Lots has changed since Rae Earl wrote her personal diary in the 1980s, which she later converted into the bestselling book My Mad Fat Diary, but the basic pains of transition from teenager to grownup remain the same – and books help us find the way through itWhen my nan used to tell me about growing up without television and Radio 1, I used to look at her with wide-eyed fascination, and pity. What did she do when EastEnders wasn’t on? What was life like before Elvis? How did you even meet boys?! I didn’t dare ask her as she was Edwardian; conversation was restricted to the weather, how good Jesus was, and cakes. We didn’t talk about snogging. Sex wasn’t legalised in Britain until she was in her late 50s. All I knew was that she grew up in a different time. How could she possibly relate to what I was going through as a 14-year-old?Then one Saturday afternoon, towards the end of her life, she told me about the pain of unrequited love. She spoke with such longing and emotion, that it will stay with me forever. It came totally leftfield - during Grandstand. I can’t remember how we got onto it… perhaps Des Lynam reminded her of her lost love. It didn’t matter. The man of her dreams was older than her - and in love with someone else. Her sweet tale of a crush in 1915 still had power 70 years on. Some emotions and rites of passage are timeless. They transcend any generation. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
When Sandra Cisneros stepped onto the main stage at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on Saturday afternoon, she greeted the audience in Spanish first, with a microphone in one hand and a violet hand fan in the other. “Gracias a todos! Bienvenidos!” For the monolingual, she translated it to:... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Lots has changed since Rae Earl wrote her personal diary in the 1980s, which she later converted into the bestselling book My Mad Fat Diary, but the basic pains of transition from teenager to grownup remain the same – and books help us find the way through itWhen my nan used to tell me about... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this