Alison

Really enjoyed this episode. Do you think that DWJ was influenced in her creation of Hexwood by Robert Holdstock’s cult 1984 novel Mythago Wood?

It’s the bit in Grey King where Bran and Will go inside the mountain and have to answer three riddles.

Susan Cooper references these birds- in The Grey King I think.

Or indeed their magazine which I get and I fear goes straight into recycling. I’m actually a member! Bring on the world domination!

Actually these days it’s always Radio 3 .

Yes I’ve just googled Groyper and really wish I hadn’t.

Yes , they would have to watch out for her attitude to Dr Lydgate who is obviously far too idealistic and probably a communist.

Fantastic. Absolutely loved this book and felt it hadn’t had the attention it deserves.

Looking for Atlantis by Colin Thompson?

I agree. I thought the Holocaust storyline was well done but didn’t believe in the love story.

Yes , the book has more depth to it. Amusing how Robert
Harris has become the go to commentator over the last few days.

Yes. And read the book.

I have to say the whole thing is an amazing spectacle.

Has spent much of his life in Peru apparently. Speaks several languages.

The latest is an attack on the evils of baby food pouches. Sure, don’t feed your baby only on these, but really this is just one more way of making parents (mothers) feel guilty.

Can you do AA Milne? The legion of saccharine quotes attributed to him drive me crazy.

😱

It does make you grateful not to be living in the 11th century though. Despite everything being so awful at the moment.

Love the Merlin app. I find it does eventually pick up a pigeon but it seems to take a bit longer.

See also The Shield of Achilles

Great poem.

Just about the only children’s books I wouldn’t have in the house when mine were that age. Twee, wordy and generally unbearable.

So very sorry to hear this. Your account of what it’s like to learn that your child has severe disabilities really strikes a chord. A huge loss for you all.

The girl’s head is weirdly positioned though. Almost as if it was about to do a 360 degree turn as in The Exorcist. Which may be why the woman on the left is looking at her so apprehensively.

Kind of reassuring that the old English had a word for this and experienced it just as we do.

It’s Jana in my book version. I think the Lady connects with Jane because all the other participants are male. It’s an earth goddess thing. Maiden mother crone?

I think it’s their femaleness. I believe Jana is an earth goddess in a pre- Roman culture.

I actually tend to dislike books in which a dog or cat is introduced just to get horribly killed but in TGK it is an essential plot point.

The Grey King is the darkest in the sequence I think and not just because of the dog.