I love the way you write. I have a great desire to sit down with a hard copy of one of your future books and read it cover-to-cover in a single sitting at my favorite coffeeshop. I've been following you for a while. I might have to settle for some of your other book mentions that I have self-indulgently imagined into, "The Laura Marling Book Club." Whatever has influenced your writings, music, and way of life - I want some of that! 🤍
I also recently read Second Place and kept a quote in my notes app that I've since shared with a handful of girlfriends currently in the turmoil of choice around motherhood. It perfectly summarises the uncertainty, and most importantly allows the reader to not feel any shame in feeling the same way:
"I could never reconcile myself to the fact that just as you've recovered from your own childhood, and finally crawled out of the pit of it and felt the sun on your face for the first time, you have to give up that place in the sun to a baby you're determined won't suffer the way you did, and crawl back down into another pit of self-sacrifice to make sure she doesn't"
I adore such honesty from a writer, I feel your writing also afford the same honesty. Thank you ❤️
As a 69-year-old man it would be bereft of any relevance for me to comment on your struggles with your womanhood other than to wish you luck on your journey and assure you that the male package similarly does not offer a user’s manual. However, I will proffer the thought that having been given the package without the manual is no detriment; rather as a creative it is to your advantage as it allows you the benefit of clarity only accessible through personal experience. Which brings me to something that I suspect, judging from your recent writings and your music, that you would appreciate. The current issue of Vanity Fair offers a Q&A with the inimitable Patti Smith from which I share the following excerpt:
Another vote for the "The Laura Marling Book Club". Your author suggestions have enriched my life. The first was Roberston Davies. I have read all his novels and the essay book. I love his sense of humour. The "Cornish Trilogy" & "Deptford Trilogy" stand out as favorites. I liked the "Cornish Trilogy", but only by hair. I have read all Sigrid Nunez's novels, my favorites being "The Last of Her Kind " and "The Friend". I have also read all Rachel Cusk's novels. I particularly liked "Second Place", "The Country Life" and, "Saving Agnes"... but I enjoyed all her novels for different reasons. I am looking forward to reading her new book "Parade". I am currently making my way though "Manifestoes of Surrealism" by
André Breton. After reading the 1924 section, I am taking a break.
Like others, I love the way you write. It is no surprise to me since I love your lyrics. I find them (and your writing) thought provoking, intellectually, but especially emotionally. I have gone through a box or two of tissues experiencing your albums (including Lump - "Red Snakes" which left me sobbing the first time I heard it). Isn't that what art is all about, connecting with the artist's work on a personal level?
Lastly, thank you for giving us a look into your creative process. I can not wait to hear the version of "Patterns" on the new album. I know you are busy with the new album, and all that entails. Maybe in the future, you will spend some time writing about your visual art. I like the new website design, simple and elegant... have a great weekend.
Ah wow, so happy that Robertson Davies made his way to you. I love his humor too. Thank you for this lovely comment - was prompted to write about Red Snakes from this, a song very close to my heart.
What a treat to hear an early iteration of this beautiful song, to know that the last line “and we will always be” was once “…that never end”, or to know there was a time before the internal rhyme of “lost for words/flock of birds”. Like those scans that reveal details in the pencil sketch that didn’t make it to the final painting. What subtly seismic differences a changed word can make. Thank you for sharing your process!
Your writing makes me feel very seen, as has your songwriting for the past 12 years or so. The mystery and subtlety of femininity both in the good or the bad. How one positive or negative feminine presence in a matriarchal line can make or break generations. Tells how powerful a woman really is. Fabulous read as always.
Laura, today I heard “Patterns” on Boston radio for the first time. It’s so good. Reminded me of Nick Drake a bit too. Looking foward to the album! It’s wonderful to find you writing and sharing on Substack
I think I’ve listened to this recording at least 20 times now. It is incredibly beautiful. I haven’t been able to get the melody out of my head for days. Dying to see a tutorial on how to play it! 🙏
It’s so awesome to comprehend your own experiences with womanhood throughout the diversities of scenarios life has exposed you. Thank you for sharing these great, yet hard truths along the beautiful journey you are living on. Can you also keep sharing books which have influenced your way of finding reflections, truths and brand new ideas out? Sending love.
FYI (although you possibly already know this), yesterday’s New York Times included “Patterns” in their weekly playlist, which is compiled by the Times’ pop critics who, every Friday, share what they consider to be the week’s most notable new tracks. Their intro to the track reads: “Laura Marling contemplates her new motherhood and the unfolding of generations in “Patterns,” the title song of her album due in October, “Patterns in Repeat.” Backed by acoustic picking and cozy sustained strings, Marling takes a long view. As she envisions how it feels “to have your children, your flock of birds/Your branch among the wood” and contemplates how “as those years go by they’ll look upon you as a friend,” vocal harmonies float in like imagined descendants.”
The name Zena in that song reminds me of one of the main characters from Margaret Atwood's novel The Robber Bride, whose name is Zenia. If you haven't read it, I think you'd like it - it resonates with a lot of the things you've said about femininity here.
It's such a pleasure and privilege that you're creating and sharing these pieces. I bought some Cusks after searching for recommendations of authors similar to Ali Smith, but they've been sat unread for some time. I'll have to fix that.
I love the way you write. I have a great desire to sit down with a hard copy of one of your future books and read it cover-to-cover in a single sitting at my favorite coffeeshop. I've been following you for a while. I might have to settle for some of your other book mentions that I have self-indulgently imagined into, "The Laura Marling Book Club." Whatever has influenced your writings, music, and way of life - I want some of that! 🤍
A plus one on the book club recommendation!
I also recently read Second Place and kept a quote in my notes app that I've since shared with a handful of girlfriends currently in the turmoil of choice around motherhood. It perfectly summarises the uncertainty, and most importantly allows the reader to not feel any shame in feeling the same way:
"I could never reconcile myself to the fact that just as you've recovered from your own childhood, and finally crawled out of the pit of it and felt the sun on your face for the first time, you have to give up that place in the sun to a baby you're determined won't suffer the way you did, and crawl back down into another pit of self-sacrifice to make sure she doesn't"
I adore such honesty from a writer, I feel your writing also afford the same honesty. Thank you ❤️
As a 69-year-old man it would be bereft of any relevance for me to comment on your struggles with your womanhood other than to wish you luck on your journey and assure you that the male package similarly does not offer a user’s manual. However, I will proffer the thought that having been given the package without the manual is no detriment; rather as a creative it is to your advantage as it allows you the benefit of clarity only accessible through personal experience. Which brings me to something that I suspect, judging from your recent writings and your music, that you would appreciate. The current issue of Vanity Fair offers a Q&A with the inimitable Patti Smith from which I share the following excerpt:
VF: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
PS: Clarity when I’m writing
VF: What is your greatest fear?
PS: Collapse of the imagination
Brilliant
Another vote for the "The Laura Marling Book Club". Your author suggestions have enriched my life. The first was Roberston Davies. I have read all his novels and the essay book. I love his sense of humour. The "Cornish Trilogy" & "Deptford Trilogy" stand out as favorites. I liked the "Cornish Trilogy", but only by hair. I have read all Sigrid Nunez's novels, my favorites being "The Last of Her Kind " and "The Friend". I have also read all Rachel Cusk's novels. I particularly liked "Second Place", "The Country Life" and, "Saving Agnes"... but I enjoyed all her novels for different reasons. I am looking forward to reading her new book "Parade". I am currently making my way though "Manifestoes of Surrealism" by
André Breton. After reading the 1924 section, I am taking a break.
Like others, I love the way you write. It is no surprise to me since I love your lyrics. I find them (and your writing) thought provoking, intellectually, but especially emotionally. I have gone through a box or two of tissues experiencing your albums (including Lump - "Red Snakes" which left me sobbing the first time I heard it). Isn't that what art is all about, connecting with the artist's work on a personal level?
Lastly, thank you for giving us a look into your creative process. I can not wait to hear the version of "Patterns" on the new album. I know you are busy with the new album, and all that entails. Maybe in the future, you will spend some time writing about your visual art. I like the new website design, simple and elegant... have a great weekend.
Ah wow, so happy that Robertson Davies made his way to you. I love his humor too. Thank you for this lovely comment - was prompted to write about Red Snakes from this, a song very close to my heart.
Patterns, quite literally, on repeat.
This post and your comment on the first one
about Henry Miller's writing being too
masculine got me thinking. Despite really
digging your music, I get the same feeling from
your lyrics - and I say this as a big compliment.
For me, your songwriting shows a feminine
point of view that is sometimes uncomfortable,
perhaps daunting or unrelatable for a man.
Well, for me, at least. Again, I say this as a
compliment, because it means you can express
it well.
Congrats on the new song, I liked it very much!
Very interesting
What a treat to hear an early iteration of this beautiful song, to know that the last line “and we will always be” was once “…that never end”, or to know there was a time before the internal rhyme of “lost for words/flock of birds”. Like those scans that reveal details in the pencil sketch that didn’t make it to the final painting. What subtly seismic differences a changed word can make. Thank you for sharing your process!
Your writing makes me feel very seen, as has your songwriting for the past 12 years or so. The mystery and subtlety of femininity both in the good or the bad. How one positive or negative feminine presence in a matriarchal line can make or break generations. Tells how powerful a woman really is. Fabulous read as always.
Just read this on a (very) slow train and it helped pass the journey beautifully. Thank you! ❤️
Laura, today I heard “Patterns” on Boston radio for the first time. It’s so good. Reminded me of Nick Drake a bit too. Looking foward to the album! It’s wonderful to find you writing and sharing on Substack
I think I’ve listened to this recording at least 20 times now. It is incredibly beautiful. I haven’t been able to get the melody out of my head for days. Dying to see a tutorial on how to play it! 🙏
Noted!
Awesome.
It’s so awesome to comprehend your own experiences with womanhood throughout the diversities of scenarios life has exposed you. Thank you for sharing these great, yet hard truths along the beautiful journey you are living on. Can you also keep sharing books which have influenced your way of finding reflections, truths and brand new ideas out? Sending love.
FYI (although you possibly already know this), yesterday’s New York Times included “Patterns” in their weekly playlist, which is compiled by the Times’ pop critics who, every Friday, share what they consider to be the week’s most notable new tracks. Their intro to the track reads: “Laura Marling contemplates her new motherhood and the unfolding of generations in “Patterns,” the title song of her album due in October, “Patterns in Repeat.” Backed by acoustic picking and cozy sustained strings, Marling takes a long view. As she envisions how it feels “to have your children, your flock of birds/Your branch among the wood” and contemplates how “as those years go by they’ll look upon you as a friend,” vocal harmonies float in like imagined descendants.”
The name Zena in that song reminds me of one of the main characters from Margaret Atwood's novel The Robber Bride, whose name is Zenia. If you haven't read it, I think you'd like it - it resonates with a lot of the things you've said about femininity here.
It's such a pleasure and privilege that you're creating and sharing these pieces. I bought some Cusks after searching for recommendations of authors similar to Ali Smith, but they've been sat unread for some time. I'll have to fix that.