Addicted to the news

‘Listening to the cricket again?’ says the book. ‘I think I’ll join you.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘again’?’ I say. … More

The next book

‘That thing you mentioned the other day,’ the book says. ‘Is it true?’ ‘What thing?’ I say. ‘About there being … More

Jack Palance: Do you know what the secret of life is? Billy Crystal: No, what? Jack Palance: This [he … More

I think I am probably in love with silence, that other world. And that I write, in some way, to … More

my way is in the sand flowing between the shingle and the dune the summer rain rains on my … More

This isn’t about numbers, but my relationship with them. It isn’t about giving you a figure. (By the time you … More

On certain afternoons I am certain it has come back. A twinge in my right side, where the pain … More

I have been sorting. I have been chucking. It’s been the recurring theme over the last eighteen months. I cleared … More

At the start of each academic year, usually when I have known them for a week or so, I make … More

‘What are you doing?’ I say. ‘What does it look like?’ the book says. ‘It looks like you are tearing … More

The Negro Speaks of Rivers I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the … More

‘Hullo,’ says the book. ‘I thought you had gone away.’ ‘I lied,’ says the book. ‘What are you going to … More

‘Hullo!’ says the book. ‘Have we been introduced?’ I say. ‘I’m your new book!’ ‘But I haven’t finished the last … More

We walked into the brunt light, towards the hospital. The air was dry, February-cold. Traffic was going about its business. … More

‘I am so, so sorry.’ ‘You’re going to be fine.’ ‘Fight it, you know you’re a fighter.’ ‘Are we going … More

The thing about having cancer was that it was pretty obvious what was going on. I had been feeling fairly … More

I know I am hardly the first to draw parallels between running and writing. But, for what it is worth, … More

The Fear of Poetry In this moment when we face horizons and conflicts wider than ever before, we want our … More