Summer in the City

Natalie Holland -- Poetry Music and Art

Much to my father's chagrin, I've been away too long. So I figured a few short tidbits about what I'm working on and thinking about this summer should appease him (and anyone else who might check in). But the real work (poems!) and the real love (music!) are still in full effect in all this July heat. Here are just a few things I've been doing/seeing/feeling for the past few months:

• I fell in love with some albums and I've been thinking very seriously about writing a post entitled "Why Pharrell's album GIRL is more Feminist than BEYONCE and Just as Good." But I didn't want to start any more unnecessary beef because I love them both--space, rockets, flaws and all. I will say that I might decide to revisit this in the future because so much more needs to be said.

• Like everyone else (Beyonce included, I hope), I was glad to fall madly in love with Adichie and her Americanah (what a brilliant way to get lost) this winter. Since then I've been stalking her craft interviews and especially love  her outfit, hair (and if you've read the novel you know it's okay to be obsessed with these things as well) and commentary in this one. 

• Also, there is nothing better than knowing our fabulous Lupita Nyong'o will produce and star in the film adaptation of Americanah. I'd just like to go on record as saying, throughout the whole novel, I kept picturing David Oyelowo as Obinze, if anyone needs any advice on casting.

• On my own artistic front, I've been writing and published new poems. Not surprisingly, music and love take the lead in those too...

• I'm gearing up for the Hobart Festival of Women Writers that I'll be a part of in September. Not to mention the once-per-decade Furious Flower Poetry Conference happening the same  month where I'll be fortunate enough to read as well. Trust me, you  don't want to play around and miss either one.

• In the meanwhile, I'm looking for other great books and albums to get lost in this summer. Right now, Sam Smith (fyi: if you haven't heard his haunting arrangement of Whitney's "How Will I Know?" yet, please do yourself a favor and check it out here) and Big Brotha' Doug Kearney  have my attention for the next few weeks, but we'll see what other good things the summer brings. Hope yours is fruitful and bright!

Until soon (relatively speaking, of course...)