I’ve not posted any Sunday links for a while and the fact that I’m doing so today is a sign that I have at last been able to claw back for myself a few waking hours that are not entirely taken up with work or moving (I’m not complaining, but it has been an extremely full-on few months). Before I share some things that I’ve been enjoying watching and reading and listening to lately, I feel compelled to show you some of my dahlias, whose showy blooms are bringing me a ludicrous amount of happiness right now.
This one – tartan – is probably the most ludicrous of all, with its huge plate-sized stripey flowers and notched petals . . .
. . . I’m also very fond of this one – muchacha . . .
. . . and this one, which produces soft multi-petalled pastel spheres and is called peaches . . .
. . . but I have to say that this one – mystic dreamer – is my favourite dahlia this year. It was the first one to flower, and (with regular dead heading) just keeps on going whatever the weather. It has lovely chocolate coloured foliage and its delicate variegated flowers (each of which is different) look lovely in a vase. I confess I was also seduced by the glorious excess of this gigantic variety, which I’ve put in a large pot outside the front door. It’s more than a metre tall already and beginning to come into bud. I have staked it and am really looking forward to it flowering (I’ll show you when it does)
And so, on to the links! Here are a few things to accompany your knitting:
Tom and I both really enjoyed Amanda Kim’s Moon is the Oldest TV, an insightful and entertaining documentary about Korean video artist Naim June Paik, whose creative and generous work, was in many respects, ahead of its time. Highly recommended.
Like many of you, I suspect, I’m actually enjoying following the twists and turns of the forthcoming United States election at the moment: a completely novel experience, which for this UK listener has been greatly enriched by the Ezra Klein show. Listening to Klein’s recent interview with Tim Walz, I was very struck by two things: first, that Walz is a man who is completely comfortable with his own feminism (surely just what’s needed in this ticket’s prospective VP?) and second, that Walz possesses a gift that now seems to be very unusual among politicians on either side of the Atlantic: of being able to respond thoughtfully, intelligently and apparently completely spontaneously and naturally to difficult questions covering a wide range of complex social issues and policy matters (rather than speaking in repetitive, over-choreographed soundbites). I also really enjoyed this recent episode about the gender politics of the forthcoming election, and (on a less political but no less pertinent topic) this one about attention and its contemporary resonances. Are there any other political / cultural podcasts you’d recommend? Tell me about them!
Speaking of feminism (and the politics of the family), I have been greedily devouring each of the Celia Fremlin novels that have recently been reissued by Faber & Faber. Fremlin’s wry and highly entertaining books have an unusual approach to crime narrative and “women’s” fiction. With their claustrophobic settings, and familiar post-war British landscape of bedsits, boarding houses and sinister lodgers, Fremlin writes a very distinctive kind of domestic noir, with intriguing feminist underpinnings.
Fremlin’s best known book, The Hours Before Dawn is genuinely completely brilliant, but I’d also heartily recommend Uncle Paul, The Long Shadow and Appointment with Yesterday, all of which have been reprinted. If you prefer audiobooks (to which you can knit while listening) the readings by Claire Corbett on audible are excellent.
Whatever you are reading, or watching, or listening to, or knitting this Sunday, have a good one!
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Yes, dahlias are spectacular…my mother was also a devotee. But in the Great Lakes region, we have to lift them in the Fall, and store them in the basement until Spring. By October, I’m ready to rake leaves and be done with the whole thing til Spring :)
Thanks for weighing-in on on the ridiculous, 3 ring media circus we like to call an election. Apologies that so many felt they HAD to respond 😖
Have you seen the Aug. 5th New Yorker article “Blood Relatives” by Heidi Blake, about true life murders in Tolleshunt D’Arcy? Margery Allingham couldn’t have written anything twistier!
Knitdna
I have not seen the article (will look it up now, thank you!)
you’ve intrigued me: I will have a look at this author; thank you :)
I enjoy “What Roman Mars can learn about Con Law”. He is the host of 99% invisible also. He speaks with constitutional law professor Elizabeth Joh about current issues, the cases that may have been involved in the original law, and how the law is being applied now.
I enjoyed re-reading the Margery Allingham stories along with your summer group. I read them 40 years ago and it was fun to revisit them! I’ll check out your recommendations here.
Are we getting a teaser of next summer’s mystery author in this re-introduction to the Fremlin books?? 😉
Tried to reply above (to second the enthusiastic endorsement of Haptic and Hue — what a terrific series!), but although my comment was accepted, the system froze and the comment disappeared.
I am not at all surprised that Kate is following the US election. I am about to spend four months (including November) in an EU country, and I know that the U.S. election will be in sharp focus. And as for my friends from Ukraine — some of whom have been displaced, others of whom are still in Kyiv — the U.S. election is nothing less than a matter of their country’s future, and they are following it as such. (Kristen in NY State, for the time being)
Just want the the knitting….it’s what allows an escape from politics.
Your dahlias are exquisite! Everyone should get to find a ludicrous amount of joy in the bits of beauty surrounding us. I have been finding joy in taking photographs of bees and other mini-beasts in my urban area.
And, now I am intrigued with Fremlin, and will be searching out her books! Crime, mystery, feminism — the books sound spectacular!
As far as the US election, it is all very concerning for me (being in the US). Still, it is fascinating watching history unfold, and wondering what future generations will think as they look back on this time period.
Thank you, always, for sharing your photos and life with us, Kate! I look forward to every post!
p.s. I loved Bob’s post too!! Bob is, indeed, a Very Good Boy!
I think you and other readers would really enjoy Haptic and Hue. It’s a monthly podcast by Jo Andrews on various aspects of textile history. Each episode is meticulously researched and beautifully presented with short interviews with curators, collectors and makers interspersed with history of the textile under discussion. The episodes are so good that I frequently listen to them twice in succession.
YES. This is a wonderful program. I have learned so much from it.
Not particularly thrilled with the commentary on the U.S. election. Some of us American voters are feeling politically homeless with a bait-and-switch candidate and her faux Everyman VP pick on the left and OMG, are you kidding me? on the right. As for the commentor hoping we overcome our stupidity, it’s unnecessary and unwelcome.
I am very much enjoying the knit-along, the first I’ve ever done. I’m a birder so the shape of the shawl is an absolutely wonderful surprise, and the Linda colorway is so beautiful I’m considering another project with it. As a fan of British detective fiction of every era I will happily admit I read every book, plus a couple more in the series before I actually started the knitting lol
I was sad to read the stupidity remark
too, Terri and totally understand the adrift feelings. So glad you are enjoying the MKal
Hi Kate
I tried to reply to an earlier email about this issue but it ended up as a weird truncated comment.
Just an FYI – your emails don’t have any content or preview of the blog article. Weirdly the preview in the email list in my email program shows the first sentence or so, but the email itself is empty.
I have a couple of screenshots of what I’m describing if that would be helpful!
cheers
Kate
Thank you, Kate! I loved the dahlias and I loved reading your take on our forthcoming US election. I also enjoy the Ezra Klein podcast and listen to him regularly. Have you come across the Sisters-in-Law podcast yet? Also very worthwhile listening. It’s four very bright female attorneys who’ve all had extensive legal careers as US attorneys for varying districts, law professors, legal analysts, political commentators for national and international TV and radio, high profile prosecutors, etc. They’re smart, well-versed in current events (especially politics), funny, irreverent, and a joy to listen to. And one of them is a knitter (of course!), who raises chickens in Alabama and naturally, the topic of Knitting comes up in the podcast. Enjoy!!
Marge, when did he take his military record? He served 24 years in the National Guard. Didn’t need to fake anything to get my vote, twice, and third time in November.
Kate is right that this is her space and her opinions. Scroll away if you disagree.
I was surprised to hear you’re following the US election so closely and listened to Tim Walz talking to Ezra Klein. I live in Walz’s state and voted for him both times. Minnesota is a thriving state. We’ll be sad to lose Walz, but the nation will be very lucky to have him as VP. We will do fine, our Native American Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan will make a great successor to Walz.
Please send good energy our way!
Thank you, Kate! I loved the dahlias and I loved reading your take on our forthcoming US election. I also enjoy the Ezra Klein podcast and listen to him regularly. Have you come across the Sisters-in-Law podcast yet? Also very worthwhile listening. It’s four very bright female attorneys who’ve all had extensive legal careers as US Attorneys for varying districts, law professors, legal analysts, political commentators for national and international TV and radio, high profile prosecutors, etc. They’re smart, well-versed in current events (especially politics), funny, irreverent and a joy to listen to. And one of them is a knitter (of course!) who raises chickens in Alabama. And of course the topic of knitting comes up in the podcast. Enjoy!!
I had trouble leaving a comment on the site.
Podcasts—both of these are historians:
At the time I read the other comments, no one had yet mentioned Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters from an American.” She looks at American history to give context and depth to what is currently happening. She has a Substack, which is mostly what I read.
Then there’s Sharon McMahon’s “Here’s Where It Gets Interesting.” She has a broader scope, and does “docuseries” (in-depth studies) as well as interviews with interesting folks with a variety of perspectives. There are twelve episodes on “How Women Won World War II.” A new docuseries of nine episodes looks at how Stalin became Stalin (as someone who studied Russian history in the 1960s, this sounds especially intriguing: how do these people end up doing what they do?).
There are others I like a lot, but those two rise to the very top.
I’ve enjoyed making my way through the Margery Allingham list you prepared, and have been waiting to mention the Secret Staircase mysteries by Gigi Pandian. Set in the U.S., they are homages to classic mysteries, in construction and in internal references. There are three so far: 1. Under Lock and Skeleton Key; 2. The Raven Thief; 3. A Midnight Puzzle. The cross-cultural aspects and the behind-the-scenes information on the vocations of the characters are intriguing. There are audiobooks and my daughter says the reader, Soneela Nankani, is excellent (although she adds that you “may object to the Scottish accent”—I have read, not listened, so I have no opinion).
Dahlias: I have no documentation to confirm this, but I remember my father telling me that his step-grandfather, Carl Russell Hinkle, whom he greatly admired, bred dahlias. I hope some day to find a reference somewhere. (1863-1935, born in Indiana, adult life in Michigan.)
Thanks for the Summer of Mystery. (And I love all the photos of BOB in his jumper.)
Deb
Deborah Robson robson.deborah@gmail.com https://independentstitch.com American Society of Journalists and Authors The Authors Guild
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I’d second the recommendation for Heather Cox Richardson. I find her historical perspective very useful for understanding American politics.
Okay, nobody’s mentioned two of my favorite podcasters yet (and I’m not big on podcasts in general). Both are historians.
Heather Cox Richardson focuses on American history–lately how views of what has come before (mostly) in the U.S. and how it provides context for what is happening now. She has a Substack–and also a podcast. “Letters from an American.”
Sharon McMahon and “Here’s Where It Gets Interesting.” She ranges widely and does series of episodes on given topics, going deep (“docuseries”), as well as interviews with intriguing people (including Heather Cox Richardson). Not just U.S.
On dahlias: I haven’t been able to find documentation, but from what I heard from my father, I think my step great-grandfather (whom my dad adored) bred dahlias. (Carl Russell Hinkle, 1863-1935, born in Indiana, adulthood in Michigan).
I’ve cruised through the Margery Allingham novels you recommended, and have a note here to suggest (at some point) the Secret Staircase mysteries by Gigi Pandian. They are homages to classic mysteries, in construction and in internal references. There are three so far: 1. Under Lock and Skeleton Key; 2. The Raven Thief; 3. A Midnight Puzzle. The cross-cultural aspects and the behind-the-scenes information on the various vocations of the characters are intriguing. There are audiobooks and my daughter says the reader, Soneela Nankani, is excellent (although she adds that you “may object to the Scottish accent”—I have read, rather than listened, so I have no opinion).
Always interested to learn about book recommendations. I have The Hours Before Dawn as an e-book on the Libby app. I love the retro covers you have shown. We have different covers in Canada.
I love everything you do, Kate, but, really? Commenting on US politicians femininity? I thought Kate Davis was a safe space, it has been for me for many years. As a US veteran and wounded warrior who served 24 years and deployed numerous times, your comments about Tim Waltz’ femininity, a man who faked his military record to get elected, are hurtful. I love everything you do Kate, not this blog.
Mags
Feminism, Mags, I said *feminism* – and this is my space, in which I enjoy sharing many of the things that I enjoy. You may not share my perspectives, but you are always very welcome here.
go Kate!!
Surely the claim that Tim Walz faked his military record has been refuted? I’m no expert, but it seems to me that Belle on Beau of the Fifth Column does a pretty good job in this 5 minute video:
It’s so fun to get the perspective of someone from ‘across the pond’ on our election for 2024 which has gone from bleak and depressing to joyful and hopeful and fun! We are loving Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, America’s Best Uncle. He could not be a more perfect running mate. He owns guns, hunts, has served in the military and supported the LGBTIQA+ community in the high school where he taught many years ago. He coached football. He’s just the best.
Dear Kate Davies, You asked for other political/cultural podcasts or writings. There are a couple that I either read or listen to almost everyday. The first is “Letters from and American” by Heather Cox Richardson. This is my favorite because she is actually a historian who teaches at Boston College. Her blog is very informative without using any inflammatory language. The Hopium Chronicles by Simon Rosenberg is also very good as is Civil Discourse by Joyce Vance. Some of these may be in an audio format. Also every Tuesday Heather Cox Richardson has a question/answer forum on Facebook but with the time differences I’m not sure you could get it.
I recommend Unholy, the podcast with Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian and Yonit Levi of Channel 12 Israel. They give a weekly take of the situation in Israel and Gaza with a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the internal political situation as well as the international responses to the war.
On a more frivolous note, can I recommend Fear for Miss Betony, by Dorothy Bowers? First published in 1941 it’s a fantastic novel. I heard about it through Shedunnit, Caroline Crampton’s great podcast about classic crime fiction.
Great recommendations – thank you!
Awesome photos Kate and Tom. Dahlias are one of my favorites.Here in southern New England the giant hibiscus/mallows are blooming and they are so each to grow. Thank you for your kind comments on our political candidates. It’s really refreshing to have this choice – makes me feel that the era of doom and gloom is coming to a close. On another note, I am working on your Cowal Cowl kit which I recently purchased and looking forward to knitting a 2nd in some lovely yarn which I purchased from Rachel Challoner’s Bee-Croft in Fair Isle.
Let me second your recommendation of Celia Fremlin’s books. I think many people of any age or background would enjoy them. For me they’re special partly because I was born in 1951 and they remind me a lot of the atmosphere of my childhood and early youth when women were more highly educated than ever before, but feminism hadn’t really taken off. I also enjoy the evocation of the cautious attitude to food and how adventurous it was considered to attempt anything outside the meat and two veg type of meal. My dad was Polish, so my mother did learn to cook with garlic, soured cream and ingredients which had to be sought for, and we had some lovely meals. However grandma would never try anything beyond the extremely limited range that she considered wasn’t poison.
Totally agree about the food…. the “curries” in “Appointment with Yesterday” are genuinely terrifying
Absolutely gorgeous dahlias Kate and Tom. Thank you for sharing. I just successfully rooted several cuttings of my lacecap hydrangeas and I’m so excited that I won’t have to spend $50 for a new shrub. Hopefully it “takes” and grows as prolifically as ours have just finished. This year was a bumper-crop year for hydrangea blooms after a disastrous one last year with one or two blooms only.
Thank you for your very thoughtful comments on our VP candidate Tim Walz. It’s very refreshing this year to have the option of these 2 candidates on the horizon. It certainly makes for an exciting political landscape for the next several months. I’m very hopeful that we have gotten past the gloom and doom period.
Even more exciting for me is the fact that I am working on your Cowal Cowl kit which I recently purchased. I’m hoping to make a second one in yarn from Rachel Challoner’s newest stock of Bee-Croft yarn. I have never gotten up at 4am to make a purchase online and even the bank questioned the transaction via email while I was completing it! Sue S., Cape Cod, MA
Thank you for you comments on the upcoming election. Things are finally looking up here in the US. We need energy, youth, optimism, and FEMINISM.