What fiction or autobiographies are people here currently reading?

Hi again

Ive just read your profile and there are some things we share, some not. So I was diagnosed late, aged 64, but Im female, married to a woman I met in an animal sanctuary, we have not long ago had our first anniversary.

I cared for my mum following early retirement from a large city local authority, Id ended up in finance but had started there as a library assistant. I moved in with her when she was still relatively well and we had a lovely couple of years, later though it became extremely hard, she had Alzheimer’s mixed with vascular dementia. As time progressed and I slowly lost her she became unpredictable and very hard to manage. Fortunately I had a good CPN who had previously worked in dementia care, plus social services were quick to help when they could see I was physically and mentally broken. The I put her in residential care was among the worst of my life. Mum owned her house so had to pay for all care costs, we had up a lasting power of attorney prior so I was able to manage her money without interference from the office of the public guardian (I think thats what the body is called). 

On a lighter note I see you enjoy science fiction, me too. In the 70s I was devouring the cheap paperbacks by Asimov, Pohl, Simak, Van Vogt, E E Doc Smith etc. Eventually I re-read the entire Asimov future history in its correct order. Of more recent scifi authors I was most impressed by Iain M Banks. Now though Im concentrating on the interwar poets, novelists, economists, essayists, artists etc, trying understand in depth the road to WW2 through the lens of culture and the arts in their broadest sense. 

Who is publishing your book and you tell us anything about it? 

Its cooler today and Im very grateful for that

Alice

Hi Alice,

I’m really sorry you went through such a difficult time with your mum. Dementia can be incredibly hard to navigate, especially when it reaches that stage. It sounds like you did everything you could with the support you had.

You mentioned reading poetry. I haven’t explored it as much as I’d like, aside from some Wordsworth and Keats, and even a slightly tongue-in-cheek nod to Pam Ayres, but I’d really be interested to hear what draws you to the poetry or fiction you enjoy most.

I do tend to return to certain novels, mostly sci-fi. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Do you have a comfort read you go back to?

As for my own writing, it’s still in editing, and I haven’t approached a publisher yet. I’m considering author-friendly houses like BenBella, and if that doesn’t work out, self-publishing is always an option. My book explores themes of identity, personal freedom, and complex relationships, with a focus on emotional intimacy and character-driven storytelling. I’ve had encouraging feedback from beta readers about the emotional depth and natural dialogue.

I’m autistic, and I’ve been told it shapes how I observe and build realistic characters, almost like noticing layers in interaction and behaviour that others might not immediately pick up on.

One beta reader described it as: “A fearless exploration of identity and human relationships, blending emotional depth with sharp wit and natural dialogue.”

Coming back to poetry, I do have a soft spot for Kipling’s “If”, I once heard a powerful reading by Michael Caine, and also Yeats’ “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.” What about you?

Thanks for your kind words about my mum, much appreciated 

Poetry has been part of my life since childhood, both writing and reading..I wouldn’t say I have one particular favourite poet but I do get somewhat fixated on a poet and their satellites reading until Ive exhausted their output (or I get bored of them), the focus which changes periodically. I had a huge Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath phase, Im fascinated by things Bloomsbury Group, and now as I mentioned it’s predominantly the writers of the inter war years. eg: Christopher Isherwood, Stephen Spender, Auden and Eliot. Though with these writers being predominantly on the left politically Im now reading poets from the right of that time to gain balance, Ezra Pound especially. 

What draws me primarily to a poem are the sounds/music it creates in my mind. At school I couldn’t grasp the meanings in Shakespeare but from the off I adored his rhythms, pure and perfect music. 

Your book sounds interesting, good luck with it . 

My favourite piece of Yeats is his “The Second Coming”. Not any religious aspect of it but the way it pre echoes WW2, “Things apart, the centre cannot hold, … anarchy is loosed on the world … “ I had an unhealthy spell where I was utterly convinced that the darkness always wins and this was an anthem for me at that time. Fortunately Ive seen that this isn’t the case in my personal life, although scientifically darkness is where light always ends (check out entropy (delving my A level physics here)).

Thanks for your kind words about my mum, much appreciated 

Poetry has been part of my life since childhood, both writing and reading..I wouldn’t say I have one particular favourite poet but I do get somewhat fixated on a poet and their satellites reading until Ive exhausted their output (or I get bored of them), the focus which changes periodically. I had a huge Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath phase, Im fascinated by things Bloomsbury Group, and now as I mentioned it’s predominantly the writers of the inter war years. eg: Christopher Isherwood, Stephen Spender, Auden and Eliot. Though with these writers being predominantly on the left politically Im now reading poets from the right of that time to gain balance, Ezra Pound especially. 

What draws me primarily to a poem are the sounds/music it creates in my mind. At school I couldn’t grasp the meanings in Shakespeare but from the off I adored his rhythms, pure and perfect music. 

Your book sounds interesting, good luck with it . 

My favourite piece of Yeats is his “The Second Coming”. Not any religious aspect of it but the way it pre echoes WW2, “Things apart, the centre cannot hold, … anarchy is loosed on the world … “ I had an unhealthy spell where I was utterly convinced that the darkness always wins and this was an anthem for me at that time. Fortunately Ive seen that this isn’t the case in my personal life, although scientifically darkness is where light always ends (check out entropy (delving my A level physics here)).