22 November, 2023

Last night

Hanif Kureishi Substack

Last night I went to the Substack Writers’ Party, invited as a plus one by my friend Katie.

It was held at Reference Point, the reference-library-slash-bookshop-slash-bar near Somerset House. It was super busy and quite network-y but also, fun. Best of all, we got chatting to Carlo Kureishi, the screenwriter son of writer Hanif Kureishi. Carlo is also known as the guy who types up the Substacks dictated by his dad, since his dad endured a freak accident a year ago that resulted in him unable to use his hands or any other limbs and obviously unable to write.

Hanif Kureishi is the writer famous for books and films including The Buddha of Suburbia and My Beautiful Laundrette, but his writing on Substack is possibly more astonishing and thought-provoking. According to Carlo, “dad” speaks his prose to Carlo, who types it verbatim onto the computer, the words, sentences and paragraphs coming out fast, furious and fully formed. They then make minor tweaks together, then Carlo presses Publish.

I find this process fascinating. As a slow writer who writes in longhand, editing as I go, I cannot fathom how someone just verbally dictates extremely high quality, raw (in feeling) yet refined (in language and ideas), philosophically provocative and often very funny posts, off the cuff while mostly bed-bound recovering from a shocking accident. Perhaps in the absence of normal everyday activity, the mind, imagination and memory are hyper-sharpened to compensate…? (Plus, clearly he’s not a best-selling writer for nothing.)

Carlo also talked about Kureishi’s friend Salman Rushdie who flew to visit him, having experienced his own life-changing injuries after being stabbed on stage at an event last year. While our conversation was tinged with a ‘there but for the grace of god’ seriousness, it was mixed with an appreciation for humanity and for the reader community bonded by empathy and shared experience.

You can read The Kureishi Chronicles Substack here.

And as it fits the sentiment, this feels like a good time to wish my U.S readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Via The Kureishi Chronicles
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

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Disneyrollergirl 1 Comment Books, Events, Films, News blogs, events, Hanif Kureishi, Salman Rushdie, Substack

19 November, 2023

Quote of the day: Caroline Coon

The Slits 1977 by Caroline Coon

“Some people disparage us looking back; they call it nostalgia. But from my point of view, it is ever necessary to remember and never forget authentic excitement and creative energy, especially in times of political crisis and despair. Today, in yet another moment of political crisis and despair, it is good to remember that challenging the status quo is possible and people can make their voices heard. And although at the time such insurgency is often dismissed, contrary to what the establishment would wish, positive creativity counts. It does make a mark. It matters and it changes society.”
Artist and activist, Caroline Coon

I can’t wait to see Nothing to Lose. The Punk Photographs of Caroline Coon, Caroline Coon’s selling exhibition at the Centre for British Photography, which opened last Thursday and is only on until 17th December. I’ve been researching women and punk for the last couple of months and Caroline was one of the leading female protagonists of the early UK punk movement. As well as photographing the scene, she was a journalist, The Clash manager, human rights activist and an incredible painter.

Do read the rest of her address here and check out the exhibition here. All profits from photography sales will go to support the gallery’s work with grants, open calls, workshops and other public projects.

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: The Slits, 1977 by Caroline Coon
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

Disneyrollergirl 1 Comment Events, Music, News, Photography Caroline Coon, Centre for British Photography, culture of fashion, exhibitions, photography, punk, quote of the day

12 September, 2023

Trend report: what to wear for AW23

Johnny Dufort for T Magazine

AW23 is emphatically female-focussed, kicking off with supermodel mania – that Vogue cover, the Apple series and a Linda Evangelista book – and continuing with a slew of women-championing exhibitions. We’ve also got the big Phoebe Philo reveal to come, as well as a focus on revivalist classic fashion (aka gentlewoman style). For this you can easily shop your closet, or consider buying pre-loved – the quality may be better and so may the price. “The connection between instability in the economy and consumers’ desire for classic, quality pieces that retain value is certainly at play, as is the cultural zeitgeist,” Kelly McSweeney, senior merchandising manager at The RealReal, told WWD. (more…)