I’ve just discovered I’m no longer being notified when you post here. Horror!
This was a beautiful profile - I especially loved the part about why she feels 100% at home in SA, because she’s given words to a feeling I’ve been unable to express. It’s the relative lack of homogeneity that enables weirdos like me to feel like we’re just maybe at the far end of society’s spectrum rather than outside it completely. I’ve never experienced that anywhere else.
So interesting! I have never thought much about this because I’ve never needed to, having always been here. But I did get a sense, when I was in Germany, of a narrow band of 'sameness' within which being seemed 'acceptable' (yes, even in wild Berlin), and perhaps a sense of perplexity (on the polite end of things) about why anyone would want to operate outside that band. And just this evening, Jules was saying something similar about where she is now. Well, if this is a South African thing, that's something to celebrate (while being aware also that certain ghastly ministers are saying trumpety things about 'foreigners' 😡)
Yes, I guess it must be odd for South Africans to travel overseas. I hadn’t thought of it that way round! I remember your observations about the surprise you encountered in Berlin when you deviated from their expectations. I spent my entire life deviating from expectations in the UK. In some ways SA can be quite similar - you don’t want to be openly gay in Phalaborwa if you want an easy life - but aside from religion dictating acceptable behaviour, it was sometimes surprisingly welcoming of differences even in that 1950s throwback town. I found black people in the area were sadly enthusiastic about this odd white English person who wasn’t a racist. They were so unused to being seen as people and treated with respect that they made up for the unaccepting white people.
Thank you Karin for such a beautiful Love Letter. For me the hardest thing in a move is the decision of which books to take. These guardians of my soul have travelled with me through countries, years and now with time drawing to a close I am parcelling up some treasures to give to both my children and grandchildren and particular friends who I know will exclaim with delight when they remove the wrapping and find what part of this wealth has been earmarked for them. They will recall when we sat together peering into and pondering what perhaps John Berger had to say on a particular painting or his thoughts on society and the way we operate in the system. Robert Macfarlane has guided my footsteps through wild places, his words have enlivened me, brought comfort in times of despair. There might be many advantages in this virtual world but to hold a book, open its cover, smell the print and the pages - that is something else.
Oh, Doreen! What an absolutely wonderful idea for making sure that both your beloved books AND your beloved people are looked after when you have moved to smaller premises (or indeed moved on). I myself, despite having had to work digitally, have also remained firmly rooted in the analogue world.
This is a beautiful profile. I have been telling my students that I keep returning to something that could be held on to because I fear that the world is becoming less and less tangible. All our photos all our notes, nothing will remain because it's all digital, I have started to encourage my students to start note books and to print out pictures, if not they will have nothing to leave their grandchildren to sift through and know them.
Loved reading this thank you Karin. Since I'm unlikely to ever meet her, and very much admire and often find joy in the books she puts out in the world, it felt like a privilege to be in something of an inside lane for a few minutes. I find Karina Szczurek intimidating, not only because i would not remember how to pronounce her name if I were ever to have the opportunity to mouth 'What a pleasure to finally meet you Ms Szczurek' but because, except when she is around people she knows and likes - or wants to know and like - she seems aloof to a point of snobbishness.....(which of course makes me admire her even more!) The Fifth Mrs Brink was quite a profound source of comfort to me shortly after Anne died. Some of it also annoyed me which in itself was part of the comfort! So, from a fan of both of you, thanks again for the read.
I’ve just discovered I’m no longer being notified when you post here. Horror!
This was a beautiful profile - I especially loved the part about why she feels 100% at home in SA, because she’s given words to a feeling I’ve been unable to express. It’s the relative lack of homogeneity that enables weirdos like me to feel like we’re just maybe at the far end of society’s spectrum rather than outside it completely. I’ve never experienced that anywhere else.
So interesting! I have never thought much about this because I’ve never needed to, having always been here. But I did get a sense, when I was in Germany, of a narrow band of 'sameness' within which being seemed 'acceptable' (yes, even in wild Berlin), and perhaps a sense of perplexity (on the polite end of things) about why anyone would want to operate outside that band. And just this evening, Jules was saying something similar about where she is now. Well, if this is a South African thing, that's something to celebrate (while being aware also that certain ghastly ministers are saying trumpety things about 'foreigners' 😡)
Yes, I guess it must be odd for South Africans to travel overseas. I hadn’t thought of it that way round! I remember your observations about the surprise you encountered in Berlin when you deviated from their expectations. I spent my entire life deviating from expectations in the UK. In some ways SA can be quite similar - you don’t want to be openly gay in Phalaborwa if you want an easy life - but aside from religion dictating acceptable behaviour, it was sometimes surprisingly welcoming of differences even in that 1950s throwback town. I found black people in the area were sadly enthusiastic about this odd white English person who wasn’t a racist. They were so unused to being seen as people and treated with respect that they made up for the unaccepting white people.
Thank you Karin for such a beautiful Love Letter. For me the hardest thing in a move is the decision of which books to take. These guardians of my soul have travelled with me through countries, years and now with time drawing to a close I am parcelling up some treasures to give to both my children and grandchildren and particular friends who I know will exclaim with delight when they remove the wrapping and find what part of this wealth has been earmarked for them. They will recall when we sat together peering into and pondering what perhaps John Berger had to say on a particular painting or his thoughts on society and the way we operate in the system. Robert Macfarlane has guided my footsteps through wild places, his words have enlivened me, brought comfort in times of despair. There might be many advantages in this virtual world but to hold a book, open its cover, smell the print and the pages - that is something else.
Oh, Doreen! What an absolutely wonderful idea for making sure that both your beloved books AND your beloved people are looked after when you have moved to smaller premises (or indeed moved on). I myself, despite having had to work digitally, have also remained firmly rooted in the analogue world.
This is a beautiful profile. I have been telling my students that I keep returning to something that could be held on to because I fear that the world is becoming less and less tangible. All our photos all our notes, nothing will remain because it's all digital, I have started to encourage my students to start note books and to print out pictures, if not they will have nothing to leave their grandchildren to sift through and know them.
I’ve never directly thought about it that way: that people’s children will have nothing material to connect them to their forebears.
Loved reading this thank you Karin. Since I'm unlikely to ever meet her, and very much admire and often find joy in the books she puts out in the world, it felt like a privilege to be in something of an inside lane for a few minutes. I find Karina Szczurek intimidating, not only because i would not remember how to pronounce her name if I were ever to have the opportunity to mouth 'What a pleasure to finally meet you Ms Szczurek' but because, except when she is around people she knows and likes - or wants to know and like - she seems aloof to a point of snobbishness.....(which of course makes me admire her even more!) The Fifth Mrs Brink was quite a profound source of comfort to me shortly after Anne died. Some of it also annoyed me which in itself was part of the comfort! So, from a fan of both of you, thanks again for the read.
It’s so good to hear that there was a book that could somewhat comfort you after Anne died. There must have been little that could fill that void.
Such an interesting article - thank you. It tells me things about Karina Szczurek that I didn't know.
Thank you, Danya.
I loved reading this — thank you.
It is always a pleasure to write and so mu h more when it is enjoyed.
Thank you, Dominique. Karina’s mind is a fascinating thing to get insight into.