Happy weekend, folks! As I warned, things have been a bit quieter than usual on SiaB this week. I’ll tell you more about my job next week (thanks for all your lovely congrats) – for now, sit back and enjoy a book, a link, and a blog post.
1.) The blog post – You know how great it is when someone loves an author you love? Even better is when initially they don’t, and then discover later that they do. Harriet rather hated her first experience with Ivy Compton-Burnett (whom, as you might know, I adore). Bravely, after some encouragement from me and some reading around the blogs, Harriet decided to give Dame Ivy another try. And let there be rejoicing in the street, it worked! Let Harriet explain it all, here.
2.) The book – just look what will be coming out in April…
3.) The link – I’m afraid I can’t remember where I first saw this (it was on Facebook, let’s face [ahem] it) but thanks if you brought it to my attention! It’s 30 of the Most Beautiful Abandoned Places – some really stunning, quite eerie, photos.
I'm obsessed with modern ruins (as my Pinterest collection will attest)!
You're in luck, then! (One day I'll understand Pinterest too…)
Those abandoned places are beautiful and terror-inducing; wonderful but nerve-wracking to explore, I should think.
Some of the photos are affecting my vertigo on their own, let alone visiting!
OK, those photographs are just *amazing* – look how nature is stronger than anything man-made – thanks for the link!
they're stunning, aren't they?
As a believer, are you not a little concerned that so many of those stunning abandoned places pictures are of churches? That said, one might suggest that there is more to faith than church buildings. Furthermore, abandoned power plants are also featured in this gallery, even though demand for electricity remains on the up. Another positive message from these photos is that nature is reclaiming many of these disused man-made structures, reminding me of a wonderful phrase in Robert Macfarlane's Wild Places, in which he talks about long abandoned business parks being recolonised by greenery. Thanks for sharing this.
John 4:21 – "Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem" ! So, yeah, like you said – I see faith and church buildings quite separately.
I saw those photos via Tom on Twitter, so that might've been it
-R
aha!
I'm reading "Pleasure of Ruins" by Rose Macaulay. I enjoy her novels but this is a wonderful treatment of why we are so enthralled by ruins. Sounds like it might supplement this book
How interesting! I shall add that to my wishlist, since I love some of her books – the ruin in Crewe Train was very interesting (although that in Staying With Relations couldn't save that book from being rather dull.)
The photos are stunning. I love that Mother Nature will not be stopped. Very meditative collection.
They're beautiful, aren't they? I can't decide if they're soothing or terrifying…
Erika W.
I think this book will be too sad for me to read. I remember actually crying as I stood in the abandoned family graveyard and also house remains of Airth House in Scotland; so forgotten and forlorn that I could see no beauty there at all.
It's not actually a book, just a series of photos online, but you might find them sad!
I just mowed my lawn and now looking at those pictures I think that it would take only a very short time for my home to become a ruin overrun by nature. :0
Haha! Yes, I don't miss having a garden, I've got to say…
Some of those abandoned places pictures are seriously spooky!
They really are eerie, aren't they?
I love those pictures of the abandoned places – really fascinating!
And I must admit to having pre-ordered the book you recommended. Sounds very promising indeed. :)
Have a good Sunday!
I'm toying with going to the launch – I went to an event for the previous book, and it was really funny!
Love the abandoned places photos. I thought the abandoned hotel was the creepiest, and seeing David's question, I did think it very sad that so many churches had been abandoned. One of them looked like it had been bombed out, which was even sadder. Beautiful pics, though. Thanks for the link!
You're welcome! I just had to share them. I think a lot of them would make stunning book jacket covers…
stunning pic simon ,all the best stu
thanks Stu!