Archive for May 2016

Thumbs Up!

Really people, you are spoiling us with these great stories ( please don't stop!)  Yes, it was another good night at Willesden Green, and yes, Judith did read out.  

We started with Maithreyi and a piece featuring the mysterious cousin G.  Again, her piece took us on a magical mystery tour; just why did cousin G turn up to stay every May and fill the house with his pungent aftershave and tobacco fumes?  And why after so many years, did he suddenly decide to treat his hosts to a week in Istanbul (such beautiful descriptions of Istanbul I wanted to book my ticket straight away).  Uncle G is always disappearing and re-appearing without warning - then he is spotted in ernest discussions with a man in a shop selling ak 47s. I have a feeling that uncle G won't be welcome to stay next year.

I must say Judith's writing was well worth waiting for - a fabulous introduction to the group that featured a hopeless drunk musing about a longed for cup of tea, speculations about ice and the spaces inbetween it oh, and not one, but two off licences.  Which off licence really has his heart?  It was a brilliant piece that earned comparisons with Samuel Beckett no less.  I absolutely loved it and can't wait to hear more.

Alistair was our newbie of the night and came with an impressive resume and a YA story set in a London that is a slightly different London to the one you and I know.  I hope he comes back as I want to know where this story is going to take us and exactly what is, 'down there.'

Sajidah is still heroically trying to get that difficult first chapter sorted, I do feel for her, it's agony searching for the right way to introduce your story, especially such a complex one. Have faith Sajidah, you will get there!

Another person who almost failed to 'get there' was Marsha who only had time to read her poem and get a thumbs up or down on it as we were leaving at the evening's end (we do have to finish at 8pm folks as we don't want to get locked in the library) I think there were more thumbs pointing up than down...

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Mystic cooking incantations

Well, that was a very interesting evening!  Three new people came and it's always exciting to see new faces around the table, you just can't tell by looking at them what sort of tales they are about to unleash on the group.

So, first newbie up was Maithreyi who gave us a tale set in Bristol, a brilliant cook married to a brilliant musician, what an earth could go wrong?  Quite a lot as it happens.  Such tension at the start of the story and such beautiful descriptions of food, I could smell the curry cooking ( and I also learnt how to pronounce asafoetida...)  We certainly look forward to hearing more from Maithreyi...

Next newbie up was Sita.  It's not often you hear a poem that's unlike any that you've heard read out at the group before, and boy, was this one a stunner!  Part poem, part incantation, rhythmic gymnastics sparking throughout, I think it's fair to say the room was gobsmacked by this poem.  What a wonderful introduction to the group read by a very nervous Sita.  What she was nervous about I have no idea, her work is fabulous!

Then Sajidah read the next section of her mystic journey in which her protagonist learns something very surprising about his family history.  Where will this news take him I wonder?

So we were just rounding off a very lively and interesting evening when in came Marsha.  Oh dear Marsha, if you leave it until 7.30 to arrive, then I'm afraid you are not guaranteed a place to read, but we certainly look forward to hearing your piece next meeting on the 19th.

So, eight people at the group, and six of them joined us down the pub afterwards, what a good evening and we still have to hear newbie Judith read out - perhaps next time?

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