A Painting Artist

Ian McEwan, courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Photograph: AGF / Rex Features

Ian McEwan has replied to pro-Palestinian writers who have accused him of accepting the “corrupt and cynical” Jerusalem prize for literature by insisting on his right to engage in dialogue with Israelis across the region’s political divide.

Ian McEwan: ‘I’m for dialogue, engagement, and looking for ways in which literature … can reach across political divides’.

Words and books are cheaper than bullets.

A meeting of the board of directors at Faber, March 1944. From left to right TS Eliot, Morley Kennedy, Geoffrey Faber, WJ Crawley, Miss CB Sheldon and Richard de la Mare. Photograph: Picture Post/Felix Mann and Kurt Hutton/Getty Images

This Guardian article champions what I believe: finding and expressing your unique voice.

…Must we always be transparent? Remember when TS Eliot was asked what he meant by “Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper tree”, he said: “I meant, ‘Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper tree’.” I have no idea what that means, but I am glad it didn’t get edited into “Mrs, there’s three wild animals under that shrub”. (taken from Jeanette Winterston’s quote in the article).

If you are looking for a book editor there are some industry biggies here.

I finished reading this memoir by Emma Forrest in one sitting. A masterclass in memoir writing: raw, insightful, heartbreaking. I hope the movie will do it justice … but until then, we have the book. Congratulations Emma.

“I am fed up of counting calories so that I know how much self-loathing to take into the shower each morning.”

The writer Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray, Love) said these words.

It got me wondering … how many other things am I fed up of counting?

The Italians don’t count calories because they know that eating is a sensual pleasure – just eat and enjoy!

I count the number hours in the day I have left to accomplish everything on my to do list …
I count the minutes before lunch …
I count the amount of money in my bank account
I count the chores I have to do
I count the library books I’m reading and have to return on time!
I count the number of articles I’m writing
I count the steps I’m taking to change something …

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture.

And then I wonder: how many of these things do I LOVE? And wouldn’t it be a good idea as we approach St. Valentine’s Day to celebrate by counting the ways, the people, the things that I do love?

So now I really do have my work cut out because this is a much bigger pie to eat from! And suddenly I feel lighter than I have in days – the list I’m carrying around with me isn’t tugging at my heart because I can just chuck it and still remember what is important.

What and who do you love enough?

The newspaper I write my monthly column for is The Rutland & Stamford Mercury. They recently published an interview with me about my move from the city of London to the town of Stamford. Now, BBC Radio Lincolnshire have picked up this story, and invited me onto the Melvyn Pike show today. Tune in at 10am to hear me talking to Melvyn about why life is so good in the country, the work I am doing with WeightWatchers, and the publication of my book.