If you want a good writer’s retreat, with excellent teaching, consider an Arvon retreat, pricey but worth it. Consider going to ‘The Hurst’. Better still, consider one with Stephen May or Mavis Cheek as tutors. Even better still, go with the amazing group that went in June 2015 … oh, sorry, you can’t. I was fortunate enough to go. Great tutors, great writers. I learnt masses, and we are going to have a re-union in July!
Also I discovered two books. One written by one of the tutors, and one recommended by one of the other writers. I’m breaking my rule about Christian Fiction here, because one is non-Christian fiction, and the other is Christian non-fiction. But they are both good, and they seem to go – oddly enough – together: they share a style of writing: sharp, witty, full of insights and a delight to read.
Wake up happy every day, by Stephen May‘Wake up happy every day’ has an intriguing premise. Nick discovers that his mate, Russell, is both immensely rich and dead, and decides, for his daughter’s sake, to steal his identity. The consequences ramify throughout several interweaved storylines.
The writing is fast-paced and gutsy; explicit at times, but always entertaining. The characters are strong, interesting and sympathetic, even the bad ones. It’s a complex story, but a page-turner without a dull, waffly or boring moment, and laced throughout with ironic insights, sharp prose and some great funny moments: when one character is breathalysed, or when the identity of the old lady in grubby pink joggers is revealed. Some unexpected twists, and some moving, tender moments. The daughter, Scarlett, is vulnerable, broken and gorgeous, and she was the character that I cared most about.
The core of the story is: does money really make you happy? There is no easy, pat answer, no neat ending, just a feeling that love, family and friendship are what matter – but money helps! It is one of those books that broadens one’s understanding and experience of life, while being hugely fun to read.
Unapologetic, by Frances SpuffordFrances doesn’t pull his punches. His opening chapter is a brilliant, breath-taking look at why being a Christian is so embarrassing. He continues to look, with wit and pungency, at why, despite this, Christianity is satisfying. Along the way, he covers the ‘problem of pain’, the role of Mozart in his conversion, why ‘HPtFtU is a better concept than ‘sin’, how and why the history of Christianity is so mixed with good and bad. And there are some comments on the ‘atheist bus’ and on ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon which are gold dust!
The core of the book is: is Christianity emotionally satisfying? It is a book that I read and read again for encouragement and fun – a bit like Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton – the last page lifts me and gives me hope.
And this is a picture of ‘The Hurst’….
