Click on the link below to join our monthly live discussion thread: your chance to share anything cultural you’ve been enjoying over the past month, and also recommendations on a specific theme. It’s a great resource if you’re after some tips for things to read, watch or listen to…
This September, we’re joined by expert guest author and publisher, Jon Woolcott from the wonderful Little Toller Books.
Alongside my questions for Jon, I’d love to know:
What have you loved reading / watching / seeing / listening to over this September?
On the theme of URBAN WILDERNESS: Where are your favourite wild spaces in the big cities? What books / films / music / art aid your explorations?
The live typing event takes place TODAY at 1.30-2pm, but if that time doesn’t work for you, please feel free to add your contribution whenever you like.
My first tip for enjoying the Urban Wilderness is THIS:
Join the discussion to discover where and what it is…
Anyone who is joining after the event, please feel free to share here your tips for anything cultural you've enjoyed this past month, and anything on the theme of urban wilderness.
I would recommend Common Ground by Rob Cowen published in 2015. A well written very talented voice of living on the edge-land of Harrogate. Thank you for reminding me of it, I'm going to re-read.
Hello all! Late to the discussion here. In September I read a wonderful children's book by Kate DiCamillo, 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.' It relates in some broader ways to the theme of "wildness" in the way Edward, a beloved toy rabbit that belongs to a young girl, gets lost on a transatlantic ship journey and finds himself in several different new homes and landscapes along the way, most of them much more wild and rural than his original suburban home. A great story with 'Velveteen Rabbit' feels.
I have a book called 'Spirit of Place: Artists, Writers, and the British Landscape.' I have not read it yet, but look forward to diving in sometime. Curious to know if anyone has read it.
My last question for Jon - but please also ask your own if you'd like!
This is slightly off-topic but I’m sure that many walking book clubbers would be really interested to hear about the wonderful charitable projects Pineapple Lane and Packed with Hope, which came from Little Toller Books. Please could you share some info with us? https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/packedwithhopecampaign
Londoners should definitely have a look at Paul Wood’s blog The Street Tree, and his books, about the tree-filled capital and more. https://thestreettree.com/
Some of you might remember Patrick Galbraith, who joined us for a Zoom book club a year or so ago. His beautiful book, In Search of One Last Song, which looks at British birds and the people trying to save them often highlights the unexpected wilderness of our cities, not just the countryside.
I visited Haworth Parsonage a couple of weeks ago and picked up a book called the Bronte myth which shows that all that wild moor stuff was a bit of an invention by Mrs Gaskell .
Currently I am reading "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" and "The Body Keeps Score". Another more obscure book recently read that is notable is "Unlikely Animals".
I am rereading Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, and I'm getting much more from my previous read! My favorite urban wilderness is a park near my house with a pond filled with ducks, it's a real respite from all the concrete jungle
Jon - Little Toller publishes Richard Mabey’s The Unofficial Countryside, which is one of the key books about urban wilderness. Tell us a bit about his other books you publish – are there any others you’d especially recommend?
Anyone who is joining after the event, please feel free to share here your tips for anything cultural you've enjoyed this past month, and anything on the theme of urban wilderness.
I would recommend Common Ground by Rob Cowen published in 2015. A well written very talented voice of living on the edge-land of Harrogate. Thank you for reminding me of it, I'm going to re-read.
Haven't read any Gaskell but feel I ought to....
Hello all! Late to the discussion here. In September I read a wonderful children's book by Kate DiCamillo, 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.' It relates in some broader ways to the theme of "wildness" in the way Edward, a beloved toy rabbit that belongs to a young girl, gets lost on a transatlantic ship journey and finds himself in several different new homes and landscapes along the way, most of them much more wild and rural than his original suburban home. A great story with 'Velveteen Rabbit' feels.
I have a book called 'Spirit of Place: Artists, Writers, and the British Landscape.' I have not read it yet, but look forward to diving in sometime. Curious to know if anyone has read it.
Thank you so much Jon for joining us from Little Toller in Dorset - I'm impressed with how you manned the till and the computer simultaneously.
And thank you Pat, Sarah and Anick (Productive Happiness) for joining the thread and contributing to the discussion.
My last question for Jon - but please also ask your own if you'd like!
This is slightly off-topic but I’m sure that many walking book clubbers would be really interested to hear about the wonderful charitable projects Pineapple Lane and Packed with Hope, which came from Little Toller Books. Please could you share some info with us? https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/packedwithhopecampaign
https://www.pineapplelane.org/
Gosh - nearly 2pm!
On urban wildness I liked the book Edgelands by Michele Roberts and Paul Farley
Jon - Could you tell us a little about The Clearing. Are there any pieces on there that explore urban wilderness? https://www.littletoller.co.uk/the-clearing/
Londoners should definitely have a look at Paul Wood’s blog The Street Tree, and his books, about the tree-filled capital and more. https://thestreettree.com/
Some of you might remember Patrick Galbraith, who joined us for a Zoom book club a year or so ago. His beautiful book, In Search of One Last Song, which looks at British birds and the people trying to save them often highlights the unexpected wilderness of our cities, not just the countryside.
Jon - Was urban wildness something you encountered while writing your book, Real Dorset?
Some of my favourite urban wilderness spots in London coming up here:
Jon - how about beyond Little Toller, are there any other books about urban wilderness that you especially enjoy?
The Little Virtues made me go on and read lots more Ginzburg
I’m really enjoying catching up with some of your earlier reads Emily.
I visited Haworth Parsonage a couple of weeks ago and picked up a book called the Bronte myth which shows that all that wild moor stuff was a bit of an invention by Mrs Gaskell .
But why do we still love Jane Eyre so much ?
Hello sorry to be late to the chat!
Jon (when you've finished selling the books!) - Are there any other Little Toller books that engage with urban wilderness?
New joiner Debra says:
Currently I am reading "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" and "The Body Keeps Score". Another more obscure book recently read that is notable is "Unlikely Animals".
From Instagram:
Vicki recommends My Husband
From Instagram:
The Exiled Soul recommends: Autumn Rounds by Jacques Poulin
I am rereading Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, and I'm getting much more from my previous read! My favorite urban wilderness is a park near my house with a pond filled with ducks, it's a real respite from all the concrete jungle
If anyone else is joining us, please feel free to say hello and share your recommendations!
Jon - Little Toller publishes Richard Mabey’s The Unofficial Countryside, which is one of the key books about urban wilderness. Tell us a bit about his other books you publish – are there any others you’d especially recommend?
So Jon:
I love Little Toller Books! For the walking book clubbers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little bit about your ethos?
In the run up to half past, I'm going to share here some recommendations shared in this month's Zoom book club:
Hello and welcome Jon Woolcott from Little Toller Books - wonderful to have you here.
The gorgeous photo is of The World Peace Garden in Hampstead. It's just next to the overground.
If you are ever early for a walking book club, you’ll often find me there gathering my thoughts!
Hello everyone!
Hello everyone - I'm a little early today!