Peter LEYLAND

I remember listening to her The Battle of the Villa Fiorita on the radio some years ago. A haunting story as I remember.

My Life in Libraries, is published today on AuthorsElectric.blogspot.com

Paperbacks to Look Out For in August 2025: Part One - A life in books Book reviews, snippets of book news, and alerts about books outside the glare of the publicity spotlight.

Paperbacks to Look Out For in August 2025: Part One alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/07/pape...

Interesting Jacqui, so have I. I used my AuthorsElectric blog column to write, Mum and Dad, Their War Remembered to mark a time of their lives 80 years ago.

Great review Jacqui. I loved her autobiographical novel, Franky and Stankey which is a must read, and will make a note of this one.

A fascinating account of the publication of Sylvia Plath’s Ariel sixty years ago by Erica Wagner in today’s Observer. I was very much reminded of my first Arvon poetry course at Lumb Bank in Yorkshire where Ted Hughes lived.

Playwright Connor McPherson discusses his work with Dorian Lynskey in today’s Observer. I have great memories of watching Girl From the North Country, his Bob Dylan musical, a few years back.

@jacquiwine.bsky.social

Excellent piece on Deborah Levy by Erica Wagner in today’s Observer. Mentions Swimming Home, Hot Milk (recently filmed) and The Cost of Living, all great favourites of mine. Next up is August Blue.

We had a food tour today, walking between restaurants, and are now relaxing with cocktails.

A view of Bergamo, Italy, where I am

Contemplation in Bergamo, Italy

Contemplative now in a church in Bergamo, Italy

‘The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream’, Wallace Stevens (I think).

Watching Guy Martin’s programme tonight about visiting Vietnam reminded me of our trip there in 2023 for my nephew’s wedding to Linh.

Authors Electric Publishing in the digital age - great writing, great reading, great craic.

A Chain Reaction on AuthorsElectric.blogspot.com is my monthly blog about reading books

Thanks, I’ll look out for that

Mrs Dalloway. I think you will like that.

That is an excellent book. Just reading Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

"I need to wander in the field of aloneness and learn to enjoy it, and when loneliness bites, take out a map and find my way out without panic, without jumping to the existential nothingness of the world . . . "

- Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

A Chain Reaction is now posted by peterleyland@authorselectric.com

Love this Canadian lady so much 🤣 but absolutely no apology needed….glad Canada did what they had to do in their election

A Patch of Sunlight

Thanks for posting this. I have engaged further with the idea since writing it and have amassed a number of articles in its support.

We should take the opportunity of Pope Francis’s death to make a symbolic bid for World Peace.

Like life, perhaps…

A Complete Unknown just blew my mind, as good as everybody said it was…

Thanks Paul. Yes it was, highly recommended.

The Lonely Londoners

Seventy-five years by Peter LEYLAND on AuthorsElectric.blogspot.com

6% is a cut too far - Protect Adult Learning It’s no secret that after decades of cuts, adult learning remains woefully underfunded whilst continuing to deliver impressive outcomes not just in skills but for health and wellbeing, work progressio...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/6-...