Week fifteen

There is no way on earth I can do justice to the divine intervention that occurred in week 15.  I  just want to relay the entire evening word for word but since that is impossible,  all I can do is recount the experience in the best and the oddest way I tend to do.

The Literary Salon at Shoreditch House invites authors to speak or read from their books and generally regale with intellectual and witty tales.  I was thrilled that at the first one I could go to, one of the speakers was James Frey.  "A Million Little Pieces" is one of my favourite books and I was eager to see him speak.  Little did I know that he would be upstaged in biblical proportions.  I hadn't heard of either of the two authors that joined him; Natalie Haynes and Richard Holloway but I was going to remember them.

Oh good lord.  In every sense of the phrase.  The common theme between these speakers was religion and God...(s).  I was a little wary at first, thinking that a lot of what they might talk about would go completely over my head and consequently I wouldn't concentrate.....but oh good Lord.

Natalie Haynes was up first. She read from her book "The Ancient Guide to Modern Life", her insights into how relevant Ancient History is in today's society.   I have to say that following the passage about Aristophanes as a modern-day comic was very difficult.  On Natalie's own admission she speaks very quickly but she is also extremely dry and witty.  After finishing her reading she indulged us with a few insights into modern day television and how writers always want a Greek storyline.  Take Eastenders as the ultimate in tragic viewing.  Apparently there was talk of Tanya taking revenge on Max's wicked ways by killing their children.  That was never going to happen so the next best thing was burying Max alive. Obviously.  You want a good old fashioned Gladiator battle?  Just look at the casting of Big Brother.

Up next was the former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway and perhaps the wisest person I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.  He was thought-provoking and erudite and tender and completely earnest.  Being a man of God and particularly of the church his views are pretty radical but he is also completely right.  He talked of religion as a work of art. But other people don't see it like that - they see it as black and white rather than being something uncertain and beautiful.
He lightened the mood with a rather gratuitous yet graceful anecdote involving a Rabbi, a male sauna  and a blowjob.
One particular nugget of wisdom I loved was his comparison of Jews and Christians.  Jews challenge God and get angry with him, whereas Christians like to pump him up.
He ended with a profound story about Auschwitz that he couldn't finish without choking up and rendered the majority of the no-doubt agnostic and cynical Londoners in the room completely speechless and probably a little teary.

James Frey took to the stage and I think even he realised he couldn't match his predecessor.  Nevertheless, he maintained a captive audience while reading from his new book, The Final Testament Of The Holy Bible - his interpretation of a modern day Messiah.  He was certainly engaging but this was due more to the dark and sinister and dirty narrative of his protagonist, not so much James Frey who appeared very stoic when reading but also seemed to be a bit angry with the world.  I wonder if he's always been like that or only since the terrible controversy with "A Million Little Pieces".   He certainly has a "fuck it" attitude but ironically, he has it with a chip on his shoulder.  Regardless, he is definitely a character that challenges the norm.

Damian Barr, the rather self-deprecating and quick-witted host of the Literary Salon comes ready with plenty of questions to fire at each author. What is so nice and refreshing is that he clearly feels very passionate about this venture and has such an interest in all of the speakers, their work and what they have to say.  Bravo.  Check out the details here.

Next up, I cannot quite believe it will be the very first time I have been to watch the London Marathon.