Hi Danny, thanks for the comment and so glad you enjoyed it. And great first sentence from one of the most influential pulp fiction writers. By coincidence, I have just started watching Lovecraft Country, which is brilliant. Though I doubt Lovecraft would have approved.
Just dug out a old High Life article on Japan. The opening:
Art in the snow country / Mark Jones
Our translator emailed the names of the places we visited.
‘Kasumi–no–ma’ in Hotel TAKAHAN The room Mr. Kawabata wrote YUKIGUNI
House of light Holes in the ceiling
Ubusuna House Lunch with cheerful ladies
EhonToKinomino Museum Ehon (=children’s book) To (=and) Kinomi (=nuts)
Matsudai NOBUTAI With nice café and museum shop Matsudai (= village’s old name)
Kyororo Museum for natural life of the area.
Then I looked my own notes.
White out, just etched black telegraph poles
Is this the world’s most agreeable railway station?
“The store of drunken driving banishment declaration”.
Orange light, 70s furniture and surrealist snow scene
Starkers in hot pool with cigar = v. Tony Soprano
3am earthquake
Tables too small to hide under
Can art save The Snow Country?
Some journeys are pretty straightforward to write up. I looked that the notes and the translations and thought: this one will take a bit more unravelling than usual.
Love this Kerry. Great anecdotes, brilliant tips and kept me gripped from top to tail!
Thank you Abby! Really kind of you to say so!
Sorry.. One more typo in point 2. Angela Duckworth leaving to 'each' math instead of 'teach'
But great article! Should have been my first line 😁
Aarrgh! But thanks! 😂
Hi Danny, thanks for the comment and so glad you enjoyed it. And great first sentence from one of the most influential pulp fiction writers. By coincidence, I have just started watching Lovecraft Country, which is brilliant. Though I doubt Lovecraft would have approved.
Just dug out a old High Life article on Japan. The opening:
Art in the snow country / Mark Jones
Our translator emailed the names of the places we visited.
‘Kasumi–no–ma’ in Hotel TAKAHAN The room Mr. Kawabata wrote YUKIGUNI
House of light Holes in the ceiling
Ubusuna House Lunch with cheerful ladies
EhonToKinomino Museum Ehon (=children’s book) To (=and) Kinomi (=nuts)
Matsudai NOBUTAI With nice café and museum shop Matsudai (= village’s old name)
Kyororo Museum for natural life of the area.
Then I looked my own notes.
White out, just etched black telegraph poles
Is this the world’s most agreeable railway station?
“The store of drunken driving banishment declaration”.
Orange light, 70s furniture and surrealist snow scene
Starkers in hot pool with cigar = v. Tony Soprano
3am earthquake
Tables too small to hide under
Can art save The Snow Country?
Some journeys are pretty straightforward to write up. I looked that the notes and the translations and thought: this one will take a bit more unravelling than usual.
I had forgotten about that article — I loved it. The unravelling worked well and it was so atmospheric...
Thanks so much Franck! And see what I mean?! Will be amazed if there's only one mistake!?
Really liked this! Very useful Kerry.
My favourite opening sentence is by Lovecraft:
“West of Arkham the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut.”
I'd forgotten about Kingdom of Pork. How could anyone forget Kingdom of Pork?
I had too! But seeing it again so made me chuckle. It was a brilliant feature. I have a PDF if you would like it?! x
That would be ace. Thank you!
Fantastic article, thank you, Ms Smith.
Small typo in Point 3: "No one wants to read something where they have to look up ever other word in the dictionary."
Best,
Franck.