The Bricks That Built the Houses

Last night I finished watching Stranger Things, which I liked a lot. 

I also finished reading The Bricks That Built the Houses by Kate Tempest. It's about a group of twenty-somethings living in South London: aspiring dancer Becky, drug dealer Harry, and bitter, unemployed Pete, managing dead-end jobs, violent rivals, jealous partners and complex family and friendships as they try to escape their dull lives. An acclaimed poet, playwright and rapper, Kate Tempest writes beautiful and powerful prose, and this is a powerful, passionate and relevant novel. If you ever get the chance to see her live, go for it, because she is brilliant. I reviewed the book here:http://permanentlyweird.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-bricks-that-built-houses-by-kate.html

Kate Tempest

Last night I saw the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, which chronicles a year of Studio Ghibli while Hayao Miyazaki worked on The Wind Rises and his "friendly rival" Isao Takahata worked on The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. It's sometimes funny, sometimes funny and a fascinating take on animation and the creative process, as well as an account of the making of two masterpieces.

I went out today and bought a book called Funny Stories for Five Year Olds for my nephew's birthday present and a card.

Later on I went to the Edinburgh Book Festival to see poet, playwright, rapper and novelist Kate Tempest talk about her new novel The Bricks That Built the Houses. It was really a great show, completely sold out. She read poetry and spoke about the healing power of art. She would get extremely animated while speaking and reading, and visibly tired herself out at times. 

After the show I bought her book and got it signed: