Comments for Joanne Leonard

Comment on Story is King – Bobette Buster breaks it down by Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:50:49 +0000

Yes, you’re right. At the heart of it is a desire for connection, and an emotional connection is so powerful because emotions are so hard to verbalise.

I haven’t been to Hay for a few years. It is great, but it is, of course, raining and raining and raining…

Comment on Story is King – Bobette Buster breaks it down by Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:24:50 +0000

I think the “thing” we are responding to in a good story is recognition. Recognition of the emotion and/or story arc being portrayed in the story. A thankful feeling that yes, someone else has felt that exact feeling before and I am not alone.

I’m jealous you were at the Hay. I loved that place.

Comment on How Arthur Conan-Doyle Saved My Life by Becky

Becky — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:43:56 +0000

“What happened to enjoying the damn book? I wondered.”

Is it in Catch 22 that a character is described as knowing everthing about literature except how to enjoy it? I’ve never read it myself but I’ve read that quote somewhere. I think it comes from Catch 22.

I can’t think of anything worse than seeing a book as something to be analysed, considered, criticised. There’s a kind of beauty in being able to see the construction of literature I think, but losing the ability to simply enjoy a book is too high a price to pay for that. No-one should have to justify their reading choices.

I’m glad that you got your love of reading back. Too many lose it for good.

Comment on The Round Up – February by Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:16:44 +0000

No I haven’t seen it but I do have Love film so I could… I’m intrigued to read the book now, and a friend gave me a copy before she moved so I have it. I remember reading A Perfect Spy about twenty years ago and loving it, though I was utterly surprised to. This is why I can never get sniffy about genre, though I think in the last twenty years the lines and boundaries have blurred more. Perhaps the internet is partially responsible.

Comment on The Round Up – February by Nina

Nina — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:38:57 +0000

I agree about Gary Oldman, but have you watched the old TV version of TTSS with Alec Guinness? I saw the film first, and thought it was good, but after seeing the TV series (Love Film) I can’t understand why they tried to remake it as a film. They had to miss out so much and make things so much more obvious (yes, really!) and they also inexplicably put Kathy Burke in it…

Comment on My Fake Aunt Hilary by Nina

Nina — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:36:52 +0000

I’ve never read any of Mantel’s books and I’m also not at all interested in royalty (past or present), but I made a point of reading her full LRB article last week to find out what she’d actually said, because the hoohah-makers seemed to me to be saying, “How dare this fat woman have an opinion on the beautiful princess?”, and that was sickening. I mean some people actually said that very directly. Sickening. Also, I thought by far the most shocking part of the whole (very interesting) piece was the bit about her sitting on the floor behind a sofa at Buckingham Palace!

Comment on The Round Up – January by Helen

Helen — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:47:24 +0000

Girl reading is on my list – I shall bump it up on the strength of your review! I’ve done a couple of double-readings of books already this year. I know I have a problem …!

Comment on Campfires against the dark by Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:19:52 +0000

That sounds lovely. Now that I live in the wilds of San Diego, I am missing the culture of NYC. I will have to seek out local storytellers. I’m sure there are some here. I just have to find them. Enjoy!

Comment on A diversion by Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:40:57 +0000

Thanks Helen! I’m quite fond of this little trio – not entirely sure where I’m going with it. I also have one of those small boys – they do take up a lot of energy, don’t they? In the best way. I love it when my boy makes up stories too – reminds me that we’re all suckers for narrative from an early age.

Comment on A diversion by Helen Grey

Helen Grey — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:02:54 +0000

This is awesome!! I not only want to read more, but run off and do some writing of my own So it’s a shame I’m occupied at home with a small boy… (who, in an amusing coincidence, is making up stories of his own with toy animals!)