Love and Other Stories

A book review, some more books, and love

Books - Can You Ever Have Too Many?

Somehow, in my Covid-muddled state, I’ve managed to read a book. When my head wasn’t hurting I picked up Love Stories by Trent Dalton, a book gifted to me by my sister. By page 28 my face was wet from crying. Good tears!

The idea of sitting down on a street corner, mid-pandemic, collecting love stories from strangers, was something I had actually thought about. I had this flash of feeling back in 2020 that the world needed love. I’d been reading some Humans of New York stories and my thoughts went from there. Imagine my pleasure when I heard about Dalton’s book?!

I’m not actually sure a project like this would work in the Nordic region. People have a reluctance to even acknowledge strangers, let alone tell them personal stories. But Trent Dalton actually did it. He found the perfect spot, on the corner of Adelaide and Albert Streets in Brisbane. And people came and shared. And I’m so glad they did. Because the world needs love.

It’s sometimes really difficult to see past the tragedy and heartbreak that enters our lives on a daily basis. As I headed to Australia on the first day of March, the war had broken out in Ukraine. The joy of knowing I would be seeing my family after twenty-six long months was shadowed by the knowledge that our plane would need to take a slightly different route, avoiding flying over Ukraine as it normally would on the way to Dubai. I tried not to read the news because I felt like it would crush me a little bit. I felt like I needed to protect myself from these terrible things that I had no control over.

I needed to focus on love.

And that is exactly what Dalton has done in this book - he’s focusing on love in all its forms. Self-love, interpersonal love, the love between friends, family love, parental love, unconditional love. He also shines a light on those things in love’s shadow - self-loathing, depression, racism, homophobia, institutional abuse. Those aspects of life that can crush us, are humanity’s shame. Anti-love, if you like.

Brené Brown’s fabulous book, Atlas of the Heart, describes love as “an emotion we’re capable of feeling in many different contexts - from intimate partner relationships and family bonds to friends and pets.” Love is something we nurture, a connection. For love to blossom, we need trust, respect, kindness and affection. To show vulnerability. The people Dalton met on the street really opened up to him. He gave people a chance to be seen and heard, to share intimate details of their lives - to a man who sat on a street corner with an Olivetti typewriter and a sign “Sentimental Writer Collecting Love Stories.”

So the tears I shed were tears of love. Or relief. Of knowing there is kindness and compassion out there. Tears for the couples who had been together for over 50 years and still had love in their eyes for each other. Tears for newborn babies, parents cradling them in arms full of love and eyes brimming with love. Tears for those people who have lost love but still believe that love exists, despite betrayal and pain. Tears for those grieving loved ones. Tears for the friends who love each other fiercely, over time, trouble, tea, and tears of their own.

If you do happen to pick up this book, expect a wet face and a full heart.

Stay Well,

Lisa x

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Other Things:

Reading:

My next read is How We Love by Clementine Ford - I’m sticking with the love theme! I read her book, Fight Like a Girl a few years ago and loved it. She is passionate, caring, and fierce. But essentially she is fuelled by love so I’m looking forward to this book.

I’ve nearly finished Jane Eyre’s Sisters by Jody Gentian Bower. It’s insightful and interesting, particularly as I have a particular interest and focus on women’s literature. I’m enjoying her take on Aletis, the heroine, far more than Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey.

I’m re-reading Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta because I’m writing a reading guide for it. It’s mind-blowing! It’s actually the third time I’m reading it - and one of the times I listened to the audiobook which is well worth it because it’s Tyson who reads it and he’s good for a yarn.

I read The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey and really enjoyed it. Whilst it’s easy to read the themes are complex - parental relationships, guilt and denial. Her descriptions of places and spaces are wonderful, the book is a worthy recipient of the 2021 Miles Franklin Award. I also managed to read The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley - it was given to me by a friend to borrow as it’s not something I would have picked up myself. It was okay - perhaps a good holiday read.

Viewing:

Atlas of the Heart is also a 5-part series on HBO Max and other streaming services. There are some clips from it here. I think it will be essential viewing (as the book is essential reading).

I’ve watched the Netflix miniseries Anatomy of a Scandal. It’s based on a book by British journalist Sarah Vaughn, exploring issues of sexual assault and rape, privilege and class, consent and boundaries. What surprised me when I Googled the series is there are several articles explaining the ending. I’m not sure why that’s really necessary but perhaps the greater viewing audience like things all neatly tied up - which we all know is not really like life. Is it perfect? No. But it is interesting and I think it’s worth watching.

I feel like I’ve watched every amazing British crime drama ever made and am on the search for another good series. Recommendations, please! In the comments or reply to this email.

Listening:

I haven’t been listening to podcasts but the band I sing in is collecting one-hit-wonders for potentials to play. We have songs on our list like 99 Luftballons, My Sharona, and Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl. If you have any great suggestions from the 1970s, 80s or 90s, please let me know.