Thoughttree are delighted to announce that they are working with York Adult Education to offer a new course in Creative Writing, led by Ali. www.thoughttree.co.uk for more details and how to book.
www.yortime.org.uk
01904 552806
email: york.learning@york.gov.uk
Thursday 28 January 2016
The Loney. So nearly great.
Congratulations to #TheLoney for being almost the Costa Winner this week - loved this book - most of the way through. #Hurley creates a world full of threat and foreboding; we are kept delightfully - and in most sinister fashion - on the edge of our readerly seats.
How does he do it? The page eggers are the sense of menace personified; look at the language as they arrive: 'crawled'; 'nightmare'; 'grotesque'; 'savage'. They are so effective because the the threat they bring with them is never quite realised - and this is important in Gothic writing where the thrill lies in terror, not horror. More of that in a moment!
This novel has echoes of Fay Weldon's Puffball. But Weldon (arguably true ruler of domestic Gothic) achieved something that Hurley has not: she stepped back from an overwritten ending to leave us with a sense of delicious wonder that the ordinary can appear so menacing/sinister. The Loney descends into farcical horror: the sacrificial baby? With 'shrivelled yellow face' and 'mangled claw'? Really? Horror, not terror.
And the miraculous recovery of Hanny? Oh please.
Its reductive, and a shame. So nearly great!
How does he do it? The page eggers are the sense of menace personified; look at the language as they arrive: 'crawled'; 'nightmare'; 'grotesque'; 'savage'. They are so effective because the the threat they bring with them is never quite realised - and this is important in Gothic writing where the thrill lies in terror, not horror. More of that in a moment!
This novel has echoes of Fay Weldon's Puffball. But Weldon (arguably true ruler of domestic Gothic) achieved something that Hurley has not: she stepped back from an overwritten ending to leave us with a sense of delicious wonder that the ordinary can appear so menacing/sinister. The Loney descends into farcical horror: the sacrificial baby? With 'shrivelled yellow face' and 'mangled claw'? Really? Horror, not terror.
And the miraculous recovery of Hanny? Oh please.
Its reductive, and a shame. So nearly great!
Thursday 21 January 2016
creme egg on the face!
Greetings bloggers all - glad to report that we are coming up to speed for the New Year (yes I know it's almost February!)
Important things first - hot topic: tried the first Cadbury's #Creme Egg of the season today. Result: horrid. You have cheapened the chocolate, Cadbury! First and last Creme Egg for me and definitely a case of egg on the face for Cadbury.
Creme Egg, anyone? No thanks.
Important things first - hot topic: tried the first Cadbury's #Creme Egg of the season today. Result: horrid. You have cheapened the chocolate, Cadbury! First and last Creme Egg for me and definitely a case of egg on the face for Cadbury.
Creme Egg, anyone? No thanks.
Wednesday 6 January 2016
Happy New year from Thoughttree!
Greetings from Thoughttree!
The festive season is behind us - the last chocolate sneaked from the box, decorations packed away, a trail of pine needles leading to a naked tree, lying prostrate on the damp patio...
Time for New Year's resolutions!
We're hoping that yours includes enjoying more Thoughttree Creative Writing Workshops in 2016!
Watch this space for the next session, coming soon.
And it's not too late to enter our Flash Fiction competition - title: Snow Globe. Word limit: 150. (Sounds easy, eh?)
Deadline: this Friday (8th Jan). Submit on-line. Winning story will be featured on our website and read on West Wolds Radio, the creative writers' radio station.
Best wishes
Deb and Ali
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)