"When religion, science and morality are shaken … and when the outer supports threaten to fall, man turns his gaze from externals in on to himself. Literature, music and art are the first and most sensitive spheres in which this spiritual revolution makes itself felt. They reflect the dark picture of the present time and show the importance of what at first was only a little point of light noticed by few and for the great majority non-existent. Perhaps they even grow dark in their turn, but on the other hand they turn away from the soulless life of the present towards those substances and ideas which give free scope to the non-material strivings of the soul.“
Concerning The Spiritual in Art - Wassily Kandinsky
A brief note from me to say that the online PUBLIC LIBRARY has been updated so have a browse when you get a chance.
Other recent reads include…
Sheila Heti’s Pure Colour, which I found enthralling for the first few chapters, then obtuse for most of the rest. I made myself finish it, but I have to confess that there were points when I didn’t want to. Has anyone else read this? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
The (always excellent) Rachel Connolly on the rise of the “Pity Me” personal essay, and the ways in which contemporary personal writing is “too often defined by melodrama, humorlessness, and excessive self-pity.”
This New York Times article on the rise of ‘book styling’ and the hunt for the ‘notorious celebrity book stylist’ (it’s not me, alas).
Nikki Giovanni’s Love Poems. Here’s a lovely On Being interview with her from last year.
Last but not least!
I’m looking for a freelance, part-time assistant to help me primarily with PL social media management and digital stuff (now) and other exciting IRL PL projects (soon!) Must be London-based with social media/digital experience and Photoshop/InDesign proficiency.
If this is you, please email a CV + examples of your work - plus some information about yourself - to pl [at] phoebelovatt dot com
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Phoebe
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