A Reading Life, A Writing Life, with Sally Bayley

The podcast discusses T.S. Eliot's 'Burnt Norton' and the speaker's preparation for a performance at the Oxford Chamber Music Festival. They reflect on childhood memories, the influence of the speaker's mother, and the concept of home. The podcast also explores the themes of hidden music, pale pink roses, and lost and found purses.

In this podcast, Sally Bayley tells a cautionary tale of a frog in pursuit of acclaim and discusses finding inspiration in unexpected places. She reflects on the importance of privacy for writers and the need to write for oneself rather than seeking fame. The speaker also shares a personal experience of finding solace in nature and expresses gratitude to the listeners.

The podcast explores the use of visual references in writing, with a focus on a painting of a farrier. The speaker reflects on the role of writers as ghostly observers and the importance of silence in a noisy world.

Sally is reading A Field Guide to Reality, the debut novel by the Granta Best of Young British author Joanna Kavenna, originally published in 2016 and set in a surreal, quantum alternative Oxford University.  Sally will be in conversation with Joanna Kavenna and fellow writer Elizabeth Lowry at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford, from 6pm on September 5th. They will discuss many of the themes of the podcast; reading, writing and the intersection with life and living - and it's free to attend! More details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/s-bayley-e-lowry-and-j-kavenna-a-reading-life-a-writing-life-tickets-688044298017 You can find out more about Joanna's writings here: http://www.joannakavenna.com/ And Elizabeth Lowry here: https://elizabethlowry.co.uk/          

Starting a new book is like starting a new relationship, and Sally is reading Elizabeth Lowry's The Chosen, a ghost story and a love story about Thomas Hardy and his estranged wife.  Sally will be in conversation with Elizabeth Lowry and fellow writer Joanna Kavenna at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford, from 6pm on September 5th. They will discuss many of the themes of the podcast; reading, writing and the intersection with life and living - and it's free to attend! More details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/s-bayley-e-lowry-and-j-kavenna-a-reading-life-a-writing-life-tickets-688044298017 Elizabeth Lowry's The Chosen has been shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. You can find out more here: https://elizabethlowry.co.uk/ You can find out about Joanna Kavenna, who is also appearing in the event, here: http://www.joannakavenna.com/        

The podcast explores the life and works of writer W.G. Sebald, discussing his writing style and use of photographs. They also discuss reading and writing approaches, the impact of books on readers, and the issue of dumbing down in education.

Just a short announcement by Sally about an exciting event coming up - recorded with the help of Magnificent Maeve Magnus.

Reflections on the isolation and longing of a neighbor who lived upstairs, contrasting experiences of being seen or unseen in life, exploring the mysterious nature of Mrs Robinson and her love and presence.

Sally Bayley launches her new book, feeling the pressure while her neighbors are away. She finds solace in reading Robinson Crusoe and relates to its psychological ups and downs. Sally reflects on the importance of willpower, determination, and paying attention. The podcast also explores the isolation experienced by writers and compares it to the solitude of Robinson Crusoe. The power of journaling and the impact of writing on mental health are discussed.

Something different for this episode - Sally interviews writer Will Self about his latest book of essays, Why Read. They discuss not just why we read, but how we read; digital reading versus physical books; and Will discusses the writers who had a formative effect on him, including Lewis Carroll, Franz Kafka and W.G. Sebald. The event took place at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford. Our thanks to Will and to Blackwell's. You can find out more about Will Self's book here: https://will-self.com/why-read/